AN EALING band are preparing to release their debut album which many pundits are tipping to be one of the biggest of 2009.

White Lies bass player Charles Cave and drummer Jack Brown first played together during a class performance at North Ealing Primary School, but now stand on the verge of international acclaim with their dark Indie sound.

The pair, who both hail from the Pitshanger area, have lived in Ealing all their lives, and at one stage Jack was even a delivery boy for the Ealing Times. Lead singer Harry McVeigh comes from Shepherds Bush.

The band had enjoyed earlier success under the name Fear of Flying, releasing two singles and getting some airplay, but decided to change their name after penning new tracks which did not fit with that image.

Lyricist Charles, who sites among the band's influences Radiohead, Queens of the Stone Age and Talking Heads among their eclectic influences, said: “It's been a really exciting few months for us.

“We only played our first gig in February together, although we had been rehearsing for a few months before that, and it's all gone really quickly to be releasing our album on January 19.

“The album was recorded over the summer in Brussels, so it has been ready for a long time now, and we're really looking forward to getting it out there and hear what people think.

“All three of us have written the songs on the album and we all have very different musical tastes, so the album all sounds quite different.”

One of the factors behind the band's change of name was the change in musical direction, with all three agreeing White Lies fits the darker sound of the band much better. ` When quizzed about this Charles said: “I just think it's the kind of music we make naturally. We don't think a lot about it too much, we just sit down and let it happen.

“The thing is people tend to remember the negative emotions in their lives much more vividly than the happy ones. We like writing the songs which really move people.”

Since recording the album the band has been touring, playing several headline gigs, including shows in the USA, and recently supporting Scottish band Glassvegas They have also been announced as one of the acts playing on the NME Awards Tour, taking in some of the biggest venues in the UK.

However, the band are taking a couple of weeks off from promotional work to spend some time at home to Ealing over Christmas.

Charles continued: “It's been so busy over the past few months it will be really good just to stop and relax.

“We only signed a record deal in February, so it's been non stop since then. We do still live at home at the moment, but we spend so little time there because of all the touring.”

Single To Lose My Life is released on January 12, with the album of the same name coming out a week later. To hear samples visit www.myspace.co.uk/whitelies.