Mock Turtles

Mock Turtles formed in Manchester in 1986, Martin Coogan — brother of comedian Steve Coogan — at the centre of a band that spent several years developing their sound before breaking through with one of the Madchester era's most joyful singles. The band were part of the same Manchester scene as The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays, though their sound was more straightforwardly melodic.

'Can You Dig It?' (1991) was the breakthrough — a euphoric, organ-driven anthem that reached number eighteen in the UK charts and became one of the defining songs of the Madchester moment. The song has had a remarkable afterlife, appearing in numerous films, television programmes, and advertisements, introducing it to generations who weren't there the first time.

Their debut album 'Turtle Soup' (1990) and follow-up '...And Then She Smiled' (1991) were solid collections that showed the band's range, but they never quite capitalised on the success of 'Can You Dig It?'. The band split in 1993. The song remains their legacy — a perfect piece of early 90s euphoria.