The Mock Turtles

Led by singer and guitarist Martin Coogan, The Mock Turtles developed through the late 1980s around the independent Imaginary Records scene. Early singles and compilation appearances placed them firmly in the British indie underground, but their songwriting already leaned toward strong melodic hooks rather than abrasion or deliberate obscurity.

Their debut album Turtle Soup arrived in 1990 and brought together much of that early identity: chiming guitars, psychedelic colour, relaxed grooves and concise pop structures. Tracks such as “Lay Me Down,” “And Then She Smiles” and “How Does It Feel?” captured a band sitting naturally beside the broader Manchester and baggy movement without sounding like a direct copy of its biggest names.

The breakthrough came with “Can You Dig It?” in 1991. Released through Siren, the track reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart and became the song most closely associated with the band. Its combination of circular guitar riff, buoyant rhythm and instantly memorable chorus made it especially compatible with the indie-dance crossover of the period.

The Mock Turtles did not convert that breakthrough into a long sequence of mainstream hits, but their catalogue retained a cult following. “And Then She Smiles” also entered the UK chart, while the albums Turtle Soup and Two Sides both appeared on the Official Albums Chart in 1991.

More than a decade later, “Can You Dig It?” returned to public attention through a Vodafone advertising campaign. A 2003 reissue, including a remix by Fatboy Slim and Simon Thornton, returned the song to the UK Top 20. The revival reinforced what had become clear over time: The Mock Turtles may be remembered through one enormous song, but that song came from a broader catalogue with its own melodic and psychedelic character.