“The Famous Five Session” – 25th Anniversary – Crashland

Released on Limited Edition Trans Red Vinyl (200 Copies only) and Digital 30th January 2026 via Bristol Archive Records/Sugar Shack Arkive

Some bands come and go, others leave an impression so strong that even decades later, their songs feel like old friends you’ve just rediscovered. Crashland are one of those bands.
Formed in the mid – 90s and quickly touted by NME as “Britain’s best new band,” Crashland had everything: killer songs, a compelling live energy, and a frontman in Alex Troup whose melodic instincts and lyrical heart made him one of the most quietly gifted songwriters of his generation.
This release, The Famous Five Session, brings together five never-before-heard demos recorded in 2001 as the band regrouped after their deal with Independiente fell apart, together with the bonus of the four tracks from The Devoted ep, never before released on vinyl. Mastered and released for the first time, the five tracks on Side A represent the “lost chapter” of a band that in another timeline would have been huge.

But let’s rewind.
A formative version of the band began in Monmouth, South Wales where Alex Troup and drummer Marc Childs met at school, bonding over AC/DC, Iron Maiden, and a shared love for making noise. But the real magic began to take shape in the mid 90s when the sound shifted, shorter songs, sharper hooks, bigger choruses. With a new name ‘Crashland’ and a new purpose, they set out with a mission: “to offer a wake-up call you won’t be able to ignore.”
In 1997, they recorded a demo for EMI. It didn’t land a deal, but it did start circulating around London, catching ears and turning heads. That buzz led them to Independiente home of Travis, who signed the band on June 4, 1999. And from there, things started to move fast.

Crashland released three stand-out singles, New Perfume, Standard Love Affair, and Modern Animal each filled with punch, melody, and subtle lyrical detail. Modern Animal was even hailed by NME as “The Jam for the 21st Century.” Live, the band were electric, tight, frantic, full of passion and completed the 2000 NME Tour with Coldplay and My Vitriol. NME again: “Their live set is an explosion of wired, unbridled energy.”
Then came Glued, their debut album. Released in 2000, it was full of infectious, radio-friendly indie anthems that could stand proudly alongside the era’s best. But timing wasn’t on their side. Britpop’s moment had passed, and the UK was shifting toward the garage-rock revival spearheaded by The Strokes and The White Stripes. Glued peaking at 125 in the UK album chart, a heartbreakingly low number for an album so full of quality. From the title track to deeper cuts, Glued never had a weak moment. It was and remains an overlooked gem. Crashland left Independiente Records, undeterred and the band carried on.

In 2001 with a new line-up they released the The Devoted EP on Sugar Shack Records and began work on new material, including the demos presented here. After charting at #2 on the U.S Alternative Radio Airplay Chart in 2002, talks with American major labels offered flickers of hope… but ultimately, the momentum faded. Crashland drifted apart, and Alex Troup moved to Los Angeles, where he has continued to write, record, and perform under the name Troup.

But now, to mark the silver anniversary of the tracks being committed live to 2” tape at Famous Studios in Cardiff, the story isn’t quite finished. “The Famous Five Session” is released by Bristol Archive Records/Sugar Shack Arkive on 30th January 2026, distributed by Shellshock/Proper and available from good retailers worldwide.

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