Sergeant Buzfuz

Originally from the North, the Midlands and Ireland, Sergeant Buzfuz are a 6 piece beat combo based in South London whose line-up involving violins, dulcimer and mandolin is a mash-up of pop, psychedelia, Celtic folk, punk, improv and drone-rock. They are signed to the Blang label, home also to David Cronenberg's Wife and Milk Kan. ?One of my favourite songs for some time... I love its spirit, I love the idea behind it, I love the fact that it's like nothing else I've ever heard? (Mark Lamarr, Radio 2)

?One of my favourite songs for some time... I love its spirit, I love the idea behind it, I love the fact that it's like nothing else I've ever heard? (Mark Lamarr, Radio 2)

Sheffield born singer songwriter Joe Murphy often plays as Sergeant Buzfuz solo, particularly outside London. Joe runs the monthly Blang nights at London's 12 Bar Club which started in 2002 with a series of appearances from many of the acts from the New York antifolk scene. This led to Blang becoming the focal point for the nascent London antifolk movement. The nights sparked the formation of Blang Records. Though not an antifolk band themselves, Sgt Buzfuz share an interest in lyrics and stories.

?Like the Soft Boys, this is unselfconsciously smart-pop, with a noir-psychedelic twist? (Sounds XP)

Their single ?Here Come The Popes Part 3? (Sep 08) was the latest instalment in a series of songs (5 and counting) about the history of the Papacy and a string-driven romp through the 11th and 12th centuries, it was Single of the Month at Playlouder and was included by both Tom Robinson and Mark Lamarr in their end-of-year round-ups of favourite tracks.

?a bizarre string-driven song about those popes of the middle ages that's kind of XTCish? (Organ)

?like the Pogues beating up My Life Story....Single of the Month by a mile? (Playlouder)

The 4th Sgt Buzfuz album ?High Slang? is out on February 9.

?Sergeant Buzfuz definitely do whatever they like and they definitely have something to say. Endearing and compelling? (Supersweet.org)

?excellent stuff? (Marc Riley, BBC 6)

?absolutely brilliant? (Tom Robinson, BBC 6)

The band have played live sessions for Marc Riley and Tom Robinson on BBC 6 Music. Joe Buzfuz has performed onstage with Jeffrey Lewis (guitar/keys), Thomas Truax (synth), John Otway (giving it a headbutt!), Filthy Pedro (drums) and Paul Hawkins and Thee Awkward Silences (guitar/keys) and recorded with Chris T-T (accordion/bvs). He's toured with T-T and Truax and played New York's Antifolk Fest. The band have played Truck Fest and the Moseley Folk Fest.

?they have taken the Sixties back catalogue and asked Gorky's Zygotic Mynci to give it a remix? (bbc.co.uk London Calling site)

Kate Arnold ? dulcimer, violin
William Barr - mandolin
John Paul Jones ? bass
Rich Keeble ? drums
Eilish McCracken ? violin, whistle
Joe Murphy ? vox, guitar