Lostmusic Blog

Indietracks 2009

The tickets for Indietracks 2009 have gone on sale today, a snip at £55.

The press release states:

Hello everyone! We’re very, very excited to announce that Scottish pop legends Camera Obscura will be headlining this year’s Indietracks, held on 24-26 July, 2009, and tickets are now on sale! The band, who have recently signed to 4AD, are playing the Outdoor Stage, which is this year being curated by seminal indiepop record label Elefant Records as part of their 20th anniversary celebrations.

The band will be joined by fellow Glaswegians BMX Bandits, shimmering six-piece Lucky Soul, indie heroes The Frank and Walters, and hotly-tipped Welsh popsters The School. Other bands playing on the Elefant stage over the weekend include La Casa Azul, Cola Jet Set, Cooper, Nick Garrie, Single, Speedmarket Avenue, Tender Trap and Fitness Forever.

Elefant is a Madrid-based record label launched by Luis Calvo in 1989. The staunchly independent label has become internationally renowned for both its championing of cult music heroes such as Trembling Blue Stars and Helen Love, and its Singles Club releases from more established bands such as Cinerama and The Clientele.

Over 50 bands will play Indietracks this year, and a second headliner and more bands will be announced shortly - we can’t wait!

This is the third ever Indietracks festival, which is held at the Midland Railway in Ripley, in the heart of the Derbyshire countryside. The site houses a whole range of lovingly restored steam and diesel locomotives. Festival goers are allowed to have unlimited rides on the steam railway over the weekend and full access to other railway attractions including a farm and museum.

Weekend tickets cost £55 and are available from Friday 27 February from Ticketweb or by calling the railway direct on 01773 747 674.

The full list of bands announced to date is as follows:

Elefant Records stage
Camera Obscura
La Caza Azul
Cola Jet Set
Cooper
The School
The Frank And Walters
Nick Garrie
Single
BMX Bandits
Speedmarket Avenue
Tender Trap
Fitness Forever
Lucky Soul
The Carrots

Other stages
Mighty Mighty
One Happy Island
Downdime
Disasteradio
Pocketbooks
The Smittens
Northern Portrait
Countryside
Bonne Ideé
Little My
The Pete Green Corporate Juggernaut
The Lovely Eggs
Kevin McGrother
Le Man Avec Les Lunnettes
Ste McCabe
Hong Kong In the ’60s
Eux Autres
The Understudies
Ray Rumours And The No-Eyed Dears

More bands to be announced. Check the links below for updates.

My Space | Facebook | Blog | Official Site

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Crocodiles - Neon Jesus (Zoo Music)

‘Neon Jesus’ is a pulsing slab of rock n roll - but a rock n roll that is informed by Suicide, Kraftwerk and 1970s punk. Crocodiles also seem to hook into the resurgence of lo-fi pop with the likes of  Dum Dum Girls and Pens appearing high in their My Space friends list - although their sound is not really related to the guitar thrash that these bands make.    This single was recently released on Zoo Music and it has an instrumental b side take called ‘Neon Autobahn’ -  and yes that is an appropriate nod to Kraftwerk in the songs title.

Their is scant information online about Crocodiles.  So, it’s at times like this that the music has to do the talking for a band and I this 7″ single enough to recommend it as an interesting take on that whole Suicide electro punk sound - without ever moving from good to great.

Links: Zoo Music | Crocodiles

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Forgotten Pop: Tompaulin - Into The Black

This is the first in series of posts that will focus on older records.  Forgotten gems, if you will.   This was always supposed to be something that Lostmusic would focus on - under appreciated music from the past.   So the first post in the forgotten Pop series is upon us.  And it is actually from the fairly recent past.  2005 to be precise.

Using Wiki to jog the clogged up memories tells me that Tompaulin started life in Blackburn, Lancashire in 1999 - with a nucleus of three members Stacey McKenna (vocals),  Simon Trought (guitar) and Jamie Holman (bass + vocals) - other members came and went .  Their early singles released on Action, Track and Field and Ugly Man all culminated with their début LP being released on Ugly Man in 2001.   Their early singles and the début record ‘The Town and City’ gathered the band a relatively large indiepop following, plenty of critical acclaim and a couple of John Peel Sessions.   The band released a Jim Reid/Ben Lurie (ex Jesus and Mary Chain) produced EP in 2002 - ‘Give Me A Riot in The Summertime’ which whilst sounding wonderful seemed to be a full stop for the band and it was their last release for 3 years and the band seemed to lose any momentum they had built up during the previous 3 or 4 years.

After a pro-longed silence the band emerged in 2005 with ‘Into The Black’ (again on Track and Field).  For whatever reason, the LP didn’t catch fire with the public.   The band always had a gritty edge that set them apart from other indiepop bands of their time.   Their 3 years away had obviously been a dark time for the band as ‘Into The Black’ was an LP imbued with a melancholy and darkness that seemed to alienate the pop fans.    For me  ‘Into The Black’ is one of the best records of the past decade and the fact that it seems to have sunk without a trace is something I can’t fully understand.   Not a record to cheer you up - ‘Into The Black’ is where Tompaulin got personal with bleak lyrics like “You promised we’d be happy, but I promise you I’m not” setting the tone.   ‘Into The Black’ crackles with emotion.  Jamie Holman’s songs are achingly good.  And revisiting the LP some 4 years later I am still blown away.

The record picked up favourable reviews from the UK broadsheets and assorted music publications but somehow the band failed to take off and now with members straddled between the north west and London the band drifted apart.  So ‘Into The Black’ was Tompaulin’s parting shot and it’s a great record to end on.

After Tompaulin - Jamie Holman reappeared in his new band The Fischers (their début  7″ release was on our very own label).  Simon Trought now runs a little recording studio in London and he’s much in demand for his skills and he was once the Trout  - in Hayman, Watkins, Trout and Lee.   If I remember correctly he also played in an early incarnation of Darren Haymans current band The Secondary Modern.  If their My Space is to be believed he still plays in Mathew Sawyer and The Ghosts.  Stacey McKenna has, as far as I am aware, not yet returned to the world of music.  Although there is always hope that she will reappear someday.

Tompaulin had one further release on Track and Field which I’ve not mentioned yet.  ‘Everything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt’  which was a collection of the bands early recordings - I seem to remember it coming out before ‘Into The Black’ whereas the Wiki entry suggests it was after.

Links My Space | Track and Field Organisation | The Fischers | Soup Studio

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The Mayfair Set, Dum Dum Girls and Blank Dogs

The Mayfair Set is, from what I can gather, a collabration between Dum Dum Girls and Blank Dogs.   They have two songs for streaming on My Space.  Both of which are reverb drenched lo-fi pop music.  I know two low bitrate songs streaming on My Space isn’t much to go on - but on the strength of these alone I’d say this is pretty much essential listening.

Of course I already knew about Dum Dum Girls through their self title CD released on Zoo Music .  A one lady band from Los Angeles.  WIth a new 12″ record (4 songs) called ‘Yours Alone’ which is out now on Captured Tracks.  It’s not cheap to buy from the UK/Europe - but I think Dum Dum Girls are worth it.   So I’ve just ordered the EP.

The other half of The Mayfair Set is comprised of Blank Dogs.   A new name on me.   Blank Dogs seem to have an extensive set of 7″, 12″ and CDr release listed on their My Space page.   They also have a new EP ‘Seconds’ again released on Captured Tracks.  This is more reverb laden echo-pop.    The singer reminds me a little of a lo-fi cheapo version of  Laptop (Jesse Hartman).  Blank Dogs seem a little less frantic than Dum Dum Girls.  But still worth a listen.

Links: The Mayfair Set | Dum Dum Girls | Blank Dogs | Captured Tracks

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My Girlfriend Is Better Than Yours - Winterfarmland (Chicrodelic)

My Girlfriend Is Better Than Yours are a duo (one male, one female) from Paris, France.    Their début single has just been released.  It’s a double ‘A’ side - with ‘Winterfarmland’ on one side and the song from which the band take their name on the other.   I’ll start with the eponymous song - which starts with an electro beat and a cheesy voice-over - before it morphs into a great little indiepop song.   This song is an electro tinged indiepop that comes from the cute end of the spectrum, with a catchy as hell chorus that has all but won me over after what seems like less than a minute!   It reminds me a little of Woog Riots in places.    On the other side ‘Winterfarmland’ is an altogether different kettle of fish -  being a gentle strum of a song.  Acoustic guitars, hand claps and some bare vocals are all the song needs to be a winner.  Towards the end some gorgeous harmonies kick in to leaving you feeling all soft and warm.  A band to watch.

This 7″ single is limited to 500 copies.

Links: My Girlfriend Is Better Than Yours | Chicrodelic

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Surf City - S/T (Morr Music)

Whilst browsing Emusic for some new musical kicks I stumbled upon this band: Surf City. Being a sucker for Jan & Dean and The Mary Chain I took a listen on the off chance that they were a surfed up hybrid of the two. They were not.  But they were a revelation.

The band come from New Zealand and like the best sounds that have hailed from that Island the band are a riot with guitars in hand. This is gorgeously noisy pop music. And yes it does owe a little to that Flying Nun New Zealand sound. But it’s so damn infectious as to not matter. This 6 song EP is something to get enthused about.  Released on a hitherto unheard of (by me) German label Morr Music.  A label that seems to be a bastion of the old fashioned DIY ethos - I shall have to go plundering their back catalogue now! - Including picking up the  physical copy of this EP as downloads from Emusic are never enough when something is this good.   Go take a listen on the bands My Space.   You won’t be disappointed.

Links: Morr Music | Emusic | My Space

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New releases on Lostmusic Records

We’re blowing our own trumpet here, but we’ve got a a whole heap of  releases coming out at the moment.

LMR004 - Morning Paper / Moscow Olympics - split 7″  *out now*

“An impressive release from Lost Music” - Twee as Fuck Fanzine

LMC001 - Knight School - The Poor and Needy Need To Party(14 song CDr LP) *out now*

“14 passionate blasts of pop in 24 minutes; no second thoughts, no looking back. And why would you, if you know it’s right?” - All That Ever Mattered

LMC002 - The Candy Twins - Sad Glad Songs EP (4 song CDr EP)
*Released 12th February - Pre-orders online soon*

LMC003 - The Wendy Darlings - We Come With Friendly Purposes (7 song CDr EP)
*Released 20th February - Pre-orders online soon*

Links:  Lostmusic Records | Shop | Morning Paper | Moscow Olympics | Knight School | The Candy Twins | The Wendy Darlings

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Butcher Boy - React Or Die (How Does It Feel To Be Loved?)

Glasgow’s Butcher Boy return with their 2nd LP, again, on London’s How Does It Feel To Be Loved?  record label.

The band are led by John Blain Hunt and it’s his intelligent lyrical song writing that makes you sit up and take notice when you slip ‘React Or Die’ into your CD player (oh, for a vinyl copy).

Butcher Boy’s sound continues in the classic Glasgow vein - think Belle and Sebastian at their most potent.  This is pop music that transports you to a sepia tinted world.  A world where Morrissey and kitchen sink dramas take centre stage.   The sleeve echoes classic Smiths whilst being thoroughly Butcher Boy - they’re becoming very adept at building a world which you can easily slip into.

The LP rewards with repeated plays much in the way that their début release did.  Picking favourites is hard as the LP sits together as a complete whole.  The most notable change is the way the production brings every nuance of the songs to the fore.  This is classic indiepop - but this is no low budget recording.   ‘React Or Die’ sounds like a labour of love and indeed it has taken a full year to realise.   I fear protracted records as it can ultimately lead to an over egging of the cake where what was great about a band is stripped away.  Thankfully this isn’t the case here, as every song sounds fully formed and effortlessly made.

The LP  is proceeded by a download only single ‘Carve A Pattern’ on February 9th.  ‘React Or Die’ is available to pre-order now from the How Does It Feel To Be Loved? website - and will be in shops in April.

Links:  Butcher Boy | How Does It Feel To Be Loved?

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Downdime - Knowing Too Much (Squirrel Records)

Downdime are another impressive band on the Squirrel Records roster.  Their début LP has just been released and even features an original Manhattan Love Suicide Eddy Lines on skin pounding duties.   Whereas the Manhattans take their perfect melodies and press it through a fuzz filter - Downdime are all about clearer lines and sharp sounds - although there is still an element of fuzz to their pop - the synth/keyboard sounds give the band an added depth.

After seeing the band live a few years ago - I am genuinely surprised by ‘Knowing Too Much’.   It really is a pristine pop record - with an aching melancholy at its heart whereas the band were a much noisier proposition back then.   I’m enjoying this LP a great deal and with it clocking in at  just under 30 minutes it’s near enough the perfect length for a record.  Songs like ‘Any Good Reason’ and ‘Lessons’ are all about hooks and melody.   Downdime have made a very good record, début  or otherwise.  Give them a listen, they’re worth a lot more than 30 minutes of your time.

Here’s a video for ‘Lessons’:

Links:  Squirrel Records | Downdime | My Space

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The Sunday Reeds

The Sunday Reeds are a duo from Melbourne in Australia. The band site bands like The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Velvet Underground, Pixies and The Beach Boys among their influences. I can hear the Reid brothers early rock’n'roll blueprint on the songs on the bands My Space. Songs like ‘Dead Inside’ are laced with a healthy dose of squeeling guitars. Skywave (another band that used the Mary Chain template) are the band they come closest to sounding like to these ears. That’s a good thing. The exciting news is this - not only is their My Space page chock full of gorgeous noise pop - they’re set to release an LP in the UK on Squirrel Records (home to the Manhattan Love Suicides) in April. The LP is to be called ‘Drowning in History’.

The LP is set to contain thirteen songs including thier cracking My Space songs like ‘2000 & Something’, ‘Dead Inside’ and ‘In Our Room’.

Links: The Sunday Reeds | Squirrel Records

Posted in LPs, My Space | 3 Comments »