The Loft

The Loft formed in London in 1983, Pete Astor, Bill Prince, Andy Strickland, and Dave Morgan developing a sound rooted in indie pop and post-punk that was immediately jangly and melodic. Astor's vocals were warm and distinctive, and his songwriting combined melodic directness with a lyrical charm that gave their songs an immediate appeal.

They were one of the founding acts of the mid-1980s British indie pop scene, releasing singles on Creation Records that earned a devoted following. 'Up the Hill and Down the Slope' (1984) became their best-known track — a jangly, melodically irresistible indie pop song that stands as one of the great singles of the era. They were featured on the NME's C86 cassette.

The Loft dissolved in 1985, and Pete Astor subsequently formed The Weather Prophets, who released several strong albums on Creation Records. The Loft are remembered as one of the founding acts of the British indie pop scene — their combination of jangly guitars, melodic directness, and warm vocals helped define the sound that would become C86.