The sound of Raygun

MANILA, Philippines - New British rock band Raygun (photo) has just released its self-titled album which includes the carrier single Just Because.

The band is named after its vocalist Ray Gun. Blue-eyed, slinky-limbed and razor-cheekboned, he looks and sounds like the velvet-voiced, finger-waggling progeny of a promiscuous session between Jagger, Bowie and Iggy pop. Then there’s The Adj, the band’s scarf-swaddled, beard-sporting songwriter, on war guitar and audio discovery. Add Ben Lyonsmyth on bass and Sam Embery on drums. Together, they summon up the razzle of new wave and the dazzle of the Scissor Sisters’ disco.

But where does Raygun come from? The mystical lands in the suburbs of London that bore The Stones and The Jam — those places where the pleasures of the big smoke is tantalizingly close but far away to dream about, and inspire fantastic music. And why are they Raygun? Because of David Bowie who, like this band, sowed his musical seeds in Brixton, who sang about ray guns on his song, Moonage Daydream, from Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Raygun’s musical blueprint mixes pop, art and melodies that move your heart, head and heels.

Catch the band on Oct. 17 to 20 for its Philippine promo tour.

Raygun is now out in CDs under Sony Music.