10 Great Obscure Post-Rock Bands
6. The Cesarians
The lack of success by London-based, The Cesarians, is puzzling, to say the least. They recorded just two albums in their short lifetime, Cesarians 1 in 2009, and Pure White Speed, in 2015. Both are extraordinary works, innovative and artistic, and well deserving of a listen. That the ever-reliable AllMusic.com have both listed as five stars should tell you much.
The core of this band comprises singer Charlie Finke, whose powerful, smooth and visceral delivery sat at the group's heart, and multi-instrumentalist Justine Armitage. These two served as writers and composers for The Cesarians, with Suzi Owen (trombone, glockenspiel) the only other common link between both albums, which feature additional players on strings, guitar and brass.
Classy and ambitious, yet never sounding aloof or pretentious, their ought to have been a sizeable audience for this fantastic band. They did, indeed, garner much critical acclaim but, for whatever reason, that acclaim did not translate into lasting commercial success. A post on the band's official Facebook page, in December 2021, announced the sad news of Finke's departure, signalling the group's demise.