Back from Dublin, spent 4 days and a bit there and it was really nice. It wasn’t as rainy as I thought it would be. It was kind of cold, but it was good for walking and exploring the city. I notice it is very green there. I guess because of the weather. I didn’t find any indiepop though. Visited three or four record stores and aside from a 12″ by The Holsteins (which I already own) I didn’t find anything else worth buying. Shame.

I did find posters of The Frank and Walters at a pub called Whelan’s and at this same place I got to hear in the background “Rip it Up”. I guess that’s as indiepop as it got. Visited a bunch of museums, cathedrals, shops, restaurants and so on. The usual. Didn’t get to do any side trips as I would have wanted, I think if I had stayed one or two more days I could have. I just wanted to explore all of Dublin first. We missed a few things of course like the Dublin City Gallery, but I’m sure at some point I will return.

Now, let’s get back to blogging as we need to catch up!

Useless Youth: it would have been nice to catch this Mexican band on one of my many visits to their capital. I hope next year that happens. The band who has been featured on the blog in the past has just put up a new album called “Cities” up on their Bandcamp and it sounds gorgeous. Definitely a band to follow!

Ping Pong Club: the Bandung, Indonesia, band is back with a digital single called “Ecstatic” that sounds superb!! For some reason the melody reminds me of St. Christopher, right? This is a great track so it makes me look forward to their next efforts.

Chain Wallet: the Bergen, Norway, band is back with a new song called “Ride” after a two year silence. I believe this song will be included in an album called “No Ritual” which I’m not sure when it will be released. “Ride” sounds brilliant, jangly and dreamy, just how I like it!

The Hannah Barberas: I feel every month there are news by this English band and that is a good thing of course. Now they are releasing on Bandcamp four Christmas songs as part of their “Christmas Bandwagon” EP. The songs are “Oh Santa Claus!”, “Christmas Time is Here”, “A Dream for Christmas” and “Winter/Christmas”. Get in the holiday mood!

Whistler Post: two songs by this Indonesian band, “About” and “This is For Somethin Cool” are included in this digital single put together by the Jakarta label Don’t Fade Away. Don’t know much about the band, but it is a nice introduction to them!

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I don’t know much about this UK band but always loved their “Genius of Lies” song. So here I am digging on Google, trying to find any bits and pieces I can find about them.

That song I mention was the A side of “The Ice Babies Cometh” 7″ that was released in 1981 by the Groove Digger label (GOD 1). This might have been a self-release as there are no other releases listed on this label and this is the first release on the catalogue. Just an educated guess here. The B side of the single is “Reason Not Rhyme”.

I would of course love a copy of it. Listen to it at home on my turntable. Wouldn’t that be nice? The two songs were recorded at Cave Studios in Bristol on April 20th, 1981. Also there are some names on the sleeve.

Leisa Gurney on voice and organ
Tim Isherwood on guitar
Phil Goodland on drums
Fil Broek on drums

And then an address. We know now that they were based, in the area of Curdleigh Farm, Blagdon Hill, in Taunton, Somerset.

Taunton is a large regional town in Somerset, England. The town’s population in 2011 was 69,570. Taunton has over 1,000 years of religious and military history, including a 10th century monastery and Taunton Castle, which has origins in the Anglo Saxon period and was later the site of a priory. The Normans then built a stone structured castle, which belonged to the Bishops of Winchester. The current heavily reconstructed buildings are the inner ward, which now houses the Museum of Somerset and the Somerset Military Museum.

Sadly there is not much more written about them on the web. I could find a Tim Isherwood, musician and all, but from Toronto and based in Berlin. And probably much younger. So no. That’s not the one. It looks as if they were only involved in The Ice Babies and no other bands. But I would love to confirm this suspicion.

So I need your help so we can maybe get in touch, interview them, or at least learn if there were more songs. Anyone remember them?

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Listen
Ice Babies – Genius of Lies

Well, today I’m heading off to Dublin. I’ve been recommended to visit Spin Dizzy Records, The Record Spot, Freebird Records and Tower Dublin. Any other recommendations?

So no more posts until next Wednesday. Of course I will  leave you some music too…

The Relationships: I wasn’t aware until a few days ago that this classic pop bands, that features Angus ex-Razorcuts, was on Bandcamp.  On this platform they have shared four songs (“Fairgrounding”, “Strange Archaeology”, “Mike Oldfield”, “Guitar Heroes at the BBC”) of lovely janglepop. The Oxford band who have already released four albums seem to be in pretty good form!

Foliage/Andrew Younker: two pretty good bands that I have featured on the blog are joining forces to release a split tape with the Slovakian label Z Tapes. Each of them contribute three tracks and right now you can preview one by each, Foliage’s “Be Transparent” and Andrew Younker’s “Thankful”.

Cheesemind: the fine Chinese label Qiii Snacks from Guangzhou has a new song on their Bandcamp byt this band. Everything is in Chinese so I understand nothing really, but this one song sounds pretty good. Hoping to hear more by them in the future!

The Golden Rail: the superb Melbourne band is back with a new song! “Don’t Let Go Of the Light” is now available to stream and also as a limited edition CD single that you can get from their Bandcamp! This song will be part of the upcoming second album that will be released sometime next year.

The Moss Poles: Nicky from The Moss Poles got in touch a few days ago and told me that he has put together a Souncloud page with lots of goodies! This is terrific news. I wrote about them on the blog in the past if you’d like some background information but of course now i’m hoping to interview him! Hope it happens!

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The other day my friend David shared the song “Insikten Om Folkciderns Aloholhalt” and I was reminded that many years ago I was looking to get in touch with the band (and of a copy of their one and only 7″). That in the hopes of having Addo 602 as part of the Sound of Starke Adolf series that sadly only got to see one volume released.

I think the lack of support of many bands I contacted and me having some trouble with my partner in Plastilina at the time made me kind of leave that project on the side. I would love to retake it. Perhaps repress the first volume? Or just start as volume 2. Wonder what would work best if I was to undertake this project again.

Addo 602 only released a 7″ in 2001 on the Strings of Nashville Records. I was always familiar with this label because it had released records by one of my favourites, Nixon. But the truth is that Addo 602’s release was actually the first one in the label’s catalog, STRINGS001. Probably the label was started to release this band.

The self-titled 7″ EP included four songs, two on each side. The A side had “Spelombudet” and “Insikten Om Folkciderns Aloholhalt”, while the B side had “Det Kommer Regna Manna Från Himlen” and “KK-Låten”. The art for the cover caught my eye immediately, with that sort of bambi drawing and a light blue smudge.

They did appear on two compilations though. The first also dates from 2001 and it was a Swedish one released by Absurd Records (Absurd 10) on CD. It was called “Blåser Mellan Öronen 01” and the band contributes the song “Insikten Om Folkciderns Aloholhalt”. I believe many of the bands on this compilation participated on the Emmaboda festival of 2001. Did Addo 602 played that famous festival? Yes they did according to Emmaboda’s website.

Then in 2004, on a CDr comp called “Every Djur and Every Mir” that was put out by Djur and Mir Recordings (DJURMIR008) the band participated with “Illvilligt Överspänd Röst”.

Discogs gives us a little bit more information. I believe the band was formed by Björn Anders Nilsson, Hannes Stenström, Anja Dahlstedt, Per Hillerström and Paula Cederberg. There is a photo of two of them two. I’m using that one for this post. Which of them were this boy and girl?

We do know that Björn Anders Nilsson was in a few bands like City, Hundhimlen, Jospressen and Slagsmålsklubben. Hannes Stenström had been in Shxcxchcxsh, Slagsmålsklubben, Terror of History, The X Dump among others.

I find out, going to tradera.se of all places, that the Addo 602 was actually a typewriter.

Then on an article I find out that the band played a festival alongside the likes of Fosca called Bomben 3 år in October 13th 2001. Another gig I found about was one in Kristianstad on May 25th 2002 alongside Idiot Savants, Slagsmålsklubben, Log, Kristoffer Åström & Hidden Truck.

I keep googling and find that these days Anja Dahlstedt is a librarian at Botkyrka, not too far from Stockholm. Were the band based in the capital then?

I then find a blog comment where someone says he has a tape with a lot of songs. Dear. I would love to hear that! What songs are they? What were their names? Why didn’t they get released? Was it perhaps the demo tape that is listed on Popfakta?

That demotape doesn’t seem to have a year but it included 5 songs, “KK-Låten”, “Spelombudet”, “Dagismamman som Ville Bli Greta Garbo”, “Det Kommer at Regna Manna från Himlen” and “Cart, Have a Farm!”. Interesting enough thanks to this tape I find what each member played. Anja Dahlstedt played bass, Björn Nilsson guitar, organ and synthetizer, Hannes Stenström guitar, Per Hillerström guitar and percussion and vocals and Paula Cederberg klangspiel, synths and vocals.

And that’s about it. I found the names of other songs by them not included in the 7″. That’s great. Now If I could listen to them? And of course two of their members got some more recognition with their other bands. Addo 602 only got to put out that one 7″ and play Emmaboda. Maybe those two were their highlights. But I would love to find out more about them. Does anyone remember them?

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Listen
Addo 602 – Insikten Om Folkciderns Aloholhalt

Thanks so much to Robert Sekula for this fantastic interview! Always been a fan of the 14 Iced Bears, many of their songs are true indiepop classics. Seen them a few times after they reformed some years ago. And then one day Rob got in touch through the blog, about another Brighton band, and I didn’t miss the opportunity to ask if he would be up for an interview… and he was! So here it is, lots of questions to one of the most important bands in p!o!p!

++ Hi Rob! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Still based in Brighton?

Hey Roque, no probs. I’m fine ta, considering, hope you’re well. I left Brighton in 1992

++ Are the 14 Iced Bears still going? Are you still making music?

Nah, we reformed in 2010, toured the US twice, Paris and the UK. Then we resplit in 2014. I’m still making music, working on my own stuff

++ I’ve always known you being in the 14 Iced Bears but I’m curious if you have ever been involved in any other bands before, after, or during the time of the 14 Iced Bears?

Just before the Bears, I formed a group called The Velvet Underground when I was at uni. We just did their songs. This was before tribute bands, way ahead of our time! Then from about 1990-1992, along with the Bears, I was in a band with my friends from Brighton called Arthur. I was the lead guitarist. We supported The Stairs among others. Our singer was obsessed with Arthur Lee of Love, and he ended up in a transit van with Arthur driving up to Liverpool, with all the weirdness you can imagine! After the Bears I formed a band to do my new songs, called Easter Sun. We played some gigs but that’s stopped for now.

++ Let’s start from the beginning. What are your first music memories? Do you remember what was your first instrument? How did you learn to play it? What sort of music did you listen at home while growing up?

When I was 4 or 5 I had a go on the glockenspiel at school in Camberwell, South London (St Josephs). The teachers said I was talented and I should have music lessons. My family weren’t well off but my mum really encouraged me to learn the recorder /piano, bless her. I reached Grade 8 recorder (highest possible) but wasn’t into classical music much, apart from Beethoven and a few others. While I grew up I loved pop music. The mid-70s were a golden time for pop music, even the cheesy stuff were great songs. From David Soul and David Cassidy to Suzi Quatro and the Osmonds – loved it all.

++ I’ve read that you were formed in Brighton and have also read that you were formed in South London. What is true? And where were you all originally from?

I’m originally from Camberwell, South London but I went to Sussex University, near Brighton, where the Bears were originally formed – my and my uni mate, the drummer Nick Emery, started it off. The other longest-serving Bears were probably drummer Graham Durrant, from Norfolk, and Kevin Canham, from Oxford. Think the only original Brightonian was Kev (Will ) Taylor, who played bass on the first lp.

++ How was Brighton at the time you started? Were there any bands that you liked? What were the good record stores? Or what about the pubs or venues to go check out up and coming bands?

Brighton was exciting, as there was a lot of interest in bands like the TVPs, the Pastels, June Brides as we were starting. The Big Twang club at the Escape venue was the centre of all that was going on. They put all the new bands on, that’s how we got to support the Wedding Present there on our second-ever gig. It was a real coming together and everyone would have a great time dancing to the newest indie hits. They had their own fanzine. Not only bands, but people like journalist Johnny Dee (as in the Chesterfields song) came from that scene. We all used to mainly go to Borderline records, but there were a few decent shops around.

I’m too out of touch now to recommend anything – apart from the Heart and Hand pub, at least. Great jukebox of classic stuff.

++ When and how did the band start? How did you all meet? How was the recruiting process?

As I said, me and Nick met at university. The main reason I’d gone to uni was to start a band! Then we put an ad in the local Brighton music shop windows and did a little practice with the possibles.

Luckily, soon enough, we had some people.

++ There have been quite a lot of members in the band, right? Why the many lineup changes and what would be the “classic” lineup for the 14 Iced Bears?

Mainly bass players! A bit like Spinal Tap drummers. I think at one stage I believe we’d had 14 members, then we split up. Spooky. It was mainly bass players leaving! Difficult to say, but my preference would be the first lp line-up: Graham, Kevin, Will and me.

++ Why the name 14 Iced Bears?

It’s something that happened to me as a child, is what I used to always say.

++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?

I seemed to have songs coming out of my ears at the time. Most weeks I would come up with a song while I wandered the streets of Brighton. If a song was good, I’d feel a weird tingle and rush home to tape it. We’d practice in local rehearsal rooms.

++ And who would you say were influences in the sound of the band?

At first I’d say Burt Bacharach, JAMC, the Pastels, Syd Barrett (our first ever gig we covered Syd’s ‘Late Night’), Primals, Bunnymen, Teardrop Explodes and more, then by around 87, the line-up had changed and we went more towards West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, 13th Floor Elevators, Big Star, among others.

++ During the mid and late 80s (and early 90s), there was an explosion of guitar pop bands in the UK. Why do you think that happened? Did you feel part of that?

I think people were a bit bored, after the Smiths first came out people were excited, then nothing much happened for a year or so. It was all a bit miserable goth, and bland pop, at the time. That’s why hearing the Mary Chain’s Upside Down was such a shock at the time. A great tune! Not sure what you mean by guitar pop bands, but we felt part of a growing indie thing across the country, with all the fanzines and local scenes happening.

++ I read that it was at your first gig that Mark Flunder from the TVPs spotted you and offered you a release on his brand new Frank Records. That’s really amazing! Was it really your fist gig? Where was it? Who else was playing?

It’s all a bit hazy now, but I think it was (or our third? 🙂 ). I could be wrong, but can’t remember for sure, any more! I remember it was at Sussex University campus in Falmer, near Brighton. Our first gig was with our friends, Hypnotising Chickens, again on campus. They included a friend from our ex-Velvet Underground days 🙂

++ This first release was the “Inside” 7″ which includes “Inside”, “Blue Suit” and “Cut”. I must say that one of my most favourite songs by the band is “Cut” and would love to take the opportunity to ask you if you could tell me the story behind this song in a few sentences if possible? 🙂

Glad you like “Cut”, one of my faves too. Erm, I was sharing a house with an ex, among others. From what I remember, she got off with one of the Bodines, I think, in the room above mine. I was pretty upset. That’s when I wrote the song! Although it’s all getting more and more hazy these days. Seems like a different world.

++ Also I really like the art for this record, with the white and pink vertical bars and very cool design. But I’m wondering who used to take care of all your art? Was it always you or it was sometimes the label?

It varied. On that occasion it was Mark Flunder’s idea.

++ You then went to release “The Importance of Being Frank EP”, a superb 12″ that included a classic song of yours “Balloon Song”.  I’ve always been curious about the cover version The Aislers Set did of that song. How did that happen and did you like it? Did you ever see them play live or meet any of the members?

Thanks re “Balloon Song”. I think I found out on the grapevine after they’d done it. It was very touching that someone released a version of it. I was glad, it may have got more people into the song. Think I saw them play live in London once in the 90s, but they didn’t do BS 🙁 Met some of them, but it was like 20 years ago!)

++ This same song was later included in a flexi shared with The Hermit Crabs. I read that it was taken from a gig recorded for BBC Radio Sussex for a show called Turn it Up. What was that show about? And why did you choose to use this live recording for this flexi?

Turn it Up was the local music radio show. They were really nice and we did a few interviews with them over the years. It was a ‘Xmas party version’ (as you can tell?) for their yuletide night and was actually called Saloon Bong! We recorded a version of the Chocolate Watchband’s Are You Gonna Be There for them in their studio, a few years later. It’s on youtube if people want to hear it.

++ And again, “Balloon Song”, appears on the Shelter Video compilation. It looks as you are playing live somewhere with the Shelter banner behind. When and where was it recorded?

That was at Bay 63, Ladbroke Grove, London, I think, prob about 87. The sound’s terrible on it unfortunately, I’m a bit embarrassed about it but for years that was the only video thing people knew of us on the internet

++ A year later, in 1988, you were to release the classic “Come Get Me” on Sarah. I’ve always wondered why was it your one and only release on Sarah, why didn’t you continue releasing records with them?

It was our only one because we wanted to make an lp next and they didn’t do them at the time.

++ And because I know many friends love this song, I have to ask, what inspired it?

I was living opposite a small park at the time, and I would imagine popping over there on lazy afternoons with my girlfriend and it was a little oasis from everything. There was never anyone else around. The song just came from being there, really. The feeling of the swings.

++ Most of your records afterwards came out on Thunderball Records. Who were behind this label? How was your relationship with them and how did you end up signing with them?

It was someone we knew a bit from Harlow in Essex, Graeme Sinclair. He did the Shelter and CND video compilations with loads of indie bands on them – An Ideal Guesthouse and Carry on Disarming, I think.

He was into our stuff and was keen to put out an lp, so we did. The first time I met him, at a party in Brighton, he head-butted me as a joke. Quite a good start!

++ I believe that for the “Mother Sleep” 12  you recorded your only promo video, and it was for the title song. Where was this one recorded? It looks like a park and then a studio?

It was recorded in another park in Brighton, and I can’t remember which studio, sorry!

++ Your other promo video, “World I Love” was also for another Thunderball single. How was that experience of doing these videos and why weren’t there more by the 14 Iced Bears? 

It was great doing them, but in those days it wasn’t so easy to do. We made one for Hold On that was really good, filmed by one of Jane Pow. Unfortunately it’s been lost. I’d love to find it again.

++ Something I noticed is that you released a couple of splits with bands like The Hermit Crabs, Crocodile Ride, Splendour in the Grass. Were you friends with them? Or they just happened thanks to the labels?

It was mainly a label thing but we knew Crocodile Ride as they were our mates in Brighton.

++ On the German label Mermaid Records you released a single sided 7″ with a cover of “Julia Dream”, an original by Roger Waters of course. Did you use to play it live? Were covers part of a regular 14 Iced Bears gig? Did you record any others?

Yeah, we used to play that plus, at times, Smell of Incense by West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, Bouncing Babies by Teardrop Explodes, even did Whole Lotta Love by Led Zep! Our first gig we played Syd Barrett’s Late Night. I think the Teardrops one live is on our Slumberland comp.

++ Your last releases were to happen in Borderline Records in the early 90s, the “Hold On” 12″ and “Wonder” album. Why the new change of labels? I don’t know much about Borderline, would you tell me a bit about who they were? where were they based?

It was just things changed, can’t remember exactly. Borderline was run by Dave Minns, who ran the town’s best record shop. He was friends with Gene Clark from the Byrds and there was talk of him being on Wonder but unfortunately that was the year he died. It was based in Brighton, and Dave put on a lot of the local gigs. He was always in the Heart & Hand and felt like my Brighton dad.

++ Something that I like about you is that you always made your music accessible by releasing compilations in the 90s, and then in the 2000s, on Overground in the UK and Slumberland in the US, and later on Cherry Red. Was this the intention? To keep your music easily available?

I obviously wanted people to hear the stuff so we were delighted to do the comps. It wasn’t our mission as such but we were glad to do them.

++ I was looking at the compilation appearances and there are many, but most of them are quite recent I’d say. From the ones in the past I’m curious about the “Fingernails” tape that included “Train Song” and was released in 1988 by Toytown. It was an Australian compilation, and I’m quite impressed that your music ended up down under. Do you remember how that happened?

I’m not aware of that! Do you have any details?

++ Lastly I wanted to ask about the latest record you were part of, the “Three Wishes: Part Time Punks” 12″ sessions record that you shared with two other fab bands like Aberdeen and The June Brides. I’m wondering if you ever share a gig with them in the past? And how did you enjoy LA and recording these tracks?

No we just played with them on our West Coast US tour of 2011. We had a friend to stay with in LA, so hung out a bit. Really excited, quite an exotic landscape for a boy from Camberwell. We did the tracks in Robert from Brian Jonestown Massacre’s studio. It was great fun!

++ A couple of weeks ago you mentioned that there will be a new Cherry Red compilation. What’s that about? Or you can’t say much yet?

Sorry not allowed to give any details yet!

++ You recorded not one but two Peel Sessions. One in 1986 and another in 1987. How did that happen? How was that experience? Did you get to meet Peel? Any anecdotes you can share?

He really liked our first single Inside and got in touch with the label. It was an amazing experience, especially being mixed by Dale Griffin from Mott the Hoople. Dale said he really liked Cut, which, for a bunch of kids doing their first stuff, was great news.
The first time went like a dream but, the second one – our van keys broke in the lock after we finished and we had to sleep on the BBC sofas in the foyer overnight!
We didn’t meet him there but we were overwhelmed by his reaction on air to our songs. He loved it. A teenage dream come true!
I met him in the street in London about ten years later and had a nice chat. Although, we used to talk over the phone on rare occasions during his show.

++ Are there any unreleased songs by the 14 Iced Bears? Or has everything been released?

There’s a few early things that were only released live like Jumped in a Puddle and some stuff after Wonder before we split.

++ Was there ever interest big labels?

Apparently Geffen were interested around the time of the first LP but nothing came of it.

++ What about gigs? What were the best gigs you remember? And why?

So many. The best was probably supporting Alex Chilton around 91/92 in Brighton. Had a great time hanging out with him post-gig, and he really liked our set, so I didn’t care what anyone else thought after that! 😀Touring the US was amazing recently. Playing gigs itself was a real rush for me. The first time we got loud cheers from the audience, at our very first gig in Brighton, felt really exhilarating too.

++ And how different was playing Belgium, France, Germany and Switzerland, compared to the UK?

You definitely get treated better! We couldn’t believe hotels and meals were organised for us.

++ Had there been any bad gigs?

Erm, playing wise, a couple of times! The Falcon in Camden, around 91, my amp cut out at the gig and we still couldn’t hear the other guitarist. I started pulling the strings out of my guitar during the set, the mic kept falling down while I was singing, and we got a terrible review in the NME! Had to be in London, didn’t it!

++ When and why did the band split? Had members of the band involved with any other bands afterwards?

Long story. I moved up to London in 92. Not sure what everyone’s been up to – I know Kev has a band, Blackthorn Crescent, and Graham still plays drums for people.

++ In 2010 there was a reunion to tour the US and some UK gigs. How did that happen? Was it easy to put the band together once more?

Through some friends on Facebook who were music promoters in the US really. I’d had no plans to reform but this felt like a adventure so I managed to get enough ex- band members together.

++ I remember being lucky to see you at Indietracks and in London. A new generation was excited to see you play and listen to your music. I want to thank you for that. But for you, what were the best gigs of this reunion and the best part of playing with the 14 Iced Bears again?

I loved all of them really, and it was great to play those songs to new people, and we were pretty tight too!

++ Also there was a mention of 14 Iced Bears on the song “Twee” by Tullycraft. I suppose you don’t consider your music twee, do you? And has there been any other good covers or mentions by bands that you remember now? I can remember the The Shapiros’ “Cut” which is great too…

I’m not sure what twee means. It used to mean affected and crap, so I don’t think we were twee in that way. I suppose now it’s more of a genre label, so I have no idea. When we first started it was a counter to all the goth and crap-chartpop around. It felt quite punky to write melodic stuff with a noisy, untamed sound. Then, around 88, we were more interested in 60s psyche. The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band’s third lp changed my life and was constantly on in the tour van.

There was The Aislers Set version of Balloon Song, which probably kickstarted the Slumberland compilation. There’s been a few others over the years.

++ Did you get much attention from the radio? What about TV?

Mainly John Peel in Uk radio, and college radio in the States. We did an interview on Snub TV in 88/89 (UKTV programme) but I don’t know where any copies of that are.

++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention?

We got single of the week for Balloon Song, can’t remember which UK music paper it was. Our lps got strange reviews – one in the NME or similar said we’d be massive if we had a different name! We were mainly in fanzines, I suppose.

++ I suppose you got a fair amount of appearances in fanzines back in the day? Were you perhaps involved in fanzines or not? And what were your favourite fanzines back then?

I wasn’t involved personally but knew Johnny Dee (Especially Yellow). As he was local, I got quite into that fanzine – we did a rather silly interview, I remember.

++ Looking back in retrospective, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?

God knows – so many. Being liked on John Peel, releasing any thing at all, playing with some of my musical heroes – among others, we played with Julian Cope, Mo Tucker and Sterling Morrison, as well as Alex Chilton – making our albums, touring. Pretty much all of it, actually!

+ + And aside from music what other hobbies do you have? What about football? Do you support any team?

I’ve made up my own type of yoga meditation which I’m really into, and it has healed me of so many things, including physical things. I love Eckhart Tolle’s writings. I’m quite political – it’s been great to be part of the wave that saw Jeremy Corbyn’s rise. A paradigm shift in UK politics. I’m also a big believer in Cannabis legalisation. There’s been a social revolution with the worldwide change in its perception and that’s been exciting too. As long as we don’t destroy the planet, in the meantime.

I’ve supported Tottenham since I was about 4, and that’s been great recently also!

++ I was in Brighton once some years ago but it is always better to ask a local for some suggestions. Like what are the sights a pop fan shouldn’t miss? Or the traditional food or drinks that you love that I should try? Any good record stores to visit?

I haven’t lived there for 26 years so have no idea. When I go there now, it looks similar but all the bodies are different. A bit like a Body Snatchers film.

++ Anything else you’d like to add?

No! That was pretty exhaustive, are you a detective? 🙂 but seriously, thanks so much for being into our stuff, Roque. It’s very appreciated.

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Listen
14 Iced Bears – Cut

Monday! This week there will be only another post, on Wednesday and after that there won’t be any other updates on the blog until the next Wednesday. I’m heading for a few days to Dublin, to escape Thanksgiving, so that should be pretty good. It’s been a while since I had some time off. But as usual I leave you a bunch of music for you to enjoy!

Sobs: this great Singapore band I had recommended in the past recorded a live session for something called JUICE. The result is on Youtube, there is a lovely video of them performing their song “Girl” which I think everyone should check out! I believe they will be touring soon Japan alongside the super For Tracy Hyde.

Sexores: not sure who these Ecuadorians are. They hail from Quito and they credit themselves as numbers, not names. They do make some great dreamy songs though. Kind of synth-gaze if that’s a term that exists? I don’t know. But surely this is good stuff. Their record “East/West” is available as a limited 12″ in their Bandcamp.

My Raining Stars: “Manhattan” is the latest song by the brilliant French band that is fronted by Thierry Haliniak. This time around the sound of the jangly outfit sounds a bit more early 90s I think. I hope to see a new album by him in the future, especially as I missed his first one many years ago.

Golden Teardrops: two new songs by Ryan and Lei Marquez, our friends from Richmond, California! Or maybe not that new, but they are Bandcamp new. “Since You Came Along (Single version)” is of course the single version of the original that appeared on their album “Promises & Smiles” while “Boy, am I Worth the Trouble?” was recorded back in 2010. Nevertheless these are two lovely tracks!

Herlights: this Russian band have continued posting good songs on Bandcamp since the last time I featured them many months ago. I think I had just discovered them through their song “SHE”, now there are three more, “WET”, “Lost in the Autumn” and their latest “Fairy Tale”.  And I’m happy to revisit their page. These songs are great!

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There are no release dates for any of Les Fleurs releases on Discogs. That complicates things for my investigation. For my research. Listed are a 7″ single and two tapes. I wonder if that was all this French band released.

The 7″ came out on a label called Z & Zoé Records that was based in Auch. Auch is a commune in southwestern France. Located in the region of Occitanie, it is the capital of the Gers department. Auch is the historical capital of Gascony. It is kind of near to Toulouse, an area that in the 90s had a good bunch of indiepop bands. Also just saw the photo of the Auch cathedral and looks amazing. I would love to visit one day. Anyways. They label was founded by Laurent Wencewiez and later joined him in the adventure Michel Lorteau. The label is still alive and I suppose the most known bands in their roster would be Marie Antoinette and Fandor. I do need to explore their releases.

Their 7″ was called “Trop Tôt Pour Aller Dormir” and had the catalog number ZAZ03. This makes me believe that the record was released sometime between 1995 and 1997, as that’s where it would fit in between the 2nd and 4th release on the catalogue. It would also make sense, the 90s was a good time for indiepop in France.

The 7″ had 5 songs. Two on the A side: “Elle N’Aime Pas Les Garçons” and “Monsieur Paul”. The B side had three: “Camille Préfère Attendre”, “Pilule” and “La Fête Est Finie”. Happily there are credits and we get to know the people that played in the record.

Nicolas Falez – vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano and programming (he also wrote the songs)
Sébastien Drique – guitar and backing vocals (he also took the photography for the sleeve)
Rudy Audant – bass, tambourine, shaker, backing vocals
Sonia Bricout – backing vocals

The two tapes that are listed might be demos. The first one is called “Vingt et Un Tours du Soleil” that included 6 tracks: “Les Pommiers en Fleurs”, “Alice et Moi”, “Les Choses Que L’On Souhaite, “Vu d’ici”, “Pilule” and “Je Suis Venue te Dire que Je M’en Vais”.

I really like the artwork of this tape, with its cut and paste feel, the colorful flowers and the textures. It looks like something I would have done when young at university. Really cool. And that same style is repeated on the other tape listed, the one called “Chanson(s) Pour Hier Soir)”.

This second tape includes 8 songs, 7 originals and one cover version, John Barry’s “The Persuaders”. The tracklist was as follows: “Wonderbra”, “Le Tour des Mondanités”, “Le Père Lachaise:, “Le Jardin”, “Es-tu une guêpe ou une abeille?”, “Elle & Lui (discotrash)”, “Chanson pour hier soir” and “The Persuaders”.

It is hard for me to read the credits on the tape, from a low quality scan on Discogs. I do notice that there are other band members listed. An Alex and a Laurent I can read. But I can’t figure out their last names.

The band appeared on many compilations during their lifetime. There are 9 listed on Discogs. On the compilation tape “After Nine” that was released in 1994 by Pâte A Modeler (PAM 002), the band contributed “Le Tour Des Mondanités” and “3 Minutes De Parfaite Stupidité”.  I have to say I am very curious about all of these tapes, labels, and bands, that are part of the compilation cassette scene from the 90s in France. Would love to have access to them someway.

Another 1994 tape the band had presence in was “Quatre-quarts” that was put together by Le Taotu Colérique (C94). Three songs by Les Fleurs were included “Carol a New York”, “Trois Minutes de Parfaite Stupidité” and “Je Te Trouve un Peu Trop Sérieuse”.

In 1996 the band would appear on a CD compilation called “Cat’alogue 96” that was released by Presto! (CAT 96) on CD. The band just contributed one song for this album, “Wonderbra”. The year after, 1997, the band contributes “Le Skaï Des Trains Corails” and “Chanson Pour Hier Soir” to the “L’Océane” CD compilation that was released by Pop Earth (PE 002). Both of these compilations are filled with bands I don’t know much about!

In 2000, a year were CDs were reigning supreme, the band appears on a tape comp called “Eden Love” that was released by A Secret Song. Two songs by the band are included “Wonderbra” and “Elle & Lui”.

Those are all the compilations that we can pinpoint a year of release. But there are four more. On the “Plouf” compilation (which I believe has been mentioned on the blog before) that was released by Les Tartines, the band contributes the song “Les Pommiers en Fleurs”. Then on the always interesting Shiny Sunset label from Italy (who I tried to interview with no luck) they had the song “Vu D’ici” on the “A Glittering Christmas” tape comp.

Their song “Les Pommiers en Fleurs” also appear on the “Sassy” tape which doesn’t seems not to have a label but did come with a fanzine. This tape included many great bands from the period like Girl of the World, Silly Pillows or Vicarage Garden among others.

Lastly. on the Pâte A Modeler tape compilation “Tango” the band included two songs “Le Père Lachaise” and “La Fête Est Finie”.

I look for what other bands the members of Les Fleurs might have been in. So, Sonia Bricout had been in a band called Superflu and Ghost Rhythms. Sébastien Drique had also been in Superflu as well as Nicolas Falez. It does look like Superflu was a much bigger band, releasing three albums and a handful of singles between the late nineties and 2007.

I find a PDF with the biography of Superflu. Here there’s a mention of Les Fleurs, telling how they first started. It seems that it all starts in the summer of 1993 when Nicolas was recording songs on his own. Then in 1994 he meets Sonia and Sébastien while attending Journalism School in the city of Lille. Okay great, we have a place they were from! It seems that Gauthier Montury joins the band in 1995 but after that half of them move to Paris, and that’s when they change their name to Superflu.

I keep digging and I find that Nicolas is now in a band called Fontaine Wallace.

It seems there is quite a bit of information about Superflu, with several articles in the famous Les Inrockuptibles. But about Les Fleurs, really nothing. I found a bunch of songs on Youtube though and that was fantastic. Check out “Alice et Moi” or the song I’m sharing here on the blog and you’ll understand my excitement. Who doesn’t love a good song with boy/girl vocals, right?

So I wonder, my French friends, my friends from Lille, if you remember them? I’ve tried many times to do interviews and learn more about French bands on the blog, but only a few have gotten back to me. Would be great to learn more about Les Fleurs and also about that healthy 90s scene that existed in taht country!

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Listen
Les Fleurs – Elle N’Aime Pas Les Garçons

Friday then. Exciting. Next week on Wednesday I’m heading to Dublin for 4 days. Please send my way any record store recommendations, I would love to find used records, some cool indiepop from Ireland!

Here are my newest finds for you to enjoy this coming weekend!

Verano del 83: this Trujillo, Peru, band have been featured a couple of times on the blog. They continue making music and from what I understand this video for their song “El Poder del Sol” will be included in their forthcoming album to be released sometime soon. Would be nice to know where was the video filmed. What area in Peru?

Shadow Girls: “Glorius Flowers” EP, part of a series called Singularidades Jabalina, on the Madrid label Jabalina is the new 7″ by the interesting project formed by Jaime from Souvenir and Charlie Mysterio from Los Caramelos. There are four songs, four cover versions, of which I’m sure you’d be mostly interested in listening the Go-Betweens one, a cover of “Bachelor Kisses”.

Happypills: a new single by this Fukuoka, Japan, band called “So Long/Earth” is now available to stream on Bandcamp. It is a pretty upbeat track of bedroom pop, definitely worth checking out!

The Pleasures Pale: I wasn’t aware this Dayton, OH, band was on Bandcamp. I was hoping to write a post about them later on here in the blog. But maybe now I can get in touch with them? I do own an album that a long time Jessel recommended to me. Now I see on Bandcamp a bunch of the songs that appeared on the album available to stream like the terrific “My Town Has No Cafés”! Totally check this out!

Yawyaw: and lastly here are two catchy songs from yet another Indonesian band! “When I’m Relax” and “Kiss” were released on CDR by Supercrush Records and these are already sold out!! Shame! I would have loved a copy!

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“Book-em Danno”, from the tv police drama Hawaii Five-O, the signature expression uttered by the character of Steve McGarrett (played by Jack Lord) to sidekick Danny Williams (played by James MacArthur), usually at the end of each episode when the criminals had been apprehended.

My first encounter with this wonderful band was where else but through the Sound of Leamington Spa series. Their song “BJs” had appeared on the 6th volume of the series that was released by Firestation Records in 2009. It was a fantastic song.

But for me the big mystery has been if the 12″ released by the Splinter Group label by the band Book’em Danno was the same band. Discogs would tell you it is. But I have my doubts. Especially because on the liner notes of the Firestation compilation there is no mention whatsoever of this record. This is what it says:

Shirts from Oxfam! Pop music from heaven! This was how one person described “Bookendanno”. Formed more by accident than grand design, after the collapse and demise of two local pop outfits, Ink and Yootha Joyce. The core players from both bands combined to form the nucleus of Bookemdanno. The band initially decamped to a dark rehearsal room with a pen, some paper, a bottle of died lemonade and some fruit. From here the plan was hatched to loose any style in terms of a sense of fashion. The band uniform became Hawaiian shirts. Then onto constructing pop songs with a strong hook line and memorable melodies. Tie all this together with a fierce reputation for live performances and you have the essence of the band. The bonus ball would have been for the world to accede to the bands agenda on the all-conquering power of original pop music. After several blistering live outings the logical decision was made to record an album. The end result of the sessions held at shipwreck studios was “For Nobody But Ourselves”, an album that caugth the bands unique ability to craft melodies and tunes into grandiose statements on life, love and happiness. The album included Castro, BJ’s and Shattered Smile which were complimented by a wealth of top quality pop humdingers. The album was to be the band only recording as a unit. Amidst allegations of rumour of deceit, deception and also, a nominal notion he world wouldn’t listen, the band imploded. Which was a shame, really. A couple of the songs live on via roomthirteen, which was borne out of the ashes of the Bookemdanno fiasco. BJ’s and Shattered Smile being regular staples of the roomthirteen live set. 

Bookemdanno were: John Done (vocals guitar), Paul Geraghty (drums), Alan Slack (bass guitar), Brian Mitchell (vocals), Phil Stock (mandolin), Derek Goodwin (keyboards), Paul Walster (sometimes lead guitar sometime bass guitar), Alan Dornan (deputy guitarist).

There is a mention of an album, but not at all of a 12″. And I believe this album was never properly released. So if they had a 12″ EP released they would have for sure mentioned it. Right? What do you think?

I will then not count, not dedicate any lines, to this 12″ until I’m proven wrong. I’ll try to find out what happened to Bookemdanno.

The Firestation liner notes did include a link to a Myspace for the band roomthirteen. I suppose I will start there. But of course it was 2009 when it was released, so Myspace was working and you could stream songs and all. Now it is useless. But you can check it out if you like.

But that’s not all about roomthirteen. They do have a Facebook page where a little bio for John Done and Brian Mitchell are available. It says:

John Done (guitar and vocals) has an extraordinary voice that almost defines the roomthirteen sound. John previous incarnations include front-man with Suburban Daze and Ink. John also joined local pop outfit Yootha Joyce where a long term fraternal relationship was cemented with Mitchell. John also shared lead vocal responsibilities in the band bookemdanno.

Brian Mitchell (guitar and vocals) was lead singer with Tameside band, Yootha Joyce. With demise of Yootha he joined Done in Ink on backing vocals. Mitchell shared lead vocal responsibility in bookemdanno. Mitchell also is lyricist, along with Done, creating original and thought provoking words for the vast number of songs in their portfolio.

But there is a trove, a treasure, on SoundCloud. John Done, the vocalist and guitarist, has uploaded 8 songs by Bookemdanno! They were uploaded 7 years ago, and I’m not sure if the 8 were part of the album, if it was the whole album, or what. I do know though that you can stream “Flowers”, “Shattered Smile”, “Strange”, “Faces”, “Castro”, “BJs”, “Burst” and “Alice”. Not only that, you can check some of his other projects like INK and Suburban Daze. This is great, I’ve spend listening to these songs for hours today.

Another band member, Paul Walster, has a website. It is not that easy to navigate. It seems he is now based in Glossop. And here I could find something interesting, that Bookemdanno had a song called “Bookemdanno”.

Then Derek Goodwin, keyboardist, also has a SoundCloud page with his own recordings as well as Bookemdanno songs. I find the same songs as on John’s, meaning “Burst”, “Shattered Smile”, “Strange”, “Alice” and “Faces”.  They were also uploaded 7 years ago.

I couldn’t find any more information about the band. I do know they hailed from Manchester. Exactly where in Manchester I don’t know. It is interesting that I could find many songs to listen on the web. But there is barely any information about them. You usually find a mention of a gig or two, headlining or supporting, but I couldn’t find any of that. It is not 100% clear who were the ones that put out that 12″ that many collectors want. It is even less clear if the album Bookemdanno recorded was ever released in any format.

I would love to know more about them. I wonder, do you remember them?
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Listen
Bookemdanno – BJs

The BV’s 7″s should be available now (or shortly) at Rough Trade in the UK, Hands and Armas in France, Jigsaw Records in the US, Stone Records in Japan and through us, the label, and also through the band. I hope to be able to get the records to more stores in the coming days and weeks, but as I said before, if you can ask your local store that also helps.

Now, I need to get to work on future records. I have two retrospectives taking shape, but the 7″s are moving much slower. I do think though that next year there will be news about that.

Now what are the latest finds?

Rei Clone: cool and noisy sounding band from Denton, Texas, who have just put up their latest single on Bandcamp. It is called “Wave” and sounds superb. They have made a video for it too! They are formed by Abe, Zach, Charlie and Johnny. Good stuff!

Strawberry Punks Vol. 2: I reviewed some time ago the first volume and it was great. Now the second is as good. Five Indonesian pop bands are featured once again: Hill Street Connection, The Lousy Pop Group, Lazy Eye, Turks & Caicos and The Sensitive. It is available to stream now thanks to Dismantled Records from Jakarta.

Turks & Caicos: this band was featured in the compilation I just talked about. But they also have a Soundcloud where you can check the pretty pretty song “This Town”. I really hope to find more songs here next time I visit. One song by them is not really enough!

Lonely Cookies: I believe this is the band name of this Chinese band. Their label, Wild Records, is based in Wuhan. Is the band too? What I do know is that they have an EP called “Eastlake Swimming” that has five songs of upbeat and catchy tunes. Kind of strange that this wasn’t released on Boring Productions though! But great to see more indiepop coming from China!

Elenin: more from Indonesia. Now from Don’t Fade Away Records from Jakarta. Three noisy songs by Elening. They are “Kalam”, “Massa Masa” and “Technyancolor”. Will this be released in physical format? It is really impressive the quantity and quality of Indonesian pop at the moment!

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I was checking out some of the flexis released by the Sound Affects magazine from Sweden. In the past I had featured some bands/songs that appeared on them like Dream or Pleasurehouse. But I haven’t listened to them all of course. Today I was checking a double sided flexi, the ninth that appeared alongside this iconic and legendary Swedish magazine.

This flexi (SAF 009) included 4 songs. Two on each side. The A side had The Dambuilders from the US with the song “Teenage Bum” and TV Pop Crisis with “Cloud Chamber”. The B side had the soon to be famous The Wannadies with “My Home Town (Midem Mix)” and Rapid Teenagers’ “Storebrosan”. It was released in 1990 and came accompanying the 7th number of the magazine.

The song that caught my attention today happened to be the second on the A side, “Cloud Chamber” by the Swedish band TV Pop Crisis. Who were they? That was the first question I wanted to solve.

Discogs sheds some light listing a demo tape. There is no release year sadly but we do know a few things. There were four songs on it, “He Brings the Money”, “Cloud Chamber”, “Easy” and “Love Chain (Tender Return)”. These same tracks appear on both A and B side. The tape came with two flyers. On one of them we know it was recorded in July 1989 at Studio Urania by Jörgen Sangsta. I believe they dedicate this tape to someone called Tina.

The second flyer kind of describes what to expect from each song. It also gives us a name, Johan Holmlund, and an address in Gothenburg.

This are great hints to uncover the mystery. But Discogs also points us to two aliases of the band. Fly and Easy.

Fly being a band that released an album in 1998 with Dolores Recordings called “Green Lights”. And Easy, well, you must know Easy right?

If not, well, Easy was an indiepop group that had members from both Gothenburg and Jönköping that released the classic “Magic Seed” album in 1990 (which has just been re-released by the A Turntable Friend label) plus another handful of albums and a string of singles. A pretty well known band. And this all makes sense. Easy also recorded “Cloud Chamber” for that first album.

Now, something pretty interesting then is that on the tape of TV Pop Crisis there is a song called “Easy”. Did they name themselves after this song? Could be. Another question, were all the members of Easy in TV Pop Crisis? We do know that Johan Holmlund was. What about the rest?

There is also another compilation where they appeared event though Discogs lists this as a different band. On “Swedish Exotica (Volume 2)”, an LP compilation released by Thee Temple Ov Psychick Youth Scandinavia (TOPYSCAN 008) in 1989, the band appears with “Easy”. Here we strike gold. We find the band members names for TV Pop Crisis!

Rickard Jormin on bass
Tommy Jonsson on drums
Tommy Eriksson on guitar
Johan Holmlund on vocals

Now knowing all these names I know all of them were in Easy. So TV Pop Crisis evolved to Easy. But why the name change?

Well I found an interview with Easy on the Ljudmatta blog were they explain the whole issue:
Why did you change your name? (Easy was called first Tv Pop Crisis)
When we got a record deal with English Blast First / Mute, they thought TV Pop Crisis did not fit the music we played and we were not entirely satisfied with the name. So Lars Aldman on the radio program Bommen organized a list competition where you had to submit your nomination suggestions. The fact that we had some self-distance can be seen afterwards as we look at the list of names candidates who were left to the end. I mean the name The Orienteringsdöden probably did not work so well … Or that the work name of the first album was “Mariebo-Råslätt, deferred due to rain”.

Something else that caught my attention from that interview is that it says that the band members moved to Gothenburg mostly because they needed to do their military service there!

The well known Café Kristina label’s first ever gig was with TV Pop Crisis in 1990.

Of course every single piece of writing about TV Pop Crisis is actually about Easy. I mean, that’s fine. They were exactly the same band. But my curiosity right now is about that first period, when they were named TV Pop Crisis and released that demo tape I mentioned. Did they release any others? Was it easy for them to change their name? To accept the demands of a big label? How long did they keep their original name? Did they ever use it again?

What do you remember about TV Pop Crisis?!

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Listen
TV Pop Crisis – Cloud Chamber

Here we go again. A new week of p!o!p!

The Reds, Pinks & Purples: I don’t know if Glenn Donaldson who is behind this band is tricking me to post every single song he makes on the blog. I say that because he adds one song at a time to his Bandcamp. One by one. The latest is the pretty “Human Life (demo)”. I really hope to see a full album soon!

Fanclub: the latest from this Austin, Texas, 3 piece, is the lovely song “Reflection”. Previously they had uploaded the song “Leaves” which is as nice! That’s it. I look forward to more by them. They do have some gigs lined up, even a SXSW appearance next year.

Lovejoy, 1973: “песни о сиянии” is the name of this 7 song album by this terrific Russian band. I know very little about them aside that the tape is being released by Pow! Pop Kids Records from their home country. It is all in Russian, so perhaps you (like me) don’t understand a word. But it doesn’t matter. This is great as it is!

Luby Sparks: there is a new video by the fantastic Japanese band. It is a video for their song “Perfect”. This song was released in physical format on the “(I’m) Lost in Sadness EP” by the Space Shower Music label a couple of days ago. Sounding superb as always!

The Perfect English Weather: the band formed by ex-Popguns have a new album out on Matinée! It is called “Don’t You Wanna Feel the Rain?” and it includes 10 brand new songs. If you follow the link you can preview three of them, “Only Shadows”, “Rocking’ to the Beat” and “Still”. What lovely pop music this is. Classic sounding. Timeless.

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Decoy Avenue went through a few changes from 1981 before settling with their most successful line up in 1982. Playing only their own songs, they were regulars at the London clubs of the day; including The Embassy, The Rock Garden, The Ad Lib, 101 Club and The Moonlight. Their energy needed to be put on disc, so in May 1983 an independent single was recorded “Turn and Face” b/w “Stay”. Interest came from EMI Publishing but was never fulfilled due to internal disputes. The band carried on with different musicians coming and going till 1984, but never reached the heights of the original five boys of Decoy Avenue.

Pete Lancaster: Trumpet/Vocals
Martin Holleyoake: Bass/Vocals
John Varnarva: Guitar
Martin Papier: Keyboard/Vocals
Tony Kutner: Drums/Vocals

That’s the information the compilation The Sound of Leamington Spa Vol. 4 shares with us in its booklet. Decoy Avenue had appeared on this 2003 compilation released by the great Firestation Records. On that compilation they had contributed their song “Gone Native”, which doesn’t appear in the one and only single the band had released. That’s interesting. But even more interesting is that around this time it seems the band was selling a CDR, self-released and all, with 8 songs they had recorded between November 1981 and September 1983. I didn’t know about it then. And actually I only found out now. I always liked the song on the Leamington Spa comp, but never went looking for their records. I mean, I knew my changes of getting a copy of their single was pretty hard. But if I had known there was a CDR maybe I could have tracked it. Today, many years after, it looks like a difficult task.

This CDR which seems self-titled included as I said before 8 tracks. They were: “Gone Native”, “Lord Mountbatten”, “Parallel World”, “In Negative”, “Funk You”, “After Dark”, “Beanpole Blues” and “Reasons”. Discogs doesn’t offer any more details about it.

Previously, of course, they had released their 7″. Just the one. As mentioned it had “Turn and Face” on the A side and “Stay (You’re the One)” on the B side. None of these songs appear on the CDR. The year for its release was 1983 and was put out by themselves with the catalog number COY 1.  There is not much information on the sleeve. There wasn’t one really. But thanks to the labels we know that both songs were produced by David Kenny.

Aside from these two releases and the appearance on The Leamington Spa, there is another compilation appearance listed. They contributed the B side of their single, “Stay (You’re The One)” ,  to the “Pop Renaissance” (EX 014) triple CD comp that Excellent Records from Japan put out in 2004. A superb compilation this one, with incredible bands like La Casa Azul, Mocca, Love Parade or Pale Sunday. A mix of old and new for the time.

Googling for Decoy Avenue I end up noticing that there is actually a Decoy Avenue in London. A proper avenue. Well, it is kind of a small avenue. It is in the Golders Green area, though kind of a very long walk from the tube station.

But even a better find is “Reasons” on Youtube. This song, which is included in the CDR, has been uploaded to the web with a bunch of cool photos and live footage of the band. But that is not all, Tony Kutner has uploaded more stuff to his Youtube. There is “Funk You” with lots of video footage of the band and “Stay (You’re the One)” with a bunch of rare photos of Decoy Avenue. These were uploaded like 9 years ago. Only today I have stumbled upon them. Not good!

I suddenly find a Facebook page for Shaz Lancaster, it seems that’s the name Peter Lancaster uses now. He is an actor/entertainer based in London. He also has a website.

Online I also stumbled upon some photos of the band at the Bedfordshire zoo. It seems like it was a fun day for the band. It also looks like Tony Kutner had been in a band called Equinox before being in Decoy Avenue.

Lastly I find out that both Martin Papier and John Varnava were playing in a band called Ramirez. There is an article on the Brent & Kilburn Times, dating from 2011, were it mentions they were going to play Cricklewood Castle and that they had played Gladstonbury just before.

That’s about it really on the web about Decoy Avenue. I would love to know many more things of course. They sure played a lot in London, but what about outside of London? Why didn’t they get to release more records? Is there a way to get the CDR still? Are there more songs other than the ones in the single and CDR? Were they involved in other bands? Would be fantastic too to get in touch. Maybe do an interview. Why not!

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Listen
Decoy Avenue – Gone Native

Weekend is again with us. That’s great indeed. So let’s take it easy with some nice new music, right?

Boys: there is a brand new video for the song “What if You Would Die?” that was in the debut album “Rest in Peace” and it is of course a great new opportunity to listen to this song. The video was shot by Nora Karlsson, the driving force of the band. Good stuff!

Girl President: the latest from the Japanese label Galaxy Train is this limited tape by the new band of Hiroko Kawakami, ex-Caucus and Smilelove. So this is great stuff, here at Cloudberry we love Caucus, we released a 7″ (do you have it? There aren’t that many copies left) and here she is back alongside Miki Hirose from the Smokebees! Four new songs, one of them a cover of a The Notes original!

Renge: another new release on Galaxy Train is a tape by yeat another band I have featured on the blog before, Renge. It is a 7 song album that sounds very fragile and sweet. The tape edition looks very good, with lots of goodies too!

Life Model: another band that has appeared on the blog in the past has a new song out called “Long Way Round” which will be included in a split 7″ that they will share with Home Economics. It will be released on November 23rd!

The Last Detail: a combo made by Erin Moran from A Girl Called Eddy and Mehdi Zannad from Fugu? Yes, that is happening on this 13 song album that Elefant is released on vinyl and CD a few days ago. You can check all of the songs on Bandcamp and a press released written by Harvey Williams (!).

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I have this vague memory that C de Constancia was recommended once upon a time on my old blog, Mira el Péndulo. I think it wasn’t me who wrote about this enigmatic band, I am pretty sure it was Jotacé. The same one who published a music book, about the death of rock and roll, in Chile last year. If my memory serves me right he was mesmerized and in love with the few songs that were released by this band. At that point, and today too, there are not many details available about them. A true mystery.

I think many of the bands that appear on Siesta Records compilations are a mystery. The label doesn’t really include any credits for them even less a biography. There are many lovely bands that released on these compilations amazing songs but we never get to know who were the people behind them. C de Constancia is one of them.

We know the people behind this band were Spanish. Their accent gives that away. Their name roughly translates as C of Constance. Well, I think that’s a literal translation to be honest. And they had three songs under their belt on two different Siesta compilations.

Two of them appear on the “Educación y Descanso” compilation that was released in the year 2000 (SIESTA 120). This comp was released in both CD and LP versions. C de Constancia appears with a cover of Kiki D’Aki’s “El Futuro” and the song “Agony”.

“Agony” would appear again on a compilation called “Blanco y Negro Music for Siesta”, a compilation of Siesta music on the Japanese label Rambling Records (RBCS-2024) from 2002. I wonder if by any chance in this Japanese release there were any credits included. Anyone knows?

Lastly, and perhaps my favourite song of theirs, “Con los Ojos en Paz”, appears on “Don Quixote. A Quixotic Musical Fantasy with the Touch of Siesta”. A superb compilation released in 2002 (SIESTA 150). Actually there are few tracks from this comp that I hope one day feature on the blog.

I start to suspect though that all of C de Constancia’s songs were covers. I know about the Kiki D’Aki cover. Now I solve another mystery. The song “Con los Ojos en Paz” is actually an original by Cecilia, an Spanish songstress from the early 70s. You can actually listen to the original track here. Now, I haven’t heard “Agony” by C de Constancia. Whose cover would that be then? Anyone can tell me?

It does look like that C de Constancia wasn’t a band at all. Perhaps just a gimmick for the Siesta compilations. I don’t know. It is hard to be sure about it. Still would love to know who were behind these songs, beautifully recorded and arranged. Anyone would know?

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Listen
C de Constancia – Con los Ojos en Paz

Wednesday. All pre-orders have been posted and we are only a few days away of our official release date. I do want to tell our Japanese friends that Stone Records will be getting a batch of The BV’s 7″s in the next few days too.

Our next release will be a retrospective compilation by a Scottish band. Who will that be? Keep tuned on our blog as sooner than later I will be announcing it.

Now, here are some good finds for you to enjoy!

Day & Dream: Abby and Peter form this Asheville, North Carolina, band. They have a Bandcamp where they upload their demos. Their latest ones are four, “First in Flight”, “We’re Gonna Need Some More Coffee”, “Outside” and “Chrysalis”. Plus there is another one called “Nocturnal Creatures”.

Various Artists – Some Sort of Secret Sign: a tribute to Sarah Records by an Italian label? If you’d told me I wouldn’t have believed it. Now that I’m seeing it I am pretty curious. Italy does have indiepop fans, but it is not a country that has produced many indiepop bands. On this compilation, 8 bands cover classic Sarah Records songs. At the time only one of them is available to stream, True Sleeper covering Gentle Despite’s “Bittersweet Kiss”. It will be released on CD.

The Catherines: a new track by them always deserves to appear on the blog. Heiko’s new song for his bedroom project based in Hamburg is called “The More We Kept Moving the Farther Away We Got From Us” and it is lovely. As usual with the band we get a long and verbose title for the song and catchy melodies to sing along.

Art Sick: some 90s American indiepop sounding songs are available to stream thanks to Christina (aka) Riley who used to be in the band Burnt Palms. “Going Down” and “No Clue” reminds me of Cub, Tiger Trap, and especially Bunnygrunt. Joining her are two well known musicians from the Bay area, Mario from Kids on a Crime Spree and Donna from Lunchbox.

Boyracer: here we find the classic band covering The Style Council’s “Walls Come Tumbling Down” as we are in difficult times indeed in the US and the whole world. Lyrics are posted to sing along, and there’s a video too.

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When I feel I’m running out of ideas of Australian bands that need to be featured on the blog, I end up discovering new ones. That makes me happy of course. New songs to listen to, new stories to read.

Don’t confuse this Grooveyard with The Grooveyard from the mid/late 80s UK band that I featured and interviewed many years ago. These are the Australian Grooveyard, a mod revival band who as far as I know released two records in the 80s. At least that’s what Discogs tells me upfront.

Their first single dates from 1984 and it was a two song 7″ released by Geren Records (BTS 1246). This label was based in Sydney and was active in the 80s. I must say I don’t know many of the bands on their catalog but I will try to explore them in the coming weeks. Anyways, the 7″ had two songs. On the A side there was “Avalanche of Love” and “I Told You So” appears on the B side. The tracks were produced by Chris Masuak and engineered at Emerald City Studios on September 1983 by Brett Copeland and Nick Mainsbridge. The art for the single was created by Peter Simpson with photography by Outer Limit Photography.

We do get to know the band members here too. Robert Hood played bass and vocals, Ian Little guitar and vocals, Jonn Schofield guitar and vocals, Sean Maguire drums. Other credits included are that of Richard Lawson for bookings, Christopher M. Dunn as management and Geoff Rhoe as dedicated to the band.

Something interesting that I see on this record is that it was distributed by EMI (and Big Time Records). So they got some big label support. That’s not that common, right? Also it is important to mention that the A side is credited to Jonn while the B side to Robert.

That same year they would appear on a tape compilation called “Drown or Swim” that was released by 48 Crash (Tape No. 3). On this tape they contribute the song “I Don’t Remember”. This song was recorded at The Creative space and was written by Jonn Schofield.

Two years later, in 1986, they contributed the song “Avalanche of Love” to “Countdownunder – Party at Hanging Rock” a UK compilation released by Countdown (DREW 2). This label, whose parent label was Stiff, released a bunch of classic mod revival records like those of Makin’ Time or The Prisoners. This compilation was to be re-released later on, in 1988, by Re-Elect the President label that was run by Eddie Piller.

Their last proper release, their 12″, was released in 1989 by the classic Sydney label Waterfront Records (DAMP 110). It included 5 songs. Three on the A side: “Tenku Town”, “Days of the Week”, “Mean to You”, and three on the B side: “Sea of Hate” and “Mess in Distress”.

Peter Simpson is again credited for the art of the record, but I couldn’t find how the art looked for it. Only the classic Waterfront labels are scanned in Discogs. The songs were recorded at Central Recorders and EMI Studios between October and November 1985. It was mixed at EMI Studios in April 1988 by Steve Clark. The record was engineered by Tony Espie.

The photography for this record is credited to Larry McGrath, David Stead, Louise Sykes and Shemp Murphy.

I do see a new name on the credits. “Rev” Ian Paisley played guitar and vocals in this record too.

Lastly, in 1995, possibly after the band had already split, their song “Avalanche of Love” appeared on a CD comp called “The Bam Balam Explosion Vol. II-Australian Power Pop Compilation” that was released by the Spanish label Bam Balam (B.B.R. 001).

Looking at other bands the Grooveyard may have been involved with I see that Sean Maguire played in Minuteman and Coup de Ville. That Robert Hood played in Razar, Buddies and Screaming Tribesmen, Ian Kelly in the Bam Balams, Richard Lawson in the Lime Spiders and Jonn Schofield in Chinless Elite and Paul Kelly & The Coloured Girls. A cool detail I found too was that Schofield produced the wonderful “Lupe Velez” record by The Mexican Spitfires that one upon a time, in the early stages of this blog, I featured.

In the end I found a great resource, Whammo.com.au. Here there is an “encyclopedia” entry for the Grooveyard. I find that they formed in 1982. That Ian Little was actually “Rev” Ian Paisley. That Robert Hood used the name Bob Wackley as well. And that Geoff Rhoe had also been in the Minuteman.

As expected they were formed in Sydney. Rhoe left early the band to pursue an acting career, appearing for example in Bruce Beresford’s 1981 film “Puberty Blues”. There were some more lineup changes, Maguire being replaced by Lawson on drums. Then in 1984, around September, the band split.

In 1985 they band would reconvene for a bunch of gigs in Sydney. They recorded a mini-album. It is that mini-album on Waterfront. It would take 4 years for it to be released. In 1994, three of the members of the Grooveyard, Schofield, Little and Maguire, formed Deep End and released an album.

Quite some information. I wonder if the other bands they had sounded jangly as well. I wonder what are they doing now? Why did it take so long for their mini-album to be released? If they have had any reunions again? Who remembers them? I know David Nichols, who wrote the Go-Betweens book and the “Dig:Australian Rock and Pop Music 1960-1985″ book said that the Grooveyard 7″ is about as perfect as a 7” can be.

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Listen
Grooveyard – Avalanche of Love

I continue mailing BV’s records. And in the meantime I must say that among these orders I found out that the Je Suis Animal 7″ is sold out. I can’t seem to find any more copies of the vinyl among all the boxes. So, lucky those that got a copy as it is a fantastic record.

The BV’s 7″s have traveled to a few stores these past days for the people that have been asking for this. Jigsaw Records and Rough Trade should have their copies soon. Rough Trade will also be getting a batch of Okama Flannel Boy 7″s.

Again, because of shipping costs get in touch with your mailorder or favourite shops and ask to carry the record. I try to reach out many but I suppose if fans show their interest, the shops will also show theirs. This is the situation with records these days with crazy shipping prices.

Anyways, weekend finds, right?

Various Artists – Stars: this is a new Christmas compilation that will be released as a vinyl LP by WIAIWYA on November 30th and it includes a bunch of great bands. At this point we can only listen to one of the songs though, “Christmas Tree (Burn Burn Burn)” by The Catenary Wires which sounds pretty good to me. Looking forward to the rest!

Various Artists – This Concerns Everyone: another compilation by WIAWYA (and Gare du Nord). This one is released on CD and includes 14 tracks. On Bandcamp you can stream half of them by the likes of Famous Problems, Red Red Eyes or The Leaf Library. This one is out now!

The Sappers: this just showed up on Bandcamp even though it dates from 2016. Never heard this guitar pop band, armed with Rickenbackers, from Sheffield. This short album consisting of 8 songs chimes and chimes, with heartfelt vocals. Are they still going? Playing gigs? Who were behind this band?

Neurotic Fiction: so many records to buy, so little money. Here is a new pre-order, for a vinyl LP that is coming out on November 16. “Pulp! Music” is the debut album by this Bristol band formed by Jess, Livi, Rory and Sean. 10 indiepop with post-punk vibes. Two songs are available to stream right now, “Collateral” and “Loose End”. Check them out!

Rose Ette: one of my favourite bands from the US at the moment is Rose Ette from Houston. They just released their album “Ignore the Feeling” as a limited vinyl LP. 9 tracks of pure indiepop with female vocals and lovely melodies. You can check it out on Bandcamp, stream it and enjoy it. I guess I need to place an order soon.

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Always been a fan of whatever Graham Fellows has put out. Of course his album Love at The Hacienda is a true favourite for me. But there are many other records he had been involved with which are not as well known. One of them is a 1983 7″ by a band called The Pop Guns, that I must say, I have only discovered a few months ago. And of course it has proven impossible to find a copy of it!

Of course we all know of The Popguns who had amazing songs like “Waiting for the Winter” or “Landslide” who are back now releasing records on Matinée. But this is a different sort of Pop Guns. One that sounds closer to The Chefs or Sarah Goes Shopping. A lovely female fronted early 80s indiepop band. One that deserves to be rediscovered!

Graham Fellows, best known for creating the characters of John Shuttleworth and Jilted John made a splash when he was a drama student at Manchester Polytechnic. There with the “Jilted John” record, with it’s classic “Gordon is a moron” line he made himself a well known name. Since that moment in 1978 on he has released many records and even this year he released a new album which is available at his Bandcamp. I wonder what spot does The Pop Guns have in his heart. How important were they.

The Pop Guns only released one 7″. It came out on Toadstool Records (Toadstool 2) which had previously released the “Through the Line” 7″ by Graham Fellows. The Pop Guns record included just two songs, all written and produced by Graham Fellows, “My Mother’s Been Reading My Diary Again” on the A side and “Don’t Finish With Me” on the B side.

The band was a duo of course. It was Graham Fellows playing the instruments and Gemma Wilson the vocals. The viola on the record was played by Beverly aintree and the sleeve, that illustration of the cover, was created by Carol Pendlebury.

There are no compilation appearances listed for the band.

What else there is about them on the web. Nothing really. I know it is very little information but that’s all there is. Perhaps one day I could interview Graham and ask him about this band. That’d be fantastic. I would love to have a copy of this record, these are the sort of songs I love. But I know that is going to be complicated too.

In any case I wanted to share this wonderful song. Let you know that this record exists. And maybe, just maybe, you can share any details about The Pop Guns that you might remember. For example, did they ever play live?

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Listen
The Pop Guns – Don’t Finish With Me