Day 260.

Juárez: I’ve lost the many times I’ve tried to get Caballito Records releases. No luck. But at least we can listen to their very good releases online. The new album by Juárez, “Entre las Palmeras”, was released a few weeks ago and now the 200 limited vinyl LPs are long gone. It sounds really good though.

The Dupont Circles: I should try to interview this amazing Washington D.C. especially now that they have released “In Search of the Family Gredunza” on the great label The Beautiful Music. This compilation includes their classic songs from the 90s, like the top “Everywhere Girl”. It is a must have!

The Lousy Pop Group: Shiny Happy Records is releasing a self-titled EP cassette for this lovely jangly band from Indonesia. The EP has 4 songs and they sound very Sarah-esque. Could be a great Christmas present, right?

The Sweetest Touch: another Indonesian jangly band that has some news are The Sweetest Touch. Their latest song is called “Promise” and is a cracker. It is out now digitally on Don’t Fade Away Records.

Pale Blue Eyes: wow! what a great surprise to hear this 7″ by this Totnes, UK, band. The 7″ includes two songs, “Motionless” and “Chelsea”. The record will be out on January 25th and it sounds promising, very promising. I hope we all can get a copy!

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Another from the Woking Soundscene Soundcloud, one that sounds AMAZING if I may say so.

Who were Thieves of Dreams? Their song “Shelter” is a belter, with fast guitars, and a great melody. A very good C86 song. Classic sounding. Canonical if you want.

So yeah, who were they?

We know a few things thanks to the great job the people behind this Soundcloud and Facebook page do. We know the band hailed from Aldershot and was around from 1990 to 1997. It was formed by:
Rodney Shack – vocals/guitar
Ian Bridgeman – guitar
Nigel Morley – vocals/bass
Mark Ellis – drums

At some point Mark Ellis, the drummer, was replaced by Simon Moore.

According to this source, the band was also known as T.O.D. and TOD. Their first “release” came out in November 1991, it was a 4-track demo tape  called “Florence Ain’t No Nightingale!” which was recorded at Ghost Studios in Woking.The songs included in it were “Children of the Night”, “Smiling Game”, “Am I Happy Now?” and “Shelter”. Half of the songs were written by Rodney Shack, the other half by Ian Bridgeman. We also know that Rodney Shack is credited for the production was well as Simon Moore. The tape release is credited to the label Mourn My Health, most probably their own “label”.

That same month they released the tape they supported Who Moved The Ground at Farnham Art College.

In 1992 the band contributed the song “Give The Game Away” to the compilation tape “Son of Farnborough Groove Vol. 2” and in 1993 the song “Shelter” ended up in the “Return of the Farnborough Groove Vol. 3”.

I was able to find “Give the Game Away” and although different it is a terrific indiepop song! Wow! This is like a long lost classic band. I wonder how I have never heard anyone mention them. It is a great discovery.

Sadly there’s really nothing else on the web about them. Who remembers them? Any details anyone can share?

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Listen
Thieves of Dreams – Shelter