So I feel, and I may be wrong, that the blog has gotten a bit of a following as I see more bands tagging me on Facebook and Twitter. That’s cool. But I really hope that people don’t think that this labor of love is just about the blog, it is mainly about the Cloudberry label. And I am hoping people continue to support it. If there’s no label, there’s no sense for me to have a blog I think. Anyways, I continue looking for the perfect pop song, so here are a few good discoveries from the past few days!

Le Superhomard: “SDVB” is a track from the album “Meadow Lane Park” that was released on Elefant Records. It is a very cool song so it is no surprise whatsoever that they have picked this one to make a promo video. On top of it all it is a fun video, with cool animations. Now, what does “SDVB” stand for?

The Vapour Trails: the Detroit, Michigan, label Futureman Records has put together on Bandcamp a compendium of demos by The Vapour Trails called “The Inner Truth – Home Recordings and Demos”. There are 17 tracks by the Scottish band and even includes a few covers by The Byrds and The Beatles.

Follow Me Not: some superb French janglepop here on the Unknown Pleasures label also from France. There are just two songs to preview, “Walls” and “Bliss” from their upcoming album “Vanishing Smile” that will be released on January 20th on CD and vinyl. It sounds terrific.

Pony in the Pancake: back in August I was reviewing a track called “Summer” by this Albany, New York, band. I really liked and was left hoping for more. Well, it turns out that last September the band released their album “Summer Sun” and now you can preview all 11 tracks on it as well as ordering a tape version of the album!

Young Guv: Lastly a new album, a double vinyl album, by the Toronto based project. The album contains two albums that were released previously online, “Guv I” and “Guv II”, and it is pretty good and keeps you busy with 19 songs total! It is summery, it jangles, it is catchy. The record is available now on Run For Cover Records.

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Some weeks ago (or maybe a few months ago!) I received the “Behave Yourself!” compilation just in time to prepare an interview with the great Japanese band All Twin’s Birthday. I listened to the record many many times and I noticed that there was a superb song by a band I had never heard before in my life, Lucy was an Engine. Who were they? I asked myself with no answer.

The song the band contributed to this 1993 mini-CD compilation released by the Behavior Saviour label (BS008) was called “Wig”. Fortunately the band members names are listed and this may or may not help my investigation. The band was formed by:
Matthew Aulich on bass
Stewart McLeod on drums
Colin Gregory on guitar
Mark Austin on guitar
Martin Andrews on vocals

This was not the first compilation the band had been on. A year earlier, 1992, the band had their song “My Socks” on a CD compilation called “Nu-Music Sampler Series 4” released by Studio 52 Records (52CD020). This label was Australian, based in Melbourne. First question then, was Lucy was an Engine an Australian band?

Behavior Saviour would include them in another compilation in 1994 when the label had already moved to Australia. On the “Come All Ye Faithful” (BS011) the band appears with two songs, “All in Green” and “Winter, Windy, Wednesday”. So far, four songs I am counting. My question is then, why no proper releases by them?!

The last compilation they were in was also from 1994. It was a tape that the French fanzine Gloomy Biscuit released and was aptly called “Gloomy Biscuit II”. The band would contribute the song “Wig”, the one and only song I’ve heard so far by them. I believe the fanzine included information about the band, details, but I don’t have this zine. Maybe someone could scan their page for me? I can understand a little French.

After the demise of the band I know Matthew Aulich went to be in bands like Drugstore, Small Slips and The Paradise Motel. All Australian bands. Okay. Then I confirm that Lucy was an Engine was an Aussie band.

Now, Colin Gregory. This is perhaps the biggest surprise. It is the same Colin Gregory as in One Thousand Violins, The Dylans and The Page Boys. I think I once read that one of The Page Boys moved to Australia. Is this how the story went? Who can confirm me this?

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Listen
Lucy Was an Engine – Wig