WU LYF

The mysterious Manchester, England group Wu Lyf (pronounced “woo life,” short for World Unite! Lucifer Youth Foundation) shrouded itself with secrecy. However, Wu Lyf's music was unmistakable, an impassioned yet eerie style they dubbed “heavy pop” that recalled Modest Mouse's jittery rhythms and the Arcade Fire's anthemic soar. The band posted their early recordings on their website, drawing interest from the U.K. music industry that they largely rebuffed. In July 2010, the band formed the Lucifer Youth Foundation and gave bandit masks and the debut single Concrete Gold/Heavy Pop to its members. That November, Wu Lyf recorded their debut album, Go Tell Fire to the Mountain, which they self-released in June 2011. ~ Heather Phares