Pitchfork

Sadly, British art-punk quartet Ikara Colt has gone the way of McLusky and busted up. "Dear friends, just a quick note to say that the band will be splitting up as of now," announced frontman Paul Resende on the band's website. "We would all like to thank everyone that came to see us, supported us, heckled us. We produced two albums and countless singles and we always said that we would splilt up after five years and that five years is up, better to go out this way than to turn into some old, tired and jaded outfit. As we always said this was never a career choice or a lifestyle option and sadly most bands I see seemed to be for those reasons. Cheers once again, Thank you and good night." Cue Bowie's "Five Years".

Indeed, Ikara Colt pounded out two solid art school post-punk records, 2003's Chat and Business and last year's import-only Modern Apprentice, and while the band's singles don't quite qualify as "countless," if you were to try, you might find yourself counting surprisingly high. The band hasn't hinted publicly at any cause for the split or laid out any future aspirations for its members. For now, fans are left to simply create threads on the IkaraColt.com message board with titles like "Gutted," "Seems like such a waste," "Own up-- who cried?", "I'm pretty upset," "Thanks for the memories guys," and finally, "Don't be a strangled kite," which is advice anyone would be well advised to take.