Lostmusic Blog

Sexy Kids - Sisters Are Forever (Slumberland Records)

Sexy Kids are a pop band from Scotland.   Featuring three former members of the sadly departed Royal We.   This release snuck out at the tail end of 2008 on Slumberland Records on beautiful pink vinyl.

The ‘A’ side ‘Sisters Are Forever’ is as perfect a piece of pop music that you are ever likely to hear.  It’s got a beautifully hypnotic tune that gets inside your head within seconds of hearing it.  Stunning stuff.   If that wasn’t enough the ‘B’ side ‘Drown Me’ is equally beguiling - albeit a  slightly lighter flavour of indiepop but still a top tune with handclaps and hi-hats to the fore.

Links: Slumberland Records | Sexy Kids

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Palmstruck - The Spoiler EP

I’ve been following Palmstruck for a few years now and remain perturbed and disappointed that too few others have! They recently signed to Liverpool based Project Records and this five-track EP is their first official release.

Harking from Manchester places a responsibility on bands to perform, albeit too often in mimicry of The Smiths or Stone Roses. Palmstruck furrow a different channel and they do it well.

The overall sound is somewhat ethereal; there’s a swaying tranquil feel throughout most of their material but this gets broken up by stuttering bass lines and searing guitar strokes much akin to The Edge. The overall sound is clearly influenced by bands such as Elbow and mid-period Radiohead but the band do have their individuality and write material that is complex yet commercial enough to merit attention.

My favourite track here is a remake of old favourite “Piece To Camera One” which takes a simple structure, building from piano through to purposeful guitar/drums interplay and almost soulful vocals. “Nothing Matters, Ed” is a more upbeat piece lyrically targeting whoever Ed might be (clearly not a friend!). They will hopefully have a full album together real soon and I, for one, look forward to hearing it.

Links: My Space

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The Charade - Keeping Up Appearances

The Charade are the veterans of the Swedish indie pop scene with members being around in one guise or another (Happydeadmen, Red Sleeping Beauty, The Shermans) for over twenty years now. On their third album Keeping Up Appearances they stick with the classic indie pop template that has served them so well over the course of their two previous albums. Boy/girl vocals, handclaps, melodic songs with lyrics full of melancholy it’s a tried and tested formula so, as the saying goes, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!

Unlike on previous albums The Best Is Yet To Come or A Real Life Drama there isn’t a track that stands out right away or one that the rest of the album is built around. The songs are pretty consistent in their approach being full of catchy harmonies, bouncing around at will. If there is any variation to the theme it’s when the likes of What’s A Normal Person? or Stockholm April 2007 stray into the 1960’s territory that Saint Etienne so often frequent. It’s a sound that fits nicely with the album’s lovely retro sleeve.

Sometimes Keeping Up Appearances sounds a little too polished or a little too safe but that said it’s an enjoyable indie pop album worthy of your ears and possibly your dancing shoes.

Keeping Up Appearances is out now on Skipping Stones Records.

Links: My Space

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The Second Hand Marching Band - A Dance To Half Death (Chaffinch Records)

The Second Hand Marching Band are a band of 22+ people from Scotland that play untraditional folk music. They are also members of another 20+ Scottish bands, such as Eagleowl, Q without U, Dananananaykroyd, The Just Joans, Lula Maes and How to Swim.   They’ve garnered comparisons to Beirut and Sufjan Stevens but the band think their sound is more informed by Glasgow’s post-rock crew, bands such as Mogwai, with the songs building up in layers, albeit with acoustic instruments and not distorted guitars.

After listening to the EP a few times I think the band are spot on - there is layered feel to the sound on this EP that gives the band a post rock feel - albeit with a pop charm that definetely makes this a must hear release.   This feel is underpinned by some gorgeous instrumentation with accordions, ukeleles, mandolins, brass, saxophones, clarinets, flutes and glockenspiels all evident on the EP.  I’d say the best way to get a handle on the band is to listen to one of their songs as they’ve  built a sound that is all their own.

The Second Hand Marching Band - Lies

Links:  Website | My Space

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Dog Years - Frankenstien Songs

I’ve had this LP on fairly heavy rotation for the past week and I am starting to fall for it in a rather big way.  At 20 songs and just over an hour in length - it’s rather on the long side and I usually can’t take LPs that go on much longer than 40 minutes.  But after repeated listens to ‘Frankenstein Songs’ I’d imagine the band had the same trouble as me - which songs could they have discarded to bring the LP down to the 40 minute mark - there really is little (none?) filler on the record.  The songs here are beautifully crafted, with a sound that floats between jangle pop, alt country and sunshine pop.   The bands that spring to mind after listening to Dog Years are  those like Beachwood Sparks, The Tyde and maybe a tiny nod to the Broken Family Band - albeit with less of a country twang.

Dog Years have rekindled a passion for this beautiful mix of alt country and indiepop.  ‘Frankenstein Songs’ is their 2nd release and it really is a great listen.   The band have an intelligence which is often lacking from pop music in 2009.  I urge anyone who has missed what Track and Field were up to in the early 2000’s to check this band out.  They’re the perfect continuation of that country tinged indiepop sound that the label excelled at releasing.  The LP is available to buy from their My Space page for just £6.  Do yourself a favour and buy the CD.  It comes with a cracking illustrated sleeve as well.

Links:  My Space
MP3: Dog Years - Mixtape

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Starting Anew

WeePop! launch 2009 with a compilation titled Starting Anew. It features seven tracks by bands you may or may not of heard before.

The EP (or is it a mini album?) opens with Amida jangling their way through Chapter Two whilst Horowitz contribute their best offering to date with the wonderful Drop The Hat. It took me so much by surprise due to the change in pace I thought the track listing was out of sync.  A lovely, lovely track and I am really looking forward to the many releases they have scheduled for 2009 even more now!

Electronphonvintage supply Don’t Wake Me Up which is as good as the live performances the band finished 2008 with but like those hints at greater things to come. There are some new bands to me too. The London based Aussies Moustache Of Insanity make a sound not far removed from The Ballet whilst the Canadian band Diskettes provide a lo-fi treat with some weird noises thrown in for good measure. Sadly this could well be the band’s parting shot but check out David’s Endless Bummer project who also had a WeePop release at the end of last year.

The best things come to those who wait and the EP finishes with a lovely indie pop tune by Very Truly Yours who, based on this, could well become my new darlings. Think Camera Obscura or Hari & Aino and you should get the idea.  Singer Kristine also has a voice to die for.

The only low point is a somewhat unendearing offering from Stars Of Aviation. However believe me when I say six out of seven ain’t bad!

Starting Anew is out now on WeePop!

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The Interiors - Delays Are Dangerous

Sheffield continues to churn out a wealth of new bands and that could mean that some don’t get the attention they deserve – the Interiors deserve your attention!  They play spiky power pop that is hugely listenable.  Imagine The Pixies joining ranks with The B-52’s, which might sound a bit scary, but that’s what you get!  There’s plenty of targeted energy throughout, with some splendid guitar riffs and entertaining lyrics.

Sharleen is the lady up front and, whilst they look an unlikely bunch of punksters, but I found them hugely entertaining and difficult to put down.  There are a few times when the guys take on vocal duties and they come across a little harder, more akin to The Dead Kennedys at times, but if you really are a sad old punk enthusiast like me , then you will be greeted with fond memories of The Revillos.  I’ve not had the pleasure of seeing this lot play live and, judging by this set, that’s my loss.  If nothing else, grab a listen to “Subtle Love Songs”, you won’t hear it on the radio!

The Interiors - My Little Pony

The Interiors - Without Style

Delays Are Dangerous is out now on Thee SPC. You can order it from here.

Links:  My Space

Posted in LPs, MP3s | No Comments »

Lostmusic Presents kick off 2009

Lostmusic Presents kicked off 2009 with a joint night with our pals at Sounds XP. There were four bands on the bill with Esiotrot headlining in support of their new single release (a split 7″ with Foxes!) on the Sounds eXPerience label.

Here are some photos from last nights show.

Esiotrot

Puncture Repair Kit

Hexicon

Clockwork Four

More photos here.

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Lydia Lunch and Suicide - Frankie Teardrop (Blast First Petite)

A curious one this.   A limited 10″ split single with the ‘A’ side being Lydia Lunch’s electro shock version of ‘Frankie Teardrop’ and the ‘B’ side is a version by Suicide.   The version being a 1976 Demo called  ‘Frankie Teardrop, The Detective Meets The Space Alien’.   It’s released on Blast First Petite - which seems like an attempt to revive the Blast First name from the 1980s - but it is somehow linked in with the current Blast First/Mute Records label.  I obviously don’t know enough about the label - but I find the whole idea a little curious.

Back to the music - it’s interesting to hear the two versions side by side - one version over 30 years old and full of warm analogue synths and those lovely soft Suicide drums.  This 13 minute version of a song much loved in a different form is more than a curious listen and it’s offers a fresh insight into what Suicide were trying to do all those years ago - merging their rock’n'roll aesthetic to a then very new electronic sound.   I love this song and hearing this demo is an odd experience as something familiar becomes less so the longer the song goes on.    As for the ‘A’ side, as a lapsed fan of Lydia Lunch - you get exactly what you expect - a pounding electro version (courtesy of David Knight) of the song - with Lydia breathing/squealing the vocals into the air.  It’s funny how the digital sound of the ‘A’ side differs from the demo on the flip.

So, that’s it, two takes on ‘Frankie Teardrop’ that make this Suicide fan smile.  Even if the record label it has been released upon has confused me.

Links:  Blast First Petite | Lydia Lunch | Suicide

Edit:  The EP is one in a series of 4 on the label to celebrate Alan Vega’s 70th Birthday.  One features Bruce Springsteen covering ‘Dream Baby Dream’ - which is sold out on vinyl and only available as a Digital download.

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Lovvers - Think (Wichita Recordings)

After reviewing Lovvers excellent ‘Laughing Man’ single on the old Indie-MP3 site back in February 2008 and stating it would be worth keeping your ears open for them last year, it’s really inexcusable that I managed to miss the release of this 7 song CD/EP on Wichita Recordings back in September of last year.

I’ve made up for the error now and although now signed to Wichita Recordings the band have maintained their raw edged rock n roll noise fuelled sound - but whilst creeping away from their roots ever so slightly.  The band have  still managed to deliver a 7 song EP that, at just over 12 minutes in length, is as concise a burst of fearsome guitar noise as you are likely to hear.   Gigantic riffs are the order of the day and they don’t come much bigger than the crunchy swagger of ‘No Romantics’.   Elsewhere the rockabilly punk of ‘No Fun’ is all frantic drums and incessant guitar hooks.  Adding to the big bad guitars are some damn fine tunes and a rhythm section that seemingly bullies the band into one cohesive unit.  Lovvers are great and the ‘Think’ EP is the sound of band starting to really believe in themselves.

Links: Wichita Recordings |My Space

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