As we’ve seen The Autocollants are back again and releasing a new album called “Hidden Smile, which is on pre-order now, I thought it would be worth rescuing another of Laura Watling’s projects, Cartwheel.
Cartwheel released just one record. It was a 7″ in 1999 that came out on the Brooklyn based label Sandcastle Records (SAND002). The 7” was an EP titled “Tumble”.
The EP included four wonderful indiepop acoustic indiepop slices. “Halfway There” and “Circles” on the A side and “Please Don’t Forget” and “Another Pop Song” on the B side.
I know too that there are at least two other songs by the band that were released. “A Break in the Clouds” which was included in “This is Stereophonic Sunshine” (Castle-1), a CD compilation by Sandcastle , and “Space Wheel” on “You Make Me Smile” (LIFE 010) that Shelflife Records released in 1999.
What we learn about the band is that they formed around the winter of 1997, as a parallel project to The Autocollants as it included two of their members, Dwayne Palasek and Laura. Their acoustic songs didn’t really fit with their current band so they decided to start Cartwheel.
What is also interesting is that both Dwayne and Laura had another project at the same time with a different name, In a Day who released a split single with Even as We Speak. But that’s a band for another post.
Laura has been on many bands like the Evening Lights, Tears Run Rings and The Casino Ashtrays. And of course of her solo music. Dwayne has been in Tears Run Rings too.
At the time of Cartwheel the band was based in South California. Laura would move in 2000 to Northern California and that’s when the band stopped.
Not much more detail about this short-lived project on the web. One thing I wonder if the band recorded more songs that remain unreleased. And if they ever play live. Hope we get some answers soon
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