Along with Spacemen 3, they were the forerunners of a new sub-genre in the independent scene, which today finds bands such as Spiritualized and Mercury Rev achieving mainstream success. Fuzz-laden repetitive guitar riffs, monotone vocals and hypnotic drum patterns combined in a blend of late '60's Detroit rock and the trance-like 70's space rock of Hawkwind.
'16 Dreams' kickstarted their recording output in 1987, with Bex replaced by John Wills soon after. A second guitarist Scott Dowson was also added and the debut album 'Heavens End' was released in November, featuring reverb laden guitars giving it a modern psychedelic slant.
New bassist John McCay joined in early 1988, in time for their Independent chart hit 'Collision', a blend of grinding distorted guitars and wah-wah effects, with an interesting cover version on the b-side, the Pop Group's 'Thief of Fire'.
2nd guitarist James Endicott departed, just before the band's 'Fade Out' album, with a sparser, more discordant sound than on previous releases which pushed them closer to a place on the UK album chart than any other release.
In 1989 things were quieter for Loop, with the powerful single 'Arc-Lite', featuring another new guitarist, again heading for the independent charts at the end of the year.
After denouncing their former label Chapter 22 for releasing 'Eternal', a compilation of the tracks from two singles, Beggars Banquet released 'A Gilded Eternity' in 1990, with less aggressive guitars and a more ethereal quality helping push the band still closer to commercial success.
A set of Peel Sessions under the title 'Wolf Flow' followed, but the band later called it a day. A continuation of their sound followed on with a new band Main featuring ex-Loop musicians Hampson and Dowson, whilst Mackay and Wills reunited in the Hair and Skin Trading Company.
IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU'LL LIKE LOOP: My Bloody Valentine, Spiritualized, Iggy & the Stooges, MC5, Spacemen 3, Ride, The Telescopes, Jesus & Mary Chain, Pink Floyd, Suicide.