Just five days away from NYC Popfest and here I am trying to catch up before I’m swept by four nights of indiepop. Four days of indiepop that will paralyze the city. My city. A fabulous showcase of classic and up and coming bands. I have to say I’m mostly excited for the new-ish bands, as I have already seen the “established” ones! I will always prefer to see something new than seeing something for a second time. Been there, seen that, give me a surprise. My favourite Cindi Lauper is playing again, but then, that’s the norm, she plays every indiepop festival in the world. I must be a masochist, but I’ve seen the ukulele ensemble more times than any other band in my life. How did that happen? I don’t know. I must have a serious talk with all promoters in the world. But it will be hard, now she has street cred. Oakland label you know.

But there are some really exciting bands in my to-see list. Years of friendship and admiration, and good times, and beers, and I get to see Amanda play for the third time. First time as Pushy Parents. I heard their smash-song “Secret, Secret” so many months before it came out. And I was hooked. It made me unhappy not being able to share it. It was too good. And the release date seemed so far away. And then the 7″ was released. And they swore never to play live. I must congratulate Maz from Popfest to convincing Amanda to come and play these songs. I can’t really wait.

What about Cola Jet Set? I’m just thrilled. Sure, they don’t have Anita Dinamita fronting the band anymore, but I’m sure I will adore them. How couldn’t I? It’s Felipe’s band. Felipe from Los Fresones Rebeldes. One of the best bands that Spain has given the world. And Cola Jet Set is not far behind. I wonder if they will treat us all with a cover of “Al Amanecer”. All of my Spanish friends tell me they always play it. But then, here in the US, maybe not many know this classic song! They are also playing this Tuesday for free at The Cake Shop. Seriously, I must go. Songs like “Suena el Teléfono” or “Quiéreme” are indiepop hits in my book.

At last I’ll get to see The Electric Pop Group. A Swedish band I’ve followed since their early days, when they self-released their first and brilliant self-titled album. I was running the Mira el Péndulo blog back then and Martin was kind enough to send me a copy. “Popgirly” was played so many times at home. From that day on, the band started to gather a loyal following, signing to Matinée, and release a couple of EPs and another album. They played many festivals, but none of those I attended for a reason or another. At last, I will be at the front row.

Burning Hearts? Check. When they announced that they had to cancel their Indietracks gig I was bummed. I was looking forward to it. Jennifer was even sadder. I don’t know if the rest was too. Sure, they were replaced by The Parallelograms who were, GLORIOUS, but I wondered and wondered how this Finnish duo would sound live. How would that masterpiece called “I Lost My Colour Vision” sound at the church stage at Indietracks. How. It doesn’t matter now. They will perform here, in my city. I met them back in 2008, Henry and Jessica, when they came with Cats on Fire. Remember chatting a bit back in Union Pool. Jessica and her perfect Spanish. I was impressed. Wonder how will their masterpiece “Into the Wilderness” sound here.

Speedmarket Avenue. I remember back in the day, they had this perfect 7″, way before signing to Elefant, “He’s a Rebel”. What a song that was. And then they were quiet. Very quiet. Suddenly they signed to Elefand and released “Way Better Now”, another smasher. And then an album, and more 7″s. Still, the song for me, is that one, “He’s a Rebel”. Will they play it? I know Amanda is doing backing vocals for them. A nice plus. I’m very curious about how Isak and his gang can pull this one off. It should be great. I’m counting on them.

Dot Dash. I interviewed them not long ago. Perhaps they have the darkest sound among the bands I want tp see next weekend. A bit more angular, a bit more post-punk, but you know, done with a lot of taste. It promises a lot.

Back in late 2010 I released a compilation called “Do You Think It Will Snow Tonight?”. In that little 5-song EP, a brand new band was captivating everyone with their sweet sound: Seapony. At that point their 4 track demo was a common sight in every website and on all my friends’ facebook pages. Soon they released a 7″ and then an album. This Seattle band is one of the best new indiepop bands around, by far. They deserve to get bigger.

Then Pale Lights should be good. Mr Phil Sutton’s new band is jangly jangly, and he sings! If you remember The Soft City EP, he was singing on that, and it was quite fantastic. Then on the album he left singing duties to Dora Lubin, and whereas it was great, truly great, I always wondered why did Phil stop singing, he should do it again. And now he is doing it again, and he does it pretty well! I saw them a couple of months back in Brooklyn, at an art gallery. They were just formed and you could see something good shaping up. I believe they have or will have a 7″ out pretty soon, on their own label Calico Cat. I hope it’s ready for next weekend.

And last but not least, my favourite Canadian band: Sleuth. I’m very thrilled that one of the most talented bands around is playing New York. It’s true, not many know about them. Let’s say they are Vancouver’s best kept secret. And hopefully in the near future Cloudberry will be putting out their first 7″. That’s the plan at least. Very happy to see them after going for beers last September when I visited their city. Now it’s time for them to be in my city. NYC. I’m very excited to hear their new songs. So far, only a tape released, and one song on the compilation that came bundled with my last fanzine, Cloudberry 406. They are wonderful. And I hope they dazzle the crowd.

I feel that’s half of the bands playing Popfest? So, quite positive. Then of course there’s Comet Gain and Pooh Sticks which I’ve seen before and I love. So should be one of the best weekends of this year. For sure.

And I don’t feel the same way with Indietracks sadly. A friend said that it’s perhaps I’m getting old. But I don’t think that’s it. I feel promoters are getting old. Maybe that’s wrong to say. But I don’t feel old. I still crave for new music and new bands. But some still stick to the same old. But more on that on my next post. This is pretty long already.

But before we move to the obscure band of the week, let me tell you that I have brand new, and very limited, Cloudberry Records tote bags! Postage is included in the price, just heads up. And The Deddingtons release date is June 1st. Also you can now pre-order Earth First’s debut 7″. Many more news will be announced soon. A new fanzine for example. Yes! And a Strange Idols retrospective on Cloudberry Kitchen! And more. More. Much More. Just keep in touch, and I will keep you in the loop.

A flashback in time. I remember NYC Popfest 2007. Up the stairs to the second floor of Europa, in Brooklyn. Pants Yell! are playing. I don’t care much about them. “Heartless”,  I thought. I walk towards the merch table. And there are these tapes inside a briefcase. I know the band name. I’ve heard some of their songs. My friend Johanna shared with me some MP3s years before. Those were the times when we were on Soulseek and she was the mysterious ‘rascalette’, way before she wrote songs with Mr. Dan Treacy. I recognized most of the tape’s songs. But I never imagined they had a US release. The band name was Crime Time. They were Swedish. And they have been forgotten.

OK, not completely forgotten; I’ve actually tried in vain getting in touch with them a couple of times. I want to include them on The Sound of Starke Adolf compilations. No reply though.

The songs on the self-titled tape, released by Rub-A-Dub Tape Club,  include:
A1. 18 & Waiting
A2. A Dizzy Day in May
A3. I’m Just Waiting to Hear You Say You Made a Mistake
B1. We Need to Talk
B2. No Time
B3. What Would It Be?

Songs A1, A3, B1 and B2 were originally released on a CD-R titled “Serenghetto” back in 2004 I believe. In this CD-R their “hit” song was included: “Stop Playing Football”. I assume this CD-R was self-released. A1, A2, A3 and B3 were recorded in Lenken’s basement in February 2004 and also in Apelangen’s kitchen and garage in June 2004. They were mixed by the great Mattias Malm (Everyday Mistakes, Horsechimes). I wonder if this Lenken is the same as Victor Lenken, my good friend from Second-Hand Furniture. I wouldn’t be surprised. He has good taste.

B1 and B2 in the other hand were recorded in July 2003. So all in all,  that’s 7 songs total. I do know there is another song recorded, a superb cover of the Television Personalities’ “Smashing Time”. So that makes it to 8. Were there any more? Any clues?

The band was formed by Peter Moller on vocals and guitar, Molly Streijffert on vocals and guitar, Terese Nordstrom on bass and trumpet and Mikael Ellingsen on drums. When did they split, I don’t know. What are they up to, who knows. All I know is that they made fantastic crash pop songs, ramshackle greatness, something the Swedes were doing perfectly back in those early days of the past decade. Pure fun, youthful tunes, and guitars that crackle. Those were the days when I fell in love with indiepop. And later, that was the time when I fell in love with NYC Popfest. Always a bag full of surprises.

Oh! And one last thing, I’m DJing on the Saturday show of NYC Popfest. Say hello!

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Listen
Crime Time – Stop Playing Football

Thanks so much to my favourite club promoter around, Matthew Rimell for this interview. Right now, TODAY, I don’t think there’s any better indiepop club around than Big Pink Cake. Matthew and Heather (Big Pink Cake) have been going for some time now, seen many other clubs pop up and then disappear, but they keep going strong. I still remember the first time I met Matthew, a long time ago, in Hamburg for a our friend Nana’s birthday party. We both played tunes, spinned the classics and the should-be-classics, and danced until the next day. Fantastic times. An exquisite taste, and true to his politics, Matthew, and his Big Pink Cake, deserve the recognition of the whole indiepop community.

++ First questions first, how did you two meet?

We met at school during music lessons and it evolved into a friendship with a shared feeling of stuff that was going on at the time

++ And how did you get into indiepop?

Well I was really influenced by my older brothers record collection, stuff like early Felt, Postcard Records, stuff on 4AD and Factory stuff jumped out at me. But then somewhere during early 1985 a band called The Jesus and Marychain grapped my attention which led to me wanting to know more about Creation records.

++ So Big Pink Cake. What made you start the club night? What is the manifesto? 🙂

Partly because no one at that time seemed to be talking or doing anything to celebrate the importance of C86. The music around that time led to so many special memories and I thought it was a shame that it wasn’t being seen as something very significant..as I think it really really was. We had a chat as friends do in a pub, on the bus home came up with a few names that seemed right, but Big Pink Cake seemed perfect in many ways..it still does. The manifesto is simple, its about celebrating indie pop and its relations with the kind of passion that we think it deserves. Big Pink Cake is inclusive and will always be so. Its about having a positive and friendly attitude…we definitely don’t do egos.

++ When naming your club night what other songs were options for the name? Or was it a straightforward decision?

Well looking at the original notebook the other choices were Completely and Utterly or the Only Fun in Town, Big Pink Cake seemed to say more about us really and we totally identified with it massively, aesthetically and I guess politically too.

++ Back in the 80s I’d assume you were going to lots of clubs. Which were your favourites? And how much influence of those nights is there on Big Pink Cake?

Well The Tropic was a massive influence on us I guess as we used to go together, the sticky floor was a bit gross but it really was spectacular. The Western Star Domino Club was special and quite a unique little place. I think the biggest influence on me was the attitude, it was refreshingly optimistic…which you certainly did not get with other very prominent sub cultures at the time. It was definately inspiring to be around something that felt fresh and different and weirdly comforting that some people were really really not getting it at all! that kind of made it all the more special.

++ Are many of your friends from back then not into indiepop any more? Why do you think this has happened?

I don’t have many friends that are still into indie pop that are were into it then. Around 1985-87 Heather and I would go to The Tropic and we were the youngest ones there! Most of the people there were university students or older, we hadn’t even taken our O levels yet. But the people I did meet a little bit later on got a bit fed up with indie pop and became mods or more influenced by the 60s thing, or started to listen to entirely different music altogether.

++ And so, what have kept you into indiepop and doing it for the kids?

I don’t know. Its what a person references I suppose a feeling of what has really shaped you and what you identify with. For me the indie pop stuff that I bought back then is as fresh and inspiring as it was when I was 15 or 16. The idea of independent pop being presented as something so special and with the love, care and attention to the whole package is just beyond words really, its an example of how things could and should be.

++ Matthew, you’ve DJed in many countries and in many cities. Do you have a favourite one so far? What crowd has surprised you the most and why?

I have DJed in lots places and all of them have been a complete joy and honour to play in. I loved the Hamburg P!O!P! fest in 2009 that was so special…I couldn’t help myself and tried to play indie pop with punk and people seemed to like it (sorry Pete from Horowitz, if I sort of took over.) Sometimes I can get a bit possessed by the proceedings…but Daniel from So Tough So Cute was a massive inspiration in just going for it and throwing yourself completely and utterly into the music. Crowds that surprise me is a difficult one, one thing you learn I think whilst DJing is never assume anything, this will work or this won’t work etc, it really is about creating an atmosphere and going with it and never take people for granted.

++ What about the Big Pink Cake Weekenders. You just did one in July, right? How different are they from a regular Big Pink Cake night? Are they easy to organize having so many bands?

The weekenders are hard work and Heather and I are nail biting the whole time especially with the lead up, with things happening here and things not going quite to plan there. We do love it though, the bands that play are always great, the people, the links other people make, its totally worth it. We have learned lots and lots from it, basically to relax a bit more as opposed to having a bit of a nervous breakdown, it gets easier with each one simply because you’ve done it before and you relax into it better.

++ From club night, to a label. How has your experience running a label been so far?

Well we’re starting off quite small and that’s what we want to do. We want to put on bands that we’re passionate about and do them the justice that they deserve. We see it as a bit of a natural progression really,it certainly wasn’t our intention but we love the bands that we put on and to do something extra for them is all the more worthwhile.

++ First release was the “Piece of Cake” compilation that included bands that had played in your club. By now many more bands have played in Big Pink Cake. Is there any plan to do a second volume?

Yep, one is in the pipeline, but its hard organising a compilation, people think they have to record something new, or we haven’t done anything for a while and so you have to reexplain it and it can take forever…but we’re on the case.

++ And speaking of which, what have been the best gigs you’ve experienced at Big Pink Cake?

Too many to mention really, I think one that sticks out for me was seeing Francois And the Atlas Mountains perform at The Avon Combined Services club that was just so magnificent, organic and completely spellbinding, seeing Gregory Webster do an acoustic set was pretty amazing, Pocketbooks at The Cube, The Wendy Darlings at The Cube cinema with films as a backdrop was pretty special. Too many really I could go on and on.

++ Second release is the “Best Of” The Groove Farm. They are from Bristol, just like you. So I want to ask how important is this band is for you as well as for your town? And which are your favourite songs by them?

Actually I might be wrong but I think The Groove Farm are from Plymouth, they moved up to Bristol during 1985, I might be wrong though. The Groove Farm is a massively important band for Heather and I. It was the first band that Heather and I were really really passionate about together and totally loved! So for us to put out the cd was like a dream come true, I couldn’t believe it when it was happening, it was a sort of I’d better pinch myself moment. My favourite songs by the Groove Farm are ‘Couldn’t Get to Sleep, ‘Corrupt,’ and ‘It Always Rains On Sundays.’ Bristol well mixed feelings really, its nice to go home, but as you well know I don’t live there! Most people are surprised to see me at gigs in London and think that I’ve come up especially. Bristol is where I grew up and my family are all still there…but really its a bit too small for me, I like living in the busyness of London.

++ Is there more plans to release more old gems from Bristol?

Yep, The Kick Inside have got a release coming out as does Jonny Collins of Modesty Blaise, but we don’t want to keep it Bristolcentric as that would be a bit daft in our eyes

++ And the last release so far, the brand new Garlands 7″. One of the best singles this year for sure. I can go on and on why I love this band, but I want you to tell me why do YOU love it? And what can people expect from this single?

The Garlands are one of the most important bands right now. Perfect perfect POP, a total rush of sheer joyous energy, Christin’s voice is just so wonderful and angelic. They remind me of all the reason’s why I love indie pop, the songs are up there with the best of them. From the single you can expect two songs that will capture, stir and melt your heart and leave you wanting more and more, all dazzled by the sheer beauty of it all.

++ So on the label side, what are you bringing to all of us in the near future?

We have some surprises in store, any more would be spilling the beans…and we can’t and we won’t, but yes we’re really excited…we can only hope you will too.

++ Let’s talk a bit about yourselves. When you are not doing Big Pink Cake related stuff, what other hobbies or interests do you do?

Well I’m in a band called The Fireworks, that’s quite new at the moment and we’re only into our 4th gig, I love to read when I can, mainly philosophy or stuff with a philosophical perspective that might be a bit challenging or make me think about why stuff works or why people think in specific ways. I really love 60s glass and have a few prized possessions, I also love doing nothing, my busy day job sees to that pursuit very well.

++ And what about the obvious question, can you bake a cake?

I used to make cakes every Saturday when I was about 14…but I’m probably no good at it now…I love cooking though…cakes as ace…I can bake a pretty good flapjack, thats because they’re easy.

++ Last question, so, club, label, when are you writing the Big Pink Cake fanzine?

I’d love to but I know I’d sound like Matt Haynes almost immediately, the ‘Are You Scared To Get Happy?’ fanzines were so amazing and so passionate that…well I think I would just come across as too passionate and worry if I’d embarrass myself, but then I think just get on with IT!!! Looking at fanzines though, they do seriuosly take a long time to do, especially if you want to do it well, art work that says it right, colour of words that expresses it in the right way…I’d love to you’ve planted a seed maybe…who knows maybe one day.

++ Thanks again Matthew, anything else you’d like to add?

Just to say a big massive thank you to all the amazing and fantastic people that we’ve met so far along the journey so far, it really has been brilliant and one thing that Heather and I say constantly is how wonderful it is to meet so many great people within the world of indie pop that make your heart go ‘awww’ and give you a special feeling of being humbled by peoples loveliness.

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Listen
Razorcuts – Big Pink Cake