ONE of the quietest corners of our green and pleasant land, the Isle of Wight sums up all that is best of rural England.

Such is the Island's charm, it can often feel like stepping back in time.

So pity anyone stumbling upon Robin Valley Country park next month, for the highlight in the island's year - Bestival, which boasts a bill of incendiary live acts, including fresh-faced twosome Isaac Holman and Laurie Vincent.

Like the Isle of Wight, Slaves look deceptively mellow. Face them front on though, and you could well find yourself being blasted back across the Solent to the mainland.

Trading under the name Slaves, their punchy pile-driving punk-rock is short, snappy and witty, with few of their songs lasting longer than three minutes. But for all their grungy energy and scuzzy appeal, Slaves are an intelligent and very dapper duo with less interest in fame than just making an almighty noise - which makes them perfect for Bestival.

“We are just a couple of mates from Kent – the Garden of England,” says Isaac, by way of explanation.

“We hid away in a room to make some music, and this is what came out.”

Isaac drums, while standing – and singing... well, shouting, while Laurie accompanies on guitar. Listening to their pulse-racing rock you’d think there were more of them. “We never set out to be a two-piece,” says Isaac. “We were looking for a drummer but we didn’t have that many mates, so Laurie said, ‘why not play them while I play guitar?’ “It is stripped back,” he adds. “It has developed but is still stripped back.”

He’s not kidding. One of their songs – the riotous Girl Fight – is so tight it clocks in at under 15 seconds. “Playing a song that fast while standing up, playing the drums and shouting… I couldn’t have done it for more than that!” he laughs.

“It was a true story too. We were walking along one night and saw a big girl fight. I was wearing a white shirt and white shoes so didn’t want to get too close!”

Oxford Mail:

Slaves. Picture: Joost Vandebrug

Their music fits the very definition of punk rock. “We both come at it from different angles but were both drawn to that heavy rock sound,” he says.

“I had a rich musical upbringing. My dad is a big vinyl collector and as a baby I slept to the sound of very loud punk rock. Laurie’s parents weren’t that into it but he found it for himself.”

They honed their sound in small venues around their native Tunbridge Wells – playing what is uncharitably known as the ‘toilet circuit’ of down at heel bars and clubs.

“A lot of bands think they are too good for it, but not us,” says Isaac. “No one can say we haven’t worked for it, though; we did it relentlessly and, looking back, it was a really happy time.”

And if their love for a drink and a good time at previous festivals - and the most recent NME Tour, are anything to go by, Bestival could get messy.

“It could be carnage,” he laughs. “We are really not that wild though, to be honest.

“Most of the time we are pretty chilled. We love playing live so we don’t want to ruin it by getting slaughtered.

“Having said that, I’m not going to say anything too early; I’ll probably end up eating my words!”

  • Bestival takes place on the Isle of Wight from September 10-13.
  • Other acts include Missy Elliot, Underworld, The Chemical Brothers, Tame Impalla, The Kacksons, Rudimental and Oxford's David Rodigan and The Long Insiders.

Tickets and details from 2015bestival.net