The Universe Replied: An Oral History of Romance Is Boring by Los Campesinos!

I am going to admit something deeply shameful as an indie music fan. I don’t much like Romance is Boring. That said, Los Campesinos! is an amazing band, and I love all of their other albums. 2024’s All Hell in particular is a fucking perfect album for facing up to The Horrors of today, and I also recommend their KEXP live session.

Los Campesinos! are indie veterans who have been doing things their own way since forming at the Cardiff University in 2006. A large group of music nerds (7 or 8 people, depending on lineup) who bonded over a shared love of bands like The Decemberists and Sonic Youth, they began playing shows and posting tracks on MySpace and British music forum Drowned in Sound.

Roughly if not entirely unfairly described as “tweecore”, Los Campesinos! has clever densely referential lyrics about heartfelt emotions sung-shouted by lead singer Gareth, backed up a wall of sound (seven members) formed from guitars, synths, drums, and sometimes a violin, flute, and glockenspiel. They had widely varying degrees of musical ability at first, which they compensated for with infectious energy and sheer momentum, eventually gaining their chops through relentless touring.

This oral history shows Los Campesinos! exactly as who they are. They’re artists who have something they want to get off their chest. They won’t compromise their values: in 2025 they turned down $60,000 from Airbnb because Airbnb “makes money from stolen Palestinian land and contributes to a housing crisis worldwide”. They’re not for everyone, but they’re the right band for me. And maybe for you.

LC!4LYF