What Sound Is This? (Face A)

I don’t make resolutions. But if I did then one for this year might be to try and start writing about the songs I choose to populate my monthly Unpopular mixes. I would also resolve to make all the mixes in two halves, each capable of squeezing onto a C60 cassette. Not sure why since I no longer have a tape deck, but whatever. Consider it a peculiar retro aesthetic decision. 

Here’s the first instalment: 

What Sound Is This? - Face A (download for a day)

'Fairweather Friends' - Ferns

Opening with an opener; this the instrumental first cut on Ferns’ rather lovely ‘Fairweather Friends’ set. Immediately captivating me with its crystalline guitar lines, it struck me as something in the vein of those magical Blueboy instrumentals with a smoky hint of a Deebank fascination. Elsewhere the album extends on those reference points with a brace of vocal tracks; Kuala Lumpur’s Ferns showing themselves to be not just discerning magpies of tremulous indiepop history but also capable of creating imaginative additions to the oeuvre. Available on what looks like a prettily packed CD or as digital downloads from their Bandcamp page.

'Picture Frame' - This Scarlet Train

Speaking of tremulous indiepop history, here is a blast from that past courtesy of Falkirk’s This Scarlet Train. Now I knew nothing of this 1987 record’s existence until The Brogues pointed me at it the other day. What a delight. Redolent of their contemporaries The Wake, the six track mini album that this track opened was a marvellous example of early dreampop; that self-possessed immersion in delicate aural ice sculptures that some later bludgeoned to near death with the term ‘shoegaze’. No surprise to learn then that this sole release saw the light of day thanks to Brian Guthrie’s (brother of Cocteau Twins’ Robin) Nightlife label, home most notably of the very fine Lowlife whose catalogue LTM did such a fine job of rescuing some years ago. 

Listening now it seems almost inconceivable that this record should have slipped through the net so completely, yet, a breath ahead of the likes of The Field Mice and Blueboy, whose Sarah label recordings ‘Fimbria’ most obviously anticipate, perhaps This Scarlet Train were simply a step ahead of their time, a blossom stung by an early Falkirk frost. Grab a zip of Fimbria courtesy of 'Take The Pills'.

'Body, No' - Nat Johnson and The Figureheads

I admit that I was not aware of Nat Johnson until a few days ago. Her folkpop outfit Monkey Swallows passed me by in the early to mid naughties and her first set with The Figureheads (2009’s ‘Roman Radio’) passed completely below (or possibly above) my radar. Indeed I doubt I would still be unaware if it weren’t for the unexpected delight of a promo copy of her forthcoming ‘I’m Across, I’m Ashore’ landing on my doormat over the holiday period. Thanks then to Thee Sheffield Phonographic Company for opening my ears to Nat’s blissful voice and to The Figureheads’ fine take on anglicised Americana indierock. Listening to ‘I’m Across, I’m Ashore’ I am reminded of listening to Juliana Hatfield’s solo debut, and of contemporaneous released by the likes of Madder Rose and Magnapop. There, I’m showing my age, and opening myself up to someone telling me that Nat wasn’t even born when those records came out. It wouldn’t surprise me.

Whatever, I’ve spent the past week or so feverishly uncovering what I can of the Nat Johnson backstory. It’s all well worth tracking down, but I guess it’s also as some relief to note that ‘I’m Across, I’m Ashore’ sounds better than all that’s gone before. It’s released on February 14th on Thee SPC and I can guarantee more tracks cropping up on mixes between now and then. 

'Bliss' - The Pinefox

A couple of days ago I posted this track to accompany an account of a trip to Sidmouth. As I said in that post, it must be twenty five years since I first visited Sidmouth on a summer sojourn to meet The Visitors. Logically then it must be nigh on a quarter century since I first heard this song on one of the demo tapes that Matinee so sensibly gathered onto the ‘Miss’ collection way back in 2000. Goodness, how time flies. 

The Pinefox does a lovely job of making ‘Bliss’ his own, injecting a modicum of world weary resignedness in place of Tim Hopkins’ original teenage frustrated contempt. Pick up The Pinefox’s version on his Soundcloud page, and pick up a copy of the essential Visitors collection from Matinee. 

'You're No Vincent Gallo' - Found

I am sure I am not alone in finding that that the end of December inevitably becomes a time of discovering all the records you missed during the year that is winding towards its conclusion. The Found set from which this track comes was one such record for me. I had picked up on the wonderful ‘Anti-Climb Paint’ single that followed the album, but for one reason or another ‘Factorycraft’ escaped me. In the mad whirl of the world that’s perhaps no surprise, but whatever, it’s great to be uncovering it now. This particular cut is my choice here, not necessarily because it’s the finest moment (though it’s close) but hey, I’m never one to resist a Gallo reference. And that opening line is to die for.

If, like me, you missed 'Factorycraft' in 2011 you can still pick it up from those lovely people at Chemikal Underground. 

'Pumps (live demo)' - Everyone To The Anderson

Everyone To The Anderson came to my attention last year thanks to one of Kris Waaah’s always interesting and eclectic Pod Fodder collections on his Burning World blog. The angular post-rock magic of ‘Danzig High Flyer’ convinced me to part with some virtual cash for their ‘The Man Born From Inside A Horse’ set. If you have not yet tracked it down, it is well worth doing so. The wound-taught energy of ‘So You’re Saying There’s a Chance’ is surely worth the entry price of a fiver by itself. Good to hear then that the trio are demoing new material of which this fine instrumental cut is a free download. No excuses then. Get it on their Bandcamp page. 

'Do It For Fun' 12" - The Bachelor Pad

What can I say about The Bachelor Pad that I didn’t already say on my previous post? Well, perhaps to add that they sounded like Tomorrow snogging The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Here’s the proof. The full-on psych-sonic madness of the ‘Do It For Fun’ 12”. Ridiculously out of print. Who is going to piece together a glorious technicolor retrospective?

'Rain Delay' - Witch Gardens 

The Interwebs tells me that “Witch Gardens are a four-piece Gothic R&B group based in Seattle. Drums, Bass, Autoharp & Guitar; everyone sings.” Dunno about the R&B thing, unless they are reclaiming the term from hideous contemporary meanings and casting it back into the ‘50s and ‘60s. But even then I’m not so sure. Maybe it’s just a joke, and I admit the notion of Gothic R&B does make me smirk. Personally I rank Witch Gardens as being in the vein of Slumber Party, to whom the flip side of this single (the dreamy ‘Goodbye Ball’) gives a particularly knowing nod, or to the likes of other Shop Assistants obsessives like Vivian Girls. Only way better. Than Vivian Girls, I mean, not Slumber Party. No-one is way better than Slumber Party...

You can pick up ‘Rain Delay’ b/w ‘Goodbye Ball’ as a download or as a vinyl 7” from their Bandcamp. Whilst you’re there check out the also excellent ‘Alice, Agatha, Branch, & Christ’ EP and the (free!) ‘Lifeguard’ virtual 7”. 

'Getting Over You' - The Bats 

I am going to assume that you know all about The Bats. I am going to assume you love them dearly. I am going to assume you kept in touch with their output slightly better than I did and that you picked up the the excellent-as-always ‘Free All The Monsters’ set back in October of last year. I’m going to assume too that this, the closing cut from the album, breaks your heart in all the right places. Magic, and then some.

Get ‘Free All The Monsters’ from the Flying Nun Bandcamp page.

 

Comments

[rob]

Crumbs Alistair! What an undertaking to write about all of your songs - and it's not a resolution? Still, some mighty fine tracks here and your glosses are - as ever- perceptive and informed. Mind you, did I catch a glimpse of Xmas imbibing in the 'smoky hint of a Deebank fascination'? very winewritery!!
I have to confess that although I love the Bats dearly I don't know ALL about them - just that they roll out some wonderful songs.So thanks for a great start to '12 and there's a careful watch on what's to come as the termly attrition starts to bite!