If you like funny, witty, insightful lyrics about shoeshops and unrequited love... well, you must be really disappointed by Morrissey's solo output. Fortunately, the infinitely more likeable Wave Pictures step into the breach with this audaciously brilliant debut single.

- Time Out

Three fairly unassuming lads making 60s guitar pop filtered through the lyrical styling and cultural references of the present day; The Wave Pictures are The Byrds claiming to be the real Slim Shady. Keeping the chat to a minimum and getting on with the business of playing solid music The Wave Pictures nevertheless show their humorous side, introducing Blue Harbour as a song about the sturdy dad-shirt M+S range in which they are quite possibly attired. Although friends, and sometime collaborators, of Herman Dune, they keep their sound their own; these guys soundtrack lazy afternoons in beer gardens rather than Woo-Woo-harmonied road trips in a Campervan. The songs offered up by The Wave Pictures stand apart from those of the other bands in tonight's line up. This, of course, is no bad thing. It shows, rather, that label interests need not be insular and exclusive and are indeed much more exciting if they simply make nights like this a big, interesting, and talented family; even with M+S dads.

- Fortuna Pop! @ Brixton Windmill 12/03/07

We Are Involved ( your guide to a random segment of London living)

"Our songs are autobiographical." ...a throw-away statement, idly and publicly shared, but a statement that none-the-less encapsulates the surprising maturity that oozes through a 3 piece that has been impressing crowds across the eastern half of the city. The Wave Pictures are indeed a welcome breath of fresh air who, with a strong emphasis on narrative expression, represent a firm victory for musical substance over style.

With an honest vocal that bounces elegantly over a simple musical backbone, the sound is one that is obviously inspired by a varied spectrum of influence. Strumming guitars, interspersed with (wait for it...) guitar solo's (remember them?) are minimal, unindulgent and entirely appropriate. The resulting combination of sound is powerful, unpretentious and more then a little reminiscent of The Mountain Goats, The Silver Jews and perhaps just a little bit of Brett Anderson as well.

Despite an extensive offering of home and studio recordings, the real strength of this band lies in their live performance, which is saturated with professionalism and confidence. This live experience is at it best, when it is at its most simple, as it was when I managed to catch the band at Bethnal Green Workingman's Club for the launch of the latest edition of the 'Idler'. This was a night when bass, snare and ukulele combined perfectly to both create a commanding show stealing performance and to emphatically emphasis an undeniable abundance of potential.

- 'Picture Perfect', by Paul Newton

Next on the bill, The Wave Pictures come with what is, for me anyway, an impressive CV of friends and collaborators; Andre Herman Dune has recorded a CD-R of cover versions of their songs, and their guitarist/frontman has appeared on stage with both the Dune and The Mountain Goats, not to mention guesting with Lisa Li-Lund the other night. So what's this guy's own band like, now I've finally got a chance to see them...? Well not completely revelatory, but pretty damn good actually with a few reservations. Do you enjoy the earnest, emotional indie song-writing prowess of The Go-Betweens, Hefner, the TV Personalities and the Wedding Present? Could you relate to a song about developing a frustrating love for a girl who loves the Beatles when you hate them and know that your band is better? Do you retain a certain fondness for that strange period between about 1979 and 1986 when boys in bands completely forgot how to look cool and sported grim £3 haircuts, BHS work trousers and expressions of glum resignation ("don't ask me, I'm just the bass player")? Do you nonetheless cling to the noble belief that any song can be improved by the addition of a ROCKING GUITAR SOLO? - if the answer to all these questions is 'yes', chances are you are a) pushing 40 and b)will love The Wave Pictures. They have some excellent songs and play them majestically with an honesty and bravery which should be a lesson to all, and the guitar rockin' bits are particularly incongruous and awesome, like if the Smiths suddenly turned into Crazy Horse midway through a jangly instrumental break or something, but I dunno. Great set by anybody's standards, but somehow, on some level, the Wave Pictures are just too kitchen-sink, too determined to wallow in the cringing detail of small-town English embarrassment and the banality of heartbreak to really pull off the cosmic rock power of love transcendence moves that they could so easily have ploughed into the rocking of worlds. Y'know what I mean..? John Peel would have fucking loved them, and they're fighting the good fight, but I fear that they will never just be cool and free us.

- Review of Windmill gig with Jack Lewis

Okay, you guys. This is the deal. The Wave Pictures are despairingly good. Despairingly because they ain't signed and they don't have a huge following who send them flowers, photographs and panties. They should.

Combine the song-writing genius of Jonathan Richman (plus a touch of his wondrous naivety), the lo-fi humility of Herman Dune and a few guitar moments that Springsteen himself would be proud of, and you get close to the underexposed marvels on display here. Imagination, humour, melodies and chords, twangy basslines of beauty. These things will make you grin. They are a loveable band. The kind of band whose songs you put on all mixtapes, who you urge your friends to listen to. The kind of band you send panties to...

- Hywel's review of The Wave Pictures in ROKU DISTRO fanzine

Everybody
Wake Up
The Wave Pictures
Why are they not where The White Stripes, U2, Coldplay, Belle and Sebastian are?
I mean
They are probably one of the best bands nowadays performing on this planet
And David writes beautiful songs
Plus
It is really accessible and uplifting music
            - David-Ivar Herman Dune

Nothing short of splendid, resplendent and heartbreaking. The future is now!

            - BSR Radio

I got the CD [The Airplanes At Brescia] last week, and like it a lot... a very funny lyricist. My favorite moment may be the guitar solo on the title track. The whole thing has a great sound, it actually does sound like a kitchen.

            - Dean Wareham

Dave is such an impressive guitar player. This band is the future and Andre [Herman Dune] didn't lie when he called them "the stars of the festival". It's a triumph when they end their set. And what a way to close the festival!

            - review of The Wave Pictures, live at the MoFo Festival, Paris, Summer 2003

The band's songs have a charm of their own.

            - Leicester Mercury review of The Wave Pictures, live at The Charlotte