[caption id="attachment_179" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Born Blonde performing at Sofar in April 2010"] [/caption] Returning Sofar fans might recognize Born Blonde from their previous shows in 2009 and 2010. Others, though, will be pleasantly surprised by this London-based band that's comprised of George Day, Arthur Delaney, Josh Lloyd-Watson, Fraser MacColl, and Tom McFarland. They continue to impress listeners with their Verve-like sound; it has evolved over the past 2 years into a cosmic spacey-ness that encapsulates its listeners, so we’re especially thrilled to hear what kind of show they’ll be putting on for us in London later this week. [caption id="attachment_182" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Band members 'warming up' at a Sofar show"] [/caption]

Front man Arthur Delaney (who performed a solo Sofar show in June 2009) likes to think of the band’s music as a pure escape from the recessed world around us. And their new single ‘Solar’ provides just that. The track’s title, the sound, even the official video are rooted in an intangible, vaporous sort of psychedelic rock that seems like an other-world music. The blended vocals are ethereal and the fuzzy guitar takes precedence over all else in this tripped-out track.

Their acoustic version of ‘Signs of Fear’ better reflects the perfectly-tuned harmonies in their voices. I’d even go so far as to say Delaney’s voice has a Dylan-esque quality to it in this video, one that wails just enough to captivate the listener, but maintains that important aspect of haziness so central to the band’s melodies.[caption id="attachment_192" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Born Blonde members"]

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Not only are these guys old-timers at Sofar gigs, but they keep hashing out sensational tunes show after show. And others are picking up on their notable performances; NME just listed Born Blonde as one of the top 50 best new bands of 2011 in this article. So before they hit the big-time and start touring the world, make sure you’re lucky enough to secure a spot at a Sofar gig where you can see them in an intimate and magical setting. And guys, we’ll be proud to say ‘we knew you when…’