New Rave

New Rave
Klaxons, one of the most prominent bands of the scene.
Origins
Other names	Nu-Rave, Neu-Rave
Decade of origin	Mid-2000s (c. 2006–2008)
Location of origin	United Kingdom
Coined by	Angular Records / NME Magazine
Visuals & Themes
Key motifs	Glowsticks, neon paint, whistles, psychedelic imagery, skinny jeans, band t-shirts
Key colours	Bright, fluorescent neon colors
Key values	Hedonism, irony, DIY ethos, indie music scene, party culture
Connections
Related aesthetics	Indie Sleaze Bloghouse Rave Madchester Electroclash
Media & Culture
Related media	NME Magazine, MySpace
Iconic figures	Klaxons, Late of the Pier, Trash Fashion, New Young Pony Club, CSS
Timeline
Preceded by	Indie Electroclash
Succeeded by	Indie Sleaze

New Rave (sometimes written as Nu-Rave or Neu-Rave) was a short-lived but highly hyped British music scene and subculture that peaked between 2006 and 2008. The term, coined by the music press, is a play on "New Wave" and was used to describe a scene that blended guitar-based indie rock and dance-punk with the aesthetics of 1990s rave culture. Contrary to its name, the music was not actual rave or hardcore techno, but rather indie rock that incorporated electronic elements like synthesizers, sirens, and danceable beats.

The visual style and fashion involved appropriating the signifiers of rave (such as glowsticks, whistles, and neon or fluorescent clothing) and applying them to a typical indie fashion of skinny jeans and band t-shirts. The scene, which included bands like Klaxons, Late of the Pier, Trash Fashion, New Young Pony Club, and Cansei de Ser Sexy (CSS), was known for its hedonistic, DIY, and chaotic live shows.

Despite the initial media hype, the New Rave movement faced significant backlash and was quickly dismissed by many as a joke. Critics argued that the term itself was an inauthentic marketing buzzword manufactured by the music magazine NME, rather than a genuine, organic subculture, cementing its status as a brief but memorable fad.

History

New Rave emerged in the mid-2000s from the New Cross scene in London as a reaction against the prevailing indie rock climate, dominated by bands like The Libertines, The Rakes, and The Others. The mainstream indie scene was considered musically stagnant and overly serious.

Inspired by a desire for something more exciting and inclusive, Klaxons, the band that protagonized the movement, began incorporating elements of electronic music and rave culture into their sound. Klaxons' founder, Jamie Reynolds, is credited with coining the term "New Rave." Angular Records founder Joe Daniel, who released Klaxons' early singles, helped popularize the term, though even he considered it more of a playful adaptation of existing trends than a distinct genre. Despite their role in its creation, Klaxons later distanced themselves from the New Rave label, calling it a "joke that got out of hand" and even banning glowsticks from their concerts in an attempt to curb the media hype.

The New Rave scene rapidly gained popularity in the United Kingdom thanks to its DIY ethos, colorful fashion, and energetic club nights. It embraced a diverse range of influences, including house, electroclash, grime, and dubstep, fostering an inclusive atmosphere that welcomed those who felt alienated by the prevailing indie scene. This eclecticism contributed to a broader "new rave" dance scene that included artists like LCD Soundsystem, Simian Mobile Disco, Justice, M.I.A., !!! (Chk Chk Chk), and CSS, leading to a resurgence of interest in indie rock and a critical shift in dance music.

Key players in the New Rave scene included DJ collectives like Teens of Thailand, Silvelink, and Str8 Necklin, and designers like Cassette Playa and Carri Munden, who contributed to the scene's visual identity. The scene found its home in warehouse parties and clubs like Foreign, Chalk, and Troubled Minds, where attendees experimented with fashion and danced to eclectic mixes.

However, as New Rave gained mainstream attention, its underground spirit started to disappear in favor of commercial appeal. Major labels signed bands like Shitdisco and New Young Pony Club, and the NME launched a "rave" tour featuring Klaxons, CSS, and The Sunshine Underground. This commercialization led to a dilution of the scene's original aesthetic and values. By the time the E4 series Skins featured New Rave-inspired fashion, the movement had already turned into a caricature of itself, becoming the butt of the joke in British media. The once-innovative styles were now mass-produced by retailers like Topshop and H&M.

Visuals

NEW RAVE IMAGO

Video example.

New Rave visuals are heavily influenced by the aesthetics of the original rave scene, with a focus on psychedelic effects, bright lights, and fluorescent colors. Glow sticks and neon lights were common features at New Rave events and in related imagery. Participants often wear brightly colored clothing and accessories. The visual identity of New Rave is considered a defining aspect of the movement, arguably even more so than its music. Figures like Jet Storm, lead singer of Trash Fashion, and electro artist Uffie, became style icons associated with the scene.

Fashion

New Rave fashion is characterized by neon colours, and a playful, eclectic style with influences from 2000s streetwear and previous European rave movements. Fluorescent colors, colorful Wayfarer sunglasses, metallic leggings, oversized t-shirts with eye-catching slogans, and nostalgic references to 1980s and 1990s fashion are defining features of the New Rave look.

Several brands and designers helped popularize New Rave fashion. The London-based label Cassette Playa, known for its psychedelic and cheerful clothing, became a favorite among New Ravers. Carri Munden, the founder and designer of Cassette Playa, described her designs as "psychedelic, but harder and more high end: British streetwear styles, tracksuits, hoodies and Nikes, but on an acid trip and in silk digital prints and other luxury fabrics," drawing inspiration from 90s rave and gaming. T-shirts by the English brand House of Holland, often oversized with bright colors and slogans referencing British personalities, were also popular in clubs.

However, the musicians involved in the scene had varied perspectives on the fashion. Some, like James Smith of Hadouken!, embraced the bright colors and playful style, recalling the "thrill of seeing the Klaxons in purple hoodies and coloured Nikes." Others, like Lovefoxxx of CSS, felt less connected to the "new rave" label, even while experimenting with multi-coloured fashion.

In a 2021 Vice article, Victoria Hesketh recalls the prevalence of American Apparel lamé leggings, while Jamie Reynolds of Klaxons noted the accessibility of the fashion, stating, "It wasn’t expensive. You could look like us for next to no money, and you could come to our shows looking like us and join in." Reynolds also mentioned pushing the aesthetic, recalling a near falling out with a bandmate for wearing black jeans. Sam Potter observed that while the fashion was flamboyant and associated with cool people, it also became a "stick to beat new rave with in the end." Joe Daniel highlighted the accessibility for young people, allowing them to "wear their identity."

New Rave fashion can be incorporated into a wardrobe in varying degrees. For a subtle touch, accessories like fluorescent scarves or brightly colored sunglasses can add a hint of the New Rave aesthetic to an otherwise understated outfit. For those more comfortable in the spotlight, mixing fluorescent colors with patterns reminiscent of Frutiger Metro creates a truly distinctive look.

The DIY spirit of the early New Rave scene, reminiscent of punk, saw people customizing and creating their own clothing. One example was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bed sheet hoodie. The influence of queer and club kid culture, along with B-boy and Buffalo styles, also played a role in shaping the aesthetic.

Some, like Carri Munden, acknowledge the influence of their designs on mainstream New Rave culture, including neons, big cartoon chains, and glasses, tracing these elements back to early, low-budget shoots where props were made from cardboard, baby toys, and other found objects. The fashion also represented a rejection of the "tired, retro vagabond bullshit" prevalent in indie music at the time, embracing a more masculine-feminine balance and the use of colour.

Music

New Rave music is characterized by its fusion of indie rock with electronic and dance elements. Often described as an "in-yer-face, DIY disco riposte" to the more sensitive indie rock of bands like Bloc Party, it is heavily influenced by the late 1980s Madchester and rave scenes. Notable artists in this style include Klaxons, Gossip, Late of the Pier, Simian Mobile Disco, Crystal Castles, and Hadouken!. This sound often combined synthesizers and electronic production with guitars and traditional rock instrumentation, creating a more danceable and energetic style of indie rock. The genre also overlaps significantly with other music scenes of its time, including bloghouse, tecktonik, dance-punk, and electro.

Musical Artists

• Bloc Party
• Bo$$ in Drama
• Cansei de Ser Sexy (CSS)
• Crystal Castles
• Digitalism
• Hadouken!
• Hot Chip
• Junior Senior
• Justice
• Klaxons
• Late of the Pier
• M.I.A
• M.O.N.O 4
• Mickey Gang
• New Young Pony Club
• NRK
• Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
• Shitdisco
• The Go! Team
• The Presets
• The Rapture
• The Teenagers
• Trash Fashion
• Uffie
• Yelle
• !!! (Chk Chk Chk)

Songs

• Alala by Cansei de Ser Sexy
• Atlantis To Interzone by Klaxons
• Being Bad Feels Pretty Good by Does It Offend You, Yeah?
• Commercial Breakdown by The Sunshine Underground
• Down Down Down by The Presets
• Gravitys Rainbow by Klaxons
• Ice Cream by New Young Pony Club
• It's Not Over Yet by Klaxons
• Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above by Cansei de Ser Sexy
• Magick by Klaxons
• Music is My Hot Hot Sex by Cansei de Ser Sexy
• Off The Hook by Cansei de Ser Sexy
• Pogo by Digitalism
• The Bomb by New Young Pony Club

Criticism

The New Rave scene has been the subject of criticism, with some arguing that its connection to the original rave music and culture was tenuous at best. Critics point out that the music of many bands associated with New Rave, such as Klaxons and CSS, bears little resemblance to the sounds of early rave music. Many artists, like M.I.A., who were initially linked to the scene, have distanced themselves from the label.

New Rave has been dismissed by some as a media fabrication, primarily driven by publications like NME (UK) and TRAX (France), who hyped the trend while other media outlets treated it as a passing fad. The scene's association with dance-punk further blurs the lines between genres, leading some to question its validity as a distinct musical movement. One critic from The Guardian even described the genre as a "piss-poor supposed 'youthquake'" that would soon fade away, much like the original rave scene.

Critics also took issue with the perceived commercialism and superficiality of New Rave. The emphasis on fashion and image over musical substance has been seen as a cynical attempt to market to a young, trend-conscious audience. The resurgence of glow sticks and brightly colored clothing has been met with particular disdain, with some viewing it as a nostalgic regression rather than a genuine fashion statement. This sentiment resonated with those who experienced the rave era, perceiving New Rave's aesthetic as a poor imitation.

Overall, New Rave's popularity was relatively short-lived, which supports the claims of its detractors. Whether it was a genuine subculture or a manufactured trend, its impact on music and fashion was fleeting and relatively minor. However, some argue that the scene's embrace of partying and self-expression, regardless of its musical merit, might hold some value.

Resources

• New Rave on Rate Your Music
• RYM Ultimate Box Set > New Rave
• New Rave on Every Noise at Once
• Nu-Rave on Urban Dictionary
• New Rave on Urban Dictionary
• New Rave on last.fm

Gallery

The Trash Fashion

Videos

NEW RAVE IMAGO

Eels Song - The Mighty Boosh - BBC Studios

TRASHFASHION IT'S A RAVE DAVE

Klaxons - Magick (Official Video)

Hadouken! - That boy, that girl -HQ-

New Young Pony Club - Ice Cream (Van She Remix).mov

Last New Rave Party @ Propaganda

New rave

Navigation

Rave Subculture

Core Aesthetics

Rave ☺ Acid House ☺ Gabber ☺ Kandi Raver ☺ Berlin Techno Fashion ☺ Bakala ☺ Krocha ☺ Madchester ☺ New Beat ☺ Pokero ☺ Tecktonik ☺ UK Garage ☺ Wixa

Fusion Aesthetics

Acid Design ☺ Cyberdelia ☺ Cybergoth ☺ New Rave