Cud

Cud formed in Leeds in 1987, Carl Puttnam, Mike Dunphy, William Potter, and Steve Goodwin developing a sound that was rooted in melodic indie rock but inflected with a gleeful eccentricity that set them apart. Puttnam's vocals — warm, slightly nasal, and full of character — were immediately distinctive, and the band's songs combined strong hooks with a wit and playfulness that made them genuinely enjoyable.

They were signed to Imaginary Records and then A&M, releasing a series of albums in the early 1990s that earned strong reviews and a devoted following. 'Leggy Mambo' (1990) and 'Asquarius' (1992) were their finest records — melodic, funny, and full of songs that stuck in the head. Singles like 'Rich and Strange' and 'Purple Love Balloon' demonstrated their gift for a hook.

Cud dissolved in 1995 without achieving the mainstream success their music deserved. They reformed in 2006 and have continued to perform and record, maintaining the good humour and melodic gifts that distinguished their early work. They are one of the more fondly remembered acts of the early 1990s Leeds indie scene, and their back catalogue rewards rediscovery.