Heavy Stereo

Heavy Stereo formed in London in 1994, Gem Archer, Nez, Nick Jones, and Pete Jobson developing a sound that drew on glam rock, Britpop, and the melodic ambition of the best 1970s British rock. Archer's guitar playing was immediately distinctive — fluid, melodic, and full of hooks — and the band's songs had a grandeur that set them apart from many of their Britpop contemporaries.

They were signed to Creation Records and released a series of singles and the album 'Déjà Voodoo' (1996) that earned good reviews and radio play. Singles like 'Sleep Freak' and 'Mouse in a Hole' showed their melodic gifts, and they were a popular live act. However, commercial success proved elusive despite the quality of their recordings.

Heavy Stereo dissolved in 1997, and Gem Archer subsequently joined Oasis as a second guitarist, a role he held until the band's dissolution in 2009. Heavy Stereo are remembered as one of the more interesting casualties of the Britpop era — a band with genuine melodic gifts who arrived at a moment when the market was dominated by a handful of acts. 'Déjà Voodoo' rewards rediscovery.