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LS2 Magazine

Captain Wilberforce
Mine Bar, Leeds Uni 26/2/2006

One can’t help but wonder if Captain Wilberforce is named after the cheeky bear in the children’s books; although few will actually be able to recollect these literary marvels, let’s hope so, mainly because it will help us relate to the wonder that is this musician’s genius but also because you know, it would be kind of cool.
Let’s talk about the genius because it is definitely there, clear and undeniable. There are obvious influences: in just one song there are hints of the Beach Boys, the Bees, the Boo Radleys, Dodgy and Supergrass. The music has hints of a mid-90s class that seemed to have been lost, and Captain Wilberforce seems to have been found in a dusty cardboard box under the bed. And we should be glad that he has.