After so many news on the label’s end I’ll take it easy on this post. It is the turn for the letter G, now that I’m doing an obscure band in alphabetical order. So that’s that. Of course there are new finds to share too.
Candy: “Feel”, the latest by the Melbourne based band sounds great. I can’t say I know much about them, their Facebook page doesn’t seem to be working, but previously they had released a 10 song album which is sold out.
Blushing: the Austin based band has a new digital single called “Dream Merchants”. What to expect? The band continues with their fuzzy dreampop. Worth mentioning too that this song has a video!
Gentle Ivanhoe Death Skulls: just some days ago (or was it weeks?) I was featuring the Stockholm band because they had just released a tape album. Now they have a brand new song “Cedric” which is terrific.
Foliage: one of my favourite bedroom pop bands is the San Bernardino, California, based project Foliage. Behind it is just one man, Manuel Joseph Walker, and he has penned so many lovely songs. His latest “Pattern” is no exception.
Pálidos y Débiles EP: an interesting compilation CD and book released by Discos de Kirlián where many Spanish bands play covers of The Smiths in their own style. The bands included are Vacaciones, Silent James, Selvática, Gente Joven and Lavandera. The book on the other hand is written by Julio César Álvarez and of course it is about The Smiths.
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Girl of My best Friend got their name from an Elvis song. They came from Northampton. I discovered them on Chris and Neil’s Corrupt Postman tape. Their song stood out above all the others because of the haunting quality of the singer’s voice contrasted against the jangly guitars. It was different. It was exciting. I went down to La Cave in Bristol to see them. They performed a really spooky set. I think they were supporting The Bachelor Pad. I offered to cut a record with them. They asked me if I was kidding. They came to Southampton to do a gig with Jane Pow. They performed a really spooky set. Not long after that I lost touch with them. I think they split up. I like to think they were a ghost who came to haunt me for a few months before disappearing.
Paul, The Mayfields bassist, created the cover for the Girl of My Best Friend single.
That’s what Mark Pearson, who ran Ambition Records, told me about Girl of My best Friend when I interviewed him.
The only two releases by the band were on Ambition Records.
The first release happened in 1989. It was a proper 7″ (AMB 003) with two songs, “Warm Around You” on the A side and “Seasons” on the B side.
The second one being a split flexi with Jane Pow that same year, 1989 (AMB 04). This flexi was given for free for any mail order from Ambition Records. The “sleeve” was actually a hand stamped envelope and Girl of My Best Friend appeared second on the single sided flexi with the song “Amelia”. Jane Pow on the other hand contributed “Why I Am Here?”
Their song “Merry Go Round” appears on the “You Can’t Be Loved Forever 2” tape.
Two other songs appear on compilations. “Throwaway Girl” shows up on the classic tape released by Subtle “Throwaway Girl” (Subtle 001). and “Military Days” appears on “Turquoise Days” that was released by Red Roses for Me, both in 1989. So it must have been from one of these tapes that Mark from Ambition heard their music. The band doesn’t appear on the “Corrupt Postman” tape.
I noticed a couple of mentions that the band hailed from Wellingborough in Northampton.
Wellingborough is a large market town in the Wellingborough district in the county of Northamptonshire, England, situated about 18 km from the county town of Northampton. The town is situated on the north side of the River Nene, most of the older town is sited on the flanks of the hills above the river’s current flood plain. Due to frequent flooding by the River Nene, the town was mostly built above the current level of the floodplain. Originally named “Wendelingburgh” (the stronghold of Wændel’s people), the settlement was established in the Saxon period and is mentioned in the Domesday Book under the name of “Wendelburie”. The town was granted a royal market charter in 1201, by King John of England.
The blog Did Not Chart has dedicated a post to them. Here Ben mentions that he wrote to the band in 1988 and the vocalist of the band, Jo, sent him a tape of demos and a live recording back to him. The first demo was called “Girl of My Best Friend” while a second one was called “My Best Friend”. I wonder if these songs were shared in the blog back in 2012 when this was posted. I would love to listen to these songs.
In this same post I notice that Ivan, the bassist, commented. So I have two names, Jo and Ivan. No last names. What were the other band members names?
Not much more information on the web sadly. I really hope I can find out more about them and hopefully listen to their demos and any other songs they must have recorded. What I have heard so far is fantastic! Anyone remember them?
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