MISSIVE 4
16-10-2001
Transmission Date 16/10/01

Hey don't 14 days fly by these days, no sooner after sitting back with a hot beverage with my pipe and comfy slippers having finished missive 3, than in the blink of an eyelid it was all rush rush rush to get moving with the next instalment of these regular ramblings

Now I'm not really in the habit of having a dig at things, but for the past week I've been indulging in a televisual feast that goes under the name of Pop Idol. By now every commercialised culture in the world has endured their own brand of Popstars, for those who have resisted the temptation to watch this phenomena really have missed out, for hard working musicians the world over it has been an affront to witness these five minute wonders at large. Pop Idols is equally scary and tiresome, though admittedly, beneath its horror show facade there have been some moments of traji-comedy genius. Imagine a bad karoake competition to end all and then add some, the result is nowhere near as bad as the reality, Pop Idols just couldn't be scripted. Hosted by Ant and Dec, who themselves seem to have hijacked Saturdays broadcast schedules, our brave panel featuring, wait for it, Pete Waterman, Dr Fox, Nicki Chapman and some other bloke, themselves the equivalent of the four horsemen of the apocalypse or apopolypse if really have to be honest, administer cheap snipes at would be popstars, in the aim of discovering the next new talent. Andy Warhol's perception of 15 minutes of fame has never been so abused as a cast of thousands of unknown stars only in their eyes subject us to some fitful, often ludicrous, more often embarrassing and painfully nauseous castrations of records owned by the under nines ever to have graced my television. I thank the show for this treat if only that it has given me the chance to cross the street if ever I have the misfortune to see one of these poor misguided persons walking towards me. On a lighter note may I suggest an alternative panel to feature, Steve Albini, John Lydon, Jonathon Ross and Courtney Love, it mightn't be pretty to watch but imagine the skin and hair flying......

On a more serious note though our get well wishes go out to Liverpool Football Club manager Gerard Houllier, who is currently recovering in hospital after open heart surgery.

Still no emails commenting about these scribblings leaves me to surmise that either everything is okay or nobody knows I exist. I'm also in need of demo's, again I've a feeling that no one really reads this or else you don't trust what I'll say. Anyhow so far had one from the Slowmotion Stranger from Liverpool whose full album length CD-r has been such a smash with my neighbours, passing strangers and fellow commuters that I've decided to hopefully post it on the main album page very shortly.

Also better mention a quick thanks to Allesandro of Best Kept Secret fame for a magnificent package of goodies some of which have been briefly mentioned here, although the majority will be the subject of a special review shortly, again on the main album page.

For anyone else awaiting reviews, replies etc please bear with me for a week or two on the album front, I've been away for a week picking up goodies along the way, so thanks to all of you, Nigel at Pickled Egg, Blair at Endearing and Michael at Parasol all your releases are on the priority list.

Regular readers of my printed persuits in our hard copy sister mag will remember a while back my ravings about a band called Beachwood Sparks. Seems in the passing months between then and now that a few people have cocked an ear in their direction and have similarly shuddered at the refined mix of country music and pop explicitness that this band so easily produce in glorious abundance. A second album is I believe doing the rounds, which I don't have but will part with hard-earned cash shortly in order to regale you with reasons as to why you should invest immediately in its ownership. For now though I have to satisfy myself with the single 'By your side', and I've got to admit it's not bad at all. Okay call it a knock on the head, that or I'm losing my marbles and hearing but 'By your side' suspiciously sounds like, and your not going to forgive me for this, 'Whiter Shade of Pale' by Procul Harem and 'Two little Boys' by Rolf Harris or am I the only one who can hear that, okay send for the straightjackets. A kind of toasty warm record that would hearten the cockles at Christmas time, spliced with the now trademark steel guitars which add a kind of ethereal texture to the proceedings. 'Sun surrounds me' courts the Nashville niche perfectly while 'Quietly Be' starts out as Elvis' 'Old Shep' before rummaging through my dad's old Jim Reeves record collection, glorious. And last but not least of all 'close the door lightly when you go' peppers the hearts with feint traces of not so much Buffalo Springfield but the Byrds in cowboy hats and boots phase. Peerless. Available on Rough Trade Records at www.roughtraderecords.com

Our regular supply of Shifty Disco postings brings us the latest two releases in their monthly singles club. The first is a serious oddity. Around the same time that the Pretenders 'Stop your Sobbing' or was it 'Kid' was doing minor damage to the lower reaches of the charts a one hit wonder by the Regents was slowly ascending the dizzy heights of the Top 20, if that is, memory is serving me right. Why am I telling you this you may well ask, well the record in question was '7 Teen' and featured the vocal debut of Bic Brack, who 22 years on returns as part of The Corsettes. 'Sexy and Blue' and 'Can you feel it?' both have an innocent take it or leave it quality attached to them, sounding very much like early Belle Stars and Bananarama if your predisposed to comparisons. 'Sexy and Blue' especially with it's feel good factor will divide households into two camps, between those who love it for it's carefree nature and sense of itsy bitsy fun and those who hate it because it reminds them of that mid 70's hit called 'Telephone Man' or something similar. Me, I think it's quite peachy and after several beers I get to practice my karate karaoke to it much to the disappointment and horror of friends.

50hz on the other hand is more of what the doctor ordered. Guitar orientated, and worth keeping an eye out for in the future. 'Armchair Army', though displaying anthemic tendencies really does, it has to be said, hang on the coat tails of the Smiths 'Shoplifters of the World', though the band could be forgiven in the light that they have in the past worked with Smiths knobs twiddler Julian Standen. My preferred track is 'Welcome to my world'. Mixing a varied cocktail that sees the ingredients utilising Teardrops Explodes 'Tiny Children', Suede's 'Pantomime Horse' and the Smiths 'Last night I dreamt someone loved me' to ecstatic wild abandon. 'Welcome to my world' gently unfolds before you burning hot and cold with memorable melodic ease, a slight push by the radio pluggers could see this track winning a few broken hearts. www.shiftydisco.com

It's like having all your birthdays come at once when a new Melys release drops through your letter box, such is the mix of trepidation and excitement, yes I know I agree I do need to get out more. If we had a single of the fortnight this would probably be it, so lets go for honorary single. When are you going to learn that even a record featuring the band coughing would wipe the floor with the infant pop that masquerades as music on daytime radio. Three tracks make up this split label adventure between Melys' own Sylem and Dutch label Transformed Dreams whom you'll remember a while back released the excellent Seedlings to an unexpected world. Okay a running order that offers a bitter sweet bruiser without the usual trademark showing of teeth, a slowey and a welsh language track thrown in for good measure. 'Chinese Whispers' is indignant in the way it takes you from one emotional extreme to the other and back again without giving a mind to let you pause to regain your senses. A glistening story telling smasher, Andrea's finger wagging fury directed at nosey neighbours, if there was such a thing as pristine pop, this without doubt is it, or is it. Scarcely time to draw breathe and the blighters hit you with 'Watercolour', not wishing to over exaggerate the point but this is as sensual as a record can get without having a censorship sticker emblazoned on its sleeve, carefully choreographed chords map a clockwork like trajectory upholding a lullaby effect. As sexy as prime time Altered Images with dare I say it the kind of chic pop that the Human League would die for. The darkly winter like melancholic vibes of 'Gwerthfawr' wrap up this latest step up the ladder to world domination. An album 'Dirty' in the offing, maybe at long last Melys' star is in full shining view. www.melys.co.uk

The fuzz-tastic 'Whatever happened to my rock n roll' from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is next on the operating table for discerning dissection. This one track CD-r with the description 'punk song' below the title, you don't say, frankly blew my pants away, good job I had my reinforced titanium thunderbird boxers on with keyless padlock otherwise it would have been a shock to the woman's institute who had been invited around to give a talk on tank top awareness and the benefits of kipper ties on windy days. Sorry I've wandered slightly haven't I? Coming from the same side of punks rehabilitation highway as Queens of the Stone Age but kissed with the sharpness of Jesus and Mary Chain and a full throttle Makers 'Whatever happened to my Rock n Roll' is bluesy, gutsy, in your face and devilishly contagious. The best three minutes of ravaged high-octane buzz saw mayhem you'll hear this fortnight. Available from Virgin Records.

Okay next up, three singles from a label based in Spain who frankly I can't recommend enough. Billing themselves as lovers of beat pop, Mod, garage and more besides, Butterfly records release not only fantastically sounding singles, but oddities that are pleasing on the eye. Housed in slick colourful sleeves, style wise reminiscent of Detour Records, inside them various coloured slabs of vinyl, all limited to pressings of 500, you really can't go wrong. First on the deck is The Red Foxx BBQ. Stumbling from a long lost mythical era where sophisticated pop rules the airwaves, 'Last Call' invades the intelligent melodic parameters of Le Bleu. Moogs and Hammonds tread psychedelically with suave grace and drenched in enough retro guile to give it swoon like eminence. 'Leave my room' on the flip side is a slightly more animated affair, very much locked into a time when strobe lights, Gerry Anderson's UFO and existentialism were the staple diet of the fashionable minions. Pressed on gorgeous transparent yellow vinyl.

Not wanting to be out done is the second release from London's The Dilemmas. 'Buffalo Bates' really does sound like Dexy's Midnight Runners in their Jackie Wilson infatuation phase, like the Red Foxx they too find themselves ending with a similar 60's lounge vibe but with the approach run slightly more acute. 'Buffalo Bates' instantly invades the senses from the word go, pop guitars coalescing with gentle brass fanfares. Three minutes of sunshine pop with a high quotient toe tapping sensibility. 'Fahrenheit' on the flip originally recorded in 1996, kisses the same brightly coloured pop framework so amiably provided by bands like the Free Design, imparting some breezy flute accompaniment. 'Sure to Fail' an instrumental recorded in 1988 neatly cements this remarkable release. Yellow Vinyl.

Pick of the three must surely go to The Tyme Society. If I didn't know better then I'd have said that 'When I see her eyes' was one of the great overseen classics that surely deserved inclusion on the recent Nuggets box sets. A fantastic and faithful 60's garage pastiche, 'When I see her eyes' has to be heard to be believed, having 13th Floor Elevators stamped all over it with traces of the Seeds and Chocolate Watchband thrown in for added spicy effects. You may think such authenticity lasting for one track is lucky but to stretch it to three is the work of crafted genius. 'I gotta know' trades punches with prime Brian Jones era Stones, and so psyche charged that you'll get high on the acid vapour trails it leaves in it's wake. 'Marion the Painter' starts out sounding like the Bunnymen doing the Stones, packed tightly with farfisas and descending dual guitar chords this trippy wigged out instrumental follows the same sunglasses after dark mystique of the mythical Walking Seeds. Shades, black suits and beatle boots are compulsory. www.butterfly-records.com

Moving forward slightly on the evolutionary plane of pop are the Regulars. 'This is the sound' albeit sadly not the suburbs, is a wonderfully stuttered punk pop ditty guaranteed to make everyone who hears it feel 18 again and those under that age experience facial hair and drop their testicles at it's audacious catchiness. Remember the old days when bands would come in with a simple catchy chord sequence and a grab your heart anthemic message, do their stuff and in three minutes encapsulate a mood of euphoric escapism like the Buzzcocks for instance, then so to do the Regulars achieve such glory though lacking in Shelley/Diggle ear for mangled punk pop bliss. In stark contrast 'Lincolnshire Skies' on the flip is a more directed pop affair and on repeated playing the preferred track. Less the smash and grab antics of it's flip partner, 'Lincolnshire Skies' is a more considered tonic, flickering like slow burning embers on a bonfire, it's beauty lies not only in it's perfected twin vocal chorus but in the way the guitars refrain from their intimated threat of attaining critical mass. Stunning. Available from Bearos Records contact www.bearos.freeserve.co.uk

'If you don't want me' is a curious release and acts as a precursor for Ricky Spontane frontman Richard's debut solo album 'Richard the First'. Remember that country revival in the early 80's, bands like Yip Yip Cayote et al then this sort of has a distant likeness with a bit of Stan Ridgeway chucked in for good measure, I can feel a bout of indie line dancing just around the corner. 'Baby Babe' and 'Leather Hands' explore the territories of pop minimalism, the former of the two sounding like Billy Bragg meeting the Proclaimers at a bizarre helium intake experiment recorded at double speed. 'Leather Hands' initially brought to mind the quirkiness of the B52's without the 60's space fetishism. I think we can honestly conclude on the evidence of this that Bob the Builder needn't lose sleep, though Posh Spice may like to reconsider her career moves carefully. Available from Lowsley Sound Recordings.

Without stretching the point too much 'My life at the movies' is to these ears the best release so far from Tompaulin, who having garnered various media plaudits finally come up with the goodies. Less twee than previous releases 'My life at the movies' dallies with a focussed eye on charismatically charmed pop, bright, bubbly and as infectious as hell. A continental vibe running throughout, less Belle and Sebastian and leaning more towards St Etienne style wise with a 70's retro feel coursing within. Flip over the disc and you get 'The Love Doctor' a smooth, vibrantly poppy instrumental that somehow manages to knot itself between being a spaghetti western soundtrack as done in a seaside style. From Ugly Man Records www.uglymanmusic.com

Motel are again another band that were, prior to this release unknown to me but who now will have my watchful eye eagerly searching for future offerings. Sporting a cute sleeve with a cheerful looking infant on one side and a picture of a toy robot which I swear I once owned something similar as a child myself on the other. Anyway enough of that I'll be blubbing next getting all nostalgic and telling you about my toy and comic collection which I no longer have, and if I wanted it back would cost me roughly the same amount as small island in the South Pacific. Where was I, Motel, two blistering tracks that really were made for vinyl, 'Hey Hey' starts off worrying like it's going to be some sort of play station gadgetry madness before emerging Houdini like into a beautifully noisy space rock beast. Try to imagine Spacemen 3 or early Spiritualised with a rocket up their backsides. Despite all the whirring and whooping noises in the background 'Hey Hey' dodges and ducks in it's pursuit of the authentic 60's Carnaby Street sound set to sci-fi pastiches. Is it too late to start a new space mod scene? 'Howard and the Robot' is equally enticing, a wavering drone like melody with a predatory lunge that dips between My Bloody Valentine and Camera Obscura, yes that good. There is just no hope for you if you don't like it. From Sickroom Gramophonic Collective at www.sickroomgc.co.uk

Next in the record goodie pile is a handy 7 inch from Morning Star, not the Morning Star featuring ex members of the Moonflowers whose new album will be reviewed somewhere on this site faster than you can recite the backward bits on Sgt Pepper, but the five piece from Manchester. Confused? you will be. 'Please take a seat' and 'Divebombers' not the most advisory title in these times, are highlighted most of all for their polished professional delivery. Both bask in a kind of bluesy dirty rock n roll that really is hard to come by these days. Despite it's meandering qualities 'Please Take a Seat' is an accomplished stormer, it's on 'Divebombers' that the band come into their own. Starting out like some glam Sweet take on, the melodic underbelly reaches out in that rush of glittered adrenaline throughout with at times a tune that initially sounds like Squeeze's 'Slap n tickle' before manifesting into the kind of action that the Manics might be doing now if Richey was still around commandeering the reigns. Most surprising though is the Lennon-esque feel at key moments. Available on Barbarossa Recordings.

A cute little split single from those people at Sorted Records sees the pairing of Airport Girl and Static Waves. Airport Girl have often been compared to the delicious Delgados and though I can see the similarities it would be truer to say they are in the mould of the Orchids and Hey Paulette. 'Cold' cutely sticks itself in the sweet corner of pop, a track for the young lovers with matching shoes, so inoffensive you just have to surrender to it's charm, impeccable laced with some firecracker guitar bursts. The Static Waves on the flip contribute 'Delerec', a real smash and grab affair that has mental stamped all over it, crooked guitars, hostile chords and a kind of wall slamming insanity that made Blur's 'Trouble in the message centre' such a frequent listening opportunity on my record player. Irresistible. www.sortedrecords.org.uk

Slightly mystified by this next release, a cd-r given to me by those nice people at Probe Records in Liverpool with a knowing 'you'll love this' wink. As usual they were right, sorry to say though that I have absolutely no information on these, shameful I know. The disc in question features two bands who I believe come from Scotland, Terra Diablo and Eva are there names, apparently they played at the recent T in the Park festival and beyond that the trail goes silent. Terrra Diablo's three tracks are inspiringly injected with some neat chord chemistry. From the off on 'The way things are and how they're meant to be' is coloured with a sophisticated backdrop of melancholic strings that unusually set a sense of magic that prevails throughout their recorded set. Gently dipping between extremes of soundscapist highs and mournful lows, Terra Diablo set a high watermark manifesto of intent. 'Must be something to do with the moon' is especially touched with something approaching gracious beauty, tripping between lulls of quietness to bouts of volcanic intensity, in many ways recalling Mogwai and Absinthe Blind. 'Diablo Style' achieves the same effective framework, gently trickling for the best part before manacingly rampaging into wild abandon to seriously off the rails insanity. If this is how they sound in the studio, live wise they must be devastating. Not ones to be out done, Eva are equally spirited. On 'Solo' their sound approaches unlikely comparisons to Sweeder whose debut last year passed without the attention it deserved on Monitor Records. 'Solo' gently canters along, the female vocals acting as a perfect foil for the delicate chords beneath, partly reminiscent of Belly in more relaxed environs. Eva's real case lies with their second contribution 'The Longest Day'. Initially reading like a union between Pavement and Arab Strap, again moving glacial like, the melodies sound at odds with each other seemingly trying to establish a pattern, in some ways almost stumbling blindly. What gives the track the edge are the dualised male/female vocals which ultimately give it an air of Quickspace at their most tender best. Regrettably no information at all, but should someone with any connection to the bands read this please get in touch, meanwhile I'll endeavour to get an address in time for Missive 5.

Okay as previously billed two key outings from the Best Kept Secret label from Italy who specialise in tape only and vinyl releases just to wet your appetite while you wait for an extensive review elsewhere on this pages soon. I've decided on this instance to review two cassettes entitled 'We are not Alone' Volumes 3 and Volume 4 which seem to act as regular compilations of bands from throughout the world who share common melodic horizons and by the looks of things are in the main pretty much unsigned. Contact addresses are enclosed for all the featured artists. Volume 3 kicks of with a piece of Terminator/Blade Runner style futuristic voidness from Anthony Distefano. 'Nite in Electricity' has a haunting electronic soundscape quality to it, instantly likeable but at the same time distinctly downbeat. Full of Emptiness and W/Trem both delight in what used to be called shoegazing, constructing cathedralesque and intricate walls of static harmonies. Australia's High Impedance proudly announce on their website the immortal words delay, distortion and feedback which I suppose puts in a nutshell what 'Noise Two' is all about, an interesting and equally testing excursion into drone guitar sound manipulations. Equally curious are the futuristic beats as woven by Don Campau. 'Ignition Sense' operates with alienised scapes within a tapestry of wave like grooves, possibly the missing link between Wagon Christ and Pimmon. 'Made of Stone' by Michael J Hex on the other hand could be positively viewed as a straight forward pop song given its out of sorts inclusion on this collection. Kitset's 'Left me wondering' is particularly endearing if only for the way it manages to combine a wall of feedback melody in a Chapterhouse way, piercing it with some breezy brass punctuation's and adopting slick psychedelic fadeout vocals. What sounds like an interesting take on the Lush trademark block feedback sound by Autobot City on 'Lane' is pummelled into submission by some poor production I'm sad to say. Best track is left until the closing shot from Australians New Waver. A haunting under carriage of post punk psychosis weaves against a backdrop of gloomy and chilling health warning samples, the dread text of the female speaker at odds with the early New Order like guitar workmanship.

Volume 4 of 'We are not Alone' delivers fourteen gems again across two sides of cassette and as with Volume 3 I have to hang my head in shame when I admit I've never heard of most of them. Sway take up the opening proceedings with the enigmatic 'Channel'. Wave like drone infuse this distant sounding collage, whispered vocals and an overall finish that recalls a lo fi version of Slowdive. We here are still recovering from the last full length from the underrated Chuzzlewit, neatly appearing here with the wonderfully fragile 'Long Shadows', which on closer listening sounds like two different records playing at the same time, some deliberate use of distortion effects give this a strangely alluring charm. Electric Bird Noise's 'Your sad, tired, beautiful eyes' seems to deploy the use of a single guitar, call it a less tense and contemplative take on the aural soundscapes achieved by Roy Montgomery. American band Coastal impart on to us the tender like 'Celesta' delivering mournful atmospherics as it glides. The Linger Effect hail from Canada and seem, on the evidence of 'Love with the proper stranger', to have a longing fascination for all things Go Betweens and Red House Painters, very sweet. On the basis of this contribution, Remora seem to have a singer who sounds like a young Richard Butler, remember he of the Psychedelic Furs, a sort of regretful ditty over some very insistent and very repetitive guitar playing. I have to admit to being very fond of 'Traces' by Kinsky Spiral, somehow revealing an acute allegiance with the post punk output of the Cure with traces of John Foxx/Ultravox, it possesses a strange spectral yet carnival like aspect to it. By far the best track on this latest volume of the series is the closer from the simply monickered Should who take great delight in taking up the krautrock mantle left idle by the ever-superb Stereolab. 'These Days' really is a priceless and joyful way to spend 3 minutes, if the Stereolab vibe don't get you the My Bloody Valentine traces will. Running it close to the wire is 'A far far better place' by the oddly named Uncletoe's Portasound. Underneath the supressed and swamp like production that really does give you the feeling it was recorded in a very small badly lit basement, there lies a monstrous rocking sound scratching below the surface, with a seriously throbbing twang guitar.

Okay I'm having so much fun here I'll give a mention to this gem while we are here again part of this tremendous package from Best Kept Secret. The thing that attracted me initially to this seven-track cassette release of various demos from Par Avion entitled 'A song a day' was the breadth and range of styles and techniques explored and utilised by the duo Jason Sweeney and Janiece Pope. However I was particular caught off balance by one track in particular the vogue like 'I don't want to be interesting'. Borrowing a rhythmic beat quite nail bitingly close to Herbie Hancock's 'Rock it' and it's 80's electro/robo/disco vibe and with the help of Ms Pope's vocals taking it to a totally different perspective that sees it ending up sounding like Grace Jones, this track alone is worthy of the entrance fee alone, very mechanically cold sounding and certainly not a track to approach too likely. By stark contrast 'Dip the Paddle' is a blood rush to the head, a bombastic collision of beats and electronic psychedelia, a sort of keep fit mantra for droids. 'Ackland Crescent' dallies with the kind of soundscapes deftly delivered by bands like ISAN but here sheppered on this occasion by vocals, sparse but never the less benefiting from the woven ethereal textures created. The spacey spy like vibes of the eerie 'Horrid Burger' is touched by a loosened torch like quality, spooky and distant that displays vague traces of Propoganda. 'By Air' sees Mr Sweeney sharing the vocal duties, on the face of it a distinctly 80's electronic euro pop retro cast about it that loosely dips between Visage and B Movie. A recommended purchase for sure. For all details on Best Kept Secret releases please go to www.indiepages.com/bestkeptsecret

A few magazines to round of this fortnightly jaunt into the vinyl wilderness. The new issue of Circuit comes with a free CD courtesy of Domino Records and alone justifies I suppose the £3 calling charge. This issue features interviews and bits and bobs of all your favourite heroes, including a despondent chat with everyone latest fixation The Strokes, swiftly moving on to Elbow, Sparklehorse, the excellent Kaito, the ever wonderful Solex, and a very brief 2 page overview of the career of George Harrison.

Comes with a Smile continues to warm my heart, I can genuinely admit to looking forward to each addition even if they are served up at ad hoc frequencies. Summer 2001 edition features interviews with Tram, Kings of Convenience and Cowboy Junkies, who if I can add at this point have an album currently doing the rounds called 'Open' which really did blow me away. Packed with so much more and featuring reviews of albums that I wish people would send me. Not forgetting a tasty 20 track CD gratis, a winner whatever colour you paint it. Both magazines should be available at all decent independent record shops, if not try Borders or else log on to the Rough Trade site, address as above.

That's it for now, remember complaints, comments, abuse, blank cheques, great records, CD's, tapes whatever, then just contact me at mark@losingtoday.com. As always no animals or minors were present in these sonic experiments. If symptoms persist retire to a darkened room and repeat the stated dosage.

Hopefully see you in 14 days, happy hunting and take care.

Bye for now.

Mark