Artists starting with The Servants

The Servants, “Reserved” (Cherry Red, 2006; original release 1986-90)
Swept along in the mid-‘80s “C86” wave of Brit indie-pop, the Servants stood apart in certain respects. Their take on Velvet Underground-derived strum/repetition rock, while framed with excellent hook-enhanced song structures, leaned more toward the stark, moody, autumnal side of the VU (and Television, whose influence can be heard in particular on the sharp guitar leads). The result is classic Brit grey-day sophisto-pop, but with subtle, stripped-down rock drive. Tops is the sweeping, intense 1 (“The Sun, A Small Star”), but 2, 6, 7 and 13 are also particularly striking. P.S.: Big Syd Barrett influence, too.