unpopular

Unpopular Advent 2013 Day 14 - Flies On You

Josephine - Cyborg death squirrel remix by The Shend - Flies on You (from the 'Josephine' EP)

In truth perhaps Flies On You should have been in the 2012 version of this advent, for their excellent ‘Something To Write Home About’ LP from which the track ‘Josephine’ first appeared was released in that year. It wasn’t until early in 2013 that I came across the group for the first time however, and anyway the new version they released on the EP this year was a significant step up in terms of production and impact. A raft of remixes threatened to drown out the band’s original, but in reality it all just made for a wonderfully madcap collection of versions that gloried in their diversity. Personal favourites for me were the surreal 'Skinheadlaundry Biblerevival remix' by Ubertino da Casale and the fabulous 'Cyborg death squirrel remix’ by The Shend. Perhaps no surprise with that last one, for it is The Shend’s former group The Very Things that Flies On You often remind me of the most, and there is nothing wrong with that after all. And of course you checked out their genius cover of Altered Images’ ‘Dead Pop Stars’ didn’t you? Just checking...

 


 

Unpopular Advent 2013 Day 13 - Just Handshakes

London Bound - Just Handshakes (from ‘Say It’ LP)

Sadly 2013 saw San Diego’s fabulous Bleeding Gold label deciding to take a sabbatical, bringing down the curtain (at least for the time being!) on a four year lifespan that delivered innumerable delights. Chief amongst those in 2013 was certainly the ‘Say It’ album by Just Handshakes. Having dropped the ‘(we’re British)’ from their name this Leeds band turned in a divine set of poised, accomplished guitar driven Pop with a quirky folk undertow. Vocally it immediately put me in mind of Natalie Merchant in her early days with 10,000 Maniacs and standout track ‘London Bound’ stood as some kind of magical 21st Century update of ‘Mother The War’, complete with a ‘Power, Corruption and Lies’ style melodic bass line that sent shivers down my spine. A swirling, spiralling sensation of a song, it remains as one of the most hauntingly danceable numbers of the year.

 

Unpopular Advent 2013 Day 12 - Rose Elinor Dougall

Future Vanishes - Rose Elinor Dougall (from the 'Future Vanishes' EP)

I mentioned in yesterday’s post how a badge for the debut Pipettes 7” on my Unpopular Records label cropped up in a Boy Least Likely To video, so in the spirit of dubious links and tangential connections, I now give you the very fabulous ‘Future Vanishes’ by Rose Elinor Dougall (Rose being, in case you really needed reminding, one of the original polka-dotted sirens in that glorious band). Expanding on the passing interest in motorik rhythms hinted at in last year’s epic 'The Distractions’ EP, ‘Future Vanishes’ made the link to a Krautrock influenced sound explicit with a joyous noise rarely heard since Stereolab got down and dirty with their 'French Disko’. Elsewhere on the EP there was the hypnotic groove of ‘Strange Warnings’, the dark post-punk spoken word experimentalism of ‘Sink Back Into The Blue’ and the 21st Century Noir theme tune of ‘Poison Ivy’. Add some intriguing remixes by, amongst others, brother Tom’s group TOY and you had a record that placed Rose firmly in the vanguard of UK solo artists carving out their vision of Future Pop Today. Mesmerising.

 

Unpopular Advent 2013 Day 11 - The Boy Least Likely To

Michael Collins - The Boy Least Likely To (from ‘The Great Perhaps’ LP)

Hard to believe it is already ten years since The Boy Least Likely To’s exquisite debut 7” ‘Papercuts’ dropped through my letterbox. In that time they’ve been tipped for greatness by Rolling Stone magazine, made a video with Karen Scarfolli (okay, okay, Rashida Jones if you insist) and been played on the radio by Terry Wogan (possibly my most surreal moment on a drive to school ever). Much easier to believe however was that their ‘The Great Perhaps’ set of this year was stuffed full of charming, disarming electro folk Pop of the highest calibre. The Boy Least Likely To make no apologies for pedalling the classic themes of Pop (love, loss, distance) and when they hit the spot (most of the time, it has to be said) they are right up there with the greatest hits of Magnetic Fields or anyone you care to mention. There is a great promo photo of Pete and Jof sitting on a sofa reading a copy of Smash Hits with Wham! on the cover. At their feet is a poster for Dexys’ ‘Geno’. That combination pretty much sums them up, and if you don’t dig the genius of that then man, get outta here...

There were highlights aplenty on this set: The synth/guitar interplay of ‘The Heart That Remembers Everything’ and the soft, sweet darkness of the haunting ’The Dreamer Song’ certainly stood out for me, whist the charming duet with The Pipettes’ Gwenno Saunders* (‘It Could’ve Been Me’) was a sprightly reflection on catching up with long-lost crushes years after the fact. But nowhere was the sense of twinkling, starlit melancholy captured better than on the magical ‘Michael Collins’. Using the Apollo 11 astronaut’s tale as a metaphor for loneliness, longing and the clarity of distance was a genius move. And if there was a better line than that one about “looking at old photographs and listening to Patsy Cline” all year then I certainly didn’t hear it.

*I know Gwenno wasnt in the group at the time, but did you know that one of the ridiculously rare Unpopular records Pipettes badges also starred in a Boy Least Likely To video? ‘Hugging My Grudge’ is the single, and 1.55 is the point to look for. 

 
 
 

Unpopular Advent 2013 Day 10 - The Bitter Springs

Gary Glitter Fan Convention - The Bitter Springs (from ‘Everyones Cup Of Tea’ LP)

I wrote briefly about The Bitter Springs back in 2010 as part of that year’s advent series and it’s tempting to simply point you there now because frankly what more is there to add? Simon Rivers is still a genius and if the ‘Everyone’s Cup Of Tea’/‘The Bitter Springs Destroyed My Life’ double CD collection that snuck out in February of this year found favour in the hearts of those already firmly cognisant of that fact rather than winning over an army of new devotees then hey, them’s the times we live in and all that. The sublime and surreal ‘My Life As A Dog In A Pigsty’ that cropped up in that 2010 advent was certainly one highlight of the ‘Everyone’s Cup Of Tea’ collection, but for me nothing quite matched this 2011 single's magnificent portrait of heartbreak and separation. Punctuated by Rivers’ typically marvellous metaphors (that line about baggage and carousels is just magic) and a surging sax solo, it manages that tricky feat of wrapping up sadness and defeat into something that sounds celebratory and victorious.

“That’s nice, innit” runs the sample at the song’s end (it sounds like Kenneth Connor to me). You’re not wrong Kenneth. You’re not wrong.

 

Unpopular Advent 2013 Day 9 - Kitchens of Distinction

Japan To Jupiter - Kitchens Of Distinction (from 'Folly' album)

I know some people were disappointed by the great Kitchens of Distinction comeback this year. Perhaps if you had anticipated a straightforward duplication, picking up exactly where ‘Cowboy’s and Aliens’ left off, then you may have been left a little cold. But personally I felt that the ‘Folly’ set was rather wonderful in a very understated way. Darker and more operatic than previous Kitchens of Distinction records it nevertheless shimmered with just the right amount of comfortable familiarity. Certainly in it’s best moments it was a match for anything that had come before. ‘I Wish It Would Snow’ was a particularly seductive delight, whilst ‘Japan To Jupiter’ was easily one of the most finest evocations of adolescent (self)discovery ever committed to music.

 

Unpopular Advent 2013 Day 8 - Alpaca Sports

'Telephone' - Alpaca Sports (from split 7" with Acid House Kings)

Every time I hear Aplaca Sports I am reminded of April Showers and the wonderful tragedy that they released only one perfect single. And whilst I do not know for certain if April Showers were ever an influence on Alpaca Sports I’m fairly sure it is no coincidence that they share the same initials. But if it is a coincidence? Well, you know that proves the magic of Pop.

‘Telephone’ was certainly sprinkled with generous amounts of magic dust. Not since the Buzzcocks’ ‘Promises’ has a song about unrequited love gone off sounded so magnificently upbeat, capturing both the adrenaline rush of infatuation and the sorrow of rejection in one perfectly delivered candy coated right hook.

“You always tell me to wait. I don’t wanna wait” sings Andreas, in one line capturing the tension between anticipation and urgency - such an essential ingredient of great Pop.

AS Forever!!

 

Unpopular Advent 2013 Day 7 - Ancient Times

Hieroglyphic - Ancient Times (from Nightschool/Hieroglyphic 7")

I understand there was a lot of fluff and nonsense about a new Penguin (so-called) Classic this year but I admit I allowed it to pass me by. I feel fairly confident that members of Ancient Times may have perused a copy, although frankly their noise to me sounds more like it has been refracted through the lenses of the likes of Gene and Raymonde, and is therefore all the better for having been twisted and turned into different versions of the act*. There may be devotion and homage at play here, but it is thoroughly (and glamourously, grubbily) stripped to the waist and hurled gleefully into the fire.

* 'the act' would be The Smiths, in case you are cripplingly incapable of joining my not so difficult to connect dots of thinly veiled reference.

Unpopular Advent 2013 Day 6 - Sad Day For Puppets & Makthaverskan

'Cold Hand' - Sad Day For Puppets (from 'Come Closer' LP)
'Something More' - Makthaverskan (from Makthaverskan II' LP)

Consider my hand raised sheepishly in the air. Yes, I am still a sucker for Scandinavian ([Strawberry] Blonde)* sounds and yes I am still a sucker for guitars that collide in the forested bleakness of wintering hearts. Or, to put it another way, yeah, that shoe-gazey kinda noise-melody kinda schtick still sticks it to me even though part of me says I am far too old for this kind of malarky and that it really is best left well alone. In this category then it was Stockholm’s Sad Day For Puppets who appealed to me most this year and their ‘Come Closer’ set ended up as one of my most played collections. That said, Gothenburg’s moody looking Makthaverskan’s  “Makthaverskan II” pushed it mighty close with its Pauline Murray meets Curve cacophony, so consider this the first of a few entries this year where I simply couldn’t resist giving you an extra treat.

 
 
*Congratulations those who spotted the Frida Hyvönen reference without the need for this footnote. You may want to re-acquaint yourself with the climax to the (first) Unpopular advent of 2008. I did so myself recently and found myself falling head over heels all over again. 

Unpopular Advent 2013 Day 5 - Elizabeth Morris

Sweetheart - Elizabeth Morris

It is documented somewhere, I am sure, how I was once disparagingly dismissive of Allo Darlin’. Although secretly I might still admit that I dislike the dreaded ‘twee’ associations of the name, I will also admit that it was somewhat ridiculous posturing on my part. Certainly nowadays I would be one of the first to raise a glass to celebrate their marvellously informed (but never annoyingly knowing) Pop confections. With no new Allo Darlin’ product in 2013 though it was left to the solo ‘Optimism’ EP by Elizabeth Morris to supply that fix of understated, perfectly observed songwriting, from which the beautiful ’Sweetheart’ was undoubtedly the highlight. And really, was there a better line sung in 2013 than that one about writing "about the rain and that one day of Glasgow sun”? I would certainly struggle to think of one.