20 YEARS AGO: Stroke - Internal Call

Stroke were apparently the first "rock band" to be signed to XL Recordings, which was previously known as an output for dance and electronica. Although "rock" is probably a very loose term to describe the London based five piece, whose tantalising 'Internal Call' single delves headfirst into an atmospheric world of trip hop and dark blues.

Stroke were formed by core member Jason Kelly (Manchester). The band also featured Paul Beard (keyboards), Matt Bristow (bass), Tom Hooper (drums) and Pascal Glanville (guitar). Stroke released a number of singles for the label in late 1998 and 1999, before issuing their only album 'First In, Last Out' in early 2000. Again, another band who were ahead of their time, and who could've took indie music to more interesting places than it would go in the 2000s...

I bought this 7" single after hearing the song on Radio 1 one evening, and hardly played it over the following years. In fact it laid in my garage for years gathering dust and damp, before I recovered all those old singles and rediscovered this total gem a little while ago.