The Murky Crows Essentials

Formed in Beijing in 2010, this seven-member outfit embrace driving and anthemic dark rock, though uptempo numbers occasionally emerge from the shadows. Falling somewhere between the macabre style of Joy Division and the dramatic festival rock of Arcade Fire, The Murky Crows are driven forward by electric guitars and propulsive drums, but a restrained vocal sensibility and the addition of a violin create a poignant tension. This is music that's easy to brood to but still features enough shout-along choruses, guitar solos and handclap interludes to please a field full of fans.