ROCKING into the nation?s album chart this week is a highly acclaimed band from Tavistock, for whom critical success is already streaming in. The Rumble Strips, which features three former Tavistock College students, have stepped up and delivered their new album ?Girls and Weather?, hotly tipped for success. The first single from the album, Girls and Boys in Love, was released at the end of August. The band consists of: Charlie Waller, lead vocals and guitar; Henry Clark, keyboards and trumpet; Tom Gorbutt, saxophone and bass; and Matthew Wheeler, drums. During their week off after a busy summer of festivals, the Times was able to steal some of Charlie?s free time to talk about the release of the debut album. ?It?s really exciting to finally get the album out,? said Charlie. ?We did the recording nearly a year ago in November. It takes so long to get a record released but we are glad it?s finally out. ?I?m sure it won?t be a smash but it has had alright reviews!? ?I?m proud of it ? it?s a good debut album.? And the reviews have been good ? Elle magazine said they were ?the most joyful band we?ve heard all year? while The Times described it as ?music to blow your wig off!? The album was created in Los Angeles where the band recorded with producer Tony Hoffer, famous for his work with musicians Beck, The Kooks and The Fratellis. They were there for seven weeks and recorded the album within one month. Recording the album has been a dream come true for the four lads who had a history together long before the band was formed. Charlie and Tom met each other when they went to St Peter?s Junior School in Tavistock, and first met Henry when he was ten, playing in his father?s band. They all met again in Tavistock College where they started to play music together at 13. They met drummer Matt, who went to a school in North Devon, through playing in local youth clubs. After leaving school, Charlie and Matt moved to London, and Tom and Henry joined them later. They spent a while knocking about with other bands while the future of their own group lay undecided. The Rumble Strips officially formed in 2002/03 ? a move the band has never regretted and in August last year they made a major breakthrough, signing to Island Records. Charlie describes the music featured on the album as rooted in rock ?n? roll, with quite a souly sound due to the brass instruments. The band are due to set off on their album tour this Sunday, September 30, starting in Nottingham. Charlie said: ?We are touring on Sunday and that?s going to take us into November, then we are off to Ireland, then after that we are going to America to support Cold War Kids, who have played in England a lot, then its off to Japan, all before Christmas.? What a year! The Tavistock boys have not only released their hugely anticipated album but they have also had the single ?Girls and Boys in Love? chosen as the main title-track to the new film ?Run Fat Boy Run?, starring Simon Pegg and directed by David Schwimmer, which was released at the beginning of September. The Rumble Strips also came to the Wharf as part of their ?Taste of Devon? tour in August and were re-united with their home town, where they were ?chuffed? to find that the concert was sold-out. Charlie found the experience great fun. He said: ?It wasn?t like a normal gig, as the audience was our family and friends and it was quite easy ? as your mum will always like things you do!? Before the tour the band had just finished a summer full to the brim with festivals. ?It has been a summer pretty much of festivals,? said Charlie. ?We did 24 spaced within a two to three month period. But it was good fun.? The album tour will see them perform at The Hub in Plymouth on Sunday, October 7. Tickets cost £8 and doors open at 7pm. l The Times has teamed up with Island Records and has three of the Rumble Strips albums to give away. Just answer this simple question: ?What is name of the Rumble Strips new album?? Send your answers on a postcard, including your name and a day time telephone number, to: The Rumble Strips Competition, 14 Brook Street, Tavistock, PL19 0HD. Closing date Friday October 5. The editor?s decision is final, no correspondence will be entered into.