A bunch of pre-orders for the BV’s 7″s have been posted, as well as copies to some stores and mailorders. You can also always ask your local mailorder or store to order from Cloudberry, if you want to save some bucks from shipping. Or as many people do, get organized with friends within your country or town and order many copies to save on shipping. I know how annoying are the shipping costs from the US for international buyers. So I’m happy to help of course.

What are the new finds for today?

The Passmore Sisters: one of my favourite 80s indiepop bands has just put together a retrospective compilation CD which you can get from their Bandcamp. You can also stream there all 12 songs! It includes all singles and B sides between the years 1985 and 1987. No one should miss this. I ordered mine of course. Essential!

Toy Tambourine: this fantastic Bandung, Indonesia, band have been appearing on our blog a lot. They have great songs, that’s why. Their latest is called “She Never” and it will be included in their upcoming “Vaguely Maybe” EP to be released sometime soon. Will keep an eye!

The Perfect English Weather: the song “Rockin’ to That Beat” was part of a two track single that Matinée released digitally a month ago. As it happens with many digital-only releases I missed it. I wasn’t paying attention. That’s bad. Because even though I refuse and will refuse forever to pay for digital releases I can stream this beauty of a song. And I urge everyone to do that. And hoping the band releases a new record soon too!

Bootchy Temple: I was recommended this band a few days ago by Fuzztone Tom who runs Howlin’ Banana Records telling me he was releasing an album by this French band from Paris that was heavily influenced by Sarah, C86 and Flying Nun Records. So as it is normal in me that picked up my curiosity. The album has 13 songs and it happens to be the 3rd album by the band.  It is available now on vinyl LP.

Cariño: this November 9th this lovely Spanish band will be releasing a new 10″ with 8 songs! Three of them are available to stream now from the Elefant Records Bandcamp: “Canción de Pop de Amor”, “Bisexual” and “Momento Inadecuado”. It is true that two of these songs we have heard before on their 7″, but at least “Bisexual” is new to listen and it is great. The 10″ is called “Movidas”.

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One Hundred and One Dalmatians, often abbreviated as 101 Dalmatians, is a 1961 American animated adventure film produced by Walt Disney and based on the 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith. The 17th Disney animated feature film, the film tells the story of a litter of Dalmatian puppies who are kidnapped by the villainous Cruella de Vil, who wants to use their fur to make into coats. Their parents, Pongo and Perdita, set out to save their children from Cruella, all the while rescuing 84 additional puppies that were bought in pet shops, bringing the total of Dalmatians to 101.

I did watch that move when I was a kid. But having named themselves after this novel and movie, it is going to prove very hard to find information about this brilliant mid and late 90s Japanese band.

As I was checking out Bobbie’s Rockin’ Chair I thought about the label that released them, Left Bank. I have to say I’m not very familiar with it. There’s a lot there to investigate and discover. The first release of this record label happened to be a 7″ EP by 101 Dalmatians. So I should start from there.

The “Love Goes Down the Drain EP” (LBRD-01) was released in 1995. It included 4 songs, two on each side. The A side had “Love Goes Down the Drain” and “MG MAN” while the B side was “Old Fashioned Lovers Song (Paddy Just Drags Me Down)” and “Fly My Boy Fly”. At first I thought that “Love Goes Down the Drain” would be a cover of The Monochrome Set classic song of the same name, but no, it is a wonderful pop song by the Japanese band.

The band at this point was formed by Tsuyoshi Shimoda on vocals and guitar, Sho Tajiri on bass, Kei Tajiri on bass, Yuki Takezai on vocals and cornet, Youichiro Nakayama on drums. The songs were all written by Tsuyoshi Shimoda and were recorded at Suizenji Strawberry Studio and Studio Brown House. Masaki Yamaguchi was the producer for the record. The design for the record is credited to Atsushi Itoh. Now, if I can find a copy of this record…

Two years later, in 1998, and on the same label, the band released their debut album “Permanent Waves” (LBCD-01). Again the artwork for the record is credited to Atsushi Itoh who I believe run the record label. Tsuyoshi Shimoda is once again credited for writing the songs with the help of Siji Fukuda in a few of them.

The album included 11 tracks: “Opening (Permanent Waves)”, “Love Goes Down the Drain”, “Half a Turtle”, “Old Fashioned Lover’s Song”, “My Idiotic Love”, “MG Man”, “Fly, My Boy, Fly!”, “Everything Will be Cool”, “Bell”, “Holly Sign” and “Ending (We’re Delicate Dogs)”.

Discogs doesn’t list any other records by the band nor compilation appearances. I do know though that the band appeared on a compilation called “Cherrios!’98” released by Bananafish Records in Japan. On this CD comp released in 1998 the band appears with the song “But I’m Trying A.K.I.”. There was also a tape called “Left Bank Presents Top of the World” (LBCT-01) that was released in 1998. I can’t tell which song the band contributed to this cassette.

What else do we know? Well of course Tsuyoshi Shimoda had been in the legendary band Johnny Dee and Thee Windless Gates. But was he also involved in any other bands?

I can’t find bands related to the other band members though. There is so little written about them. Even in Japanese there’s absolutely nothing.

I just ordered a copy of the CD album. But I doubt it will give me any important details. So I need to get in touch with the band members to interview them and learn their story. Maybe some of the Japanese readers of the blog remember them? I would love to find out so many things about them. Are the band members still making music for example? Did they play many gigs? Are there any unreleased tracks? Anyone knows?

Edit 1/11/2018 – On Twitter I was told that Sho Tajiri was involved in a CD called “Volume Contras One” that was released in 2006. Don’t know much details about this, but here is a blog post about the CD (in Japanese).

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Listen
101 Dalmatians – Love Goes Down the Drain

Happy news for everyone, today after writing this post I’m heading to the post office to mail the first batch of BV’s singles to everyone that pre-ordered this beautiful record! The official release date is November 10th but the 7″s are here and ready and they will start arriving at popkids homes pretty soon. I’m very happy with this release, the last 7″ for the year. There might be another release this year though, so keep an eye on the blog and the website (and the Facebook page too!).

Some cool finds from over the weekend? A weekend that I spent inserting inserts in the 7″ sleeves, and then the 7″s in plastic sleeves. 🙂

VA – You Can Never Replace Polaroid: on my last post I was celebrating the band The Sweetest Touch and today I stumbled upon a tape compilation they were on called “You Can Never Replace Polaroid!” that was released by Don’t Fade Away Records from Indonesia. It is a fine comp, which you can stream on Bandcamp and it includes other Indonesian bands like Elenin, Selat Malaka and Substars.

The Belafontes: first time I’m listening this Melbourne band and they already amde a great impression on me! Their third single is called “Gemini” and it such a fun song! The duo formed by Jess and Paul have a few other songs like “Where the City Meets the Sea” and “Cruel” which are as good!

Store Front: wasn’t aware that Peggy Wang was still making music! That’s cool. Haven’t seen her in a long time, but listening to the latest song, “Go For Broke”, from the band she is in now, Store Front, makes me terribly happy. The sound kind of reminds me of the great Help Stamp Out Loneliness. Or maybe is the vocals? The band is formed by Amy Rose Spiegel, Peggy Wang, Bradon Louro and Chalky Edwards. Would be great to catch them live!

Earache: another Australian band? Why not! Earache has released a tape with two songs on the Lacklustre label from Canberra. The songs are “Voices” and “Parasite” and they sound pretty good to me. The band is formed by Gemma Nourse and David Fenderson. Sadly the tape is sold out now even though they have October 2019(!) as their release date.

BMX Bandits: lastly a cool video of the legendary band played live at the Quay Sessions, BBC Scotland. How great they sound!!!

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Was watching the promo video of “Your Place” by Fear of Falling on Youtube the other day. I immediately thought why not dedicate the Brisbane early 90s band a post on the blog. So here I am, knowing nothing about them really but hoping that by the end of the post I understand them a bit better.

I still want to do that Australian obscure pop gems compilation. Maybe when Cloudberry is no more? Then it would be a very nice project for me to work on I think. That if no one has done it before. We’ll see. In any case I would include this track because I think is great. I’m sure the band and their label, Phantom, knew that too. That’s why they made a video. On Super-8 film as it had to be done at the Brisbane Powerhouse before it became the arts center that it is today.

“Your Place” was their first single. It was on Phantom Records (PH-40) and came out in 1990. The 7″ single included two B sides, “Slave” and “Fear…”. Discogs doesn’t have much to go on. There are barely no details. We know it was recoded at Broken Toy Studios with Leroy bath as an engineer. The sleeve gives us a bit more information. Kerry Lee on vocals, Neil Coombe on guitar, Caroline Grubb on bass and Mark Elliot on drums. Some musicians helped on the song “Fear…” like Carol Rohde played tom tom velocities and synths, David Smith a sample boffin and backing vocals.

“Butler to your Masquerade” was their second single, also released in 1990 by Phantom Records (PH 43). The B side for this single was “Hand in Hand”. There was a promo video for the A side, “Butler to your Masquerade“.

That same year they also released “For the Tourist” (PH-44) with “South of Nowhere” on the B Side. It was released by Phantom Records, the only label they worked with. This Sydney label is probably one of the most important for indie music in that country. A label that put out Even As We Speak or The Hummingbirds for example.

These two songs of this single were also recorded at Broken Toys Studio in Brisbane with Leroy Bath as the engineer. The band at this point was formed by Cas Simpson on bass, Mark McElligott on drums, Neil Coombe on guitar and Kerry Lee on vocals. Two boys, two girls. Perfect combo. The art for the single is credited to Minna and Neil Coombe too. So comparing to the first single, did Caroline Grubb leave for Cas Simpson? And what about Mark Elliot and Mark McElligott, their names are similar, but probably not the same person?

Lastly in 1990 the band appeared on the very good compilation “Young Blood II” released by RooArt. This compilation which featured up and coming Australian bands had Fear of Falling appear with the song “Your Place”.

The band would be also very active in 1991. That year they would release another single and their one and only album. The 7″ was a single with the songs “Crossroads of Reality” on the A side and “Acid Rain” on the B side. It was released by Phantom Records (PH 48). There was also a promo video for the A side, “Crossroads of Reality“. I start to wonder how come the band is not that known if they got three videos! That is not that common.

Something worth mentioning about their singles is that the first or so 300 copies of them all came in coloured vinyl, the rest in black of course. It does look like the label trusted in them quite a lot and supported them in different ways, coloured vinyl, promo videos and more.

“Welcome to Wonderland” was to be released in 1991. This was the only album the band released. It came out on Phantom Records (PHLP-11) and included 12 songs, 6 on each side. All singles were included in it too. So we have on the A side: “Watching the World Go By”, “Crossroads of Reality”, “For the Tourist”, “Candy”, “Steamtrain of Youth” and “Your Place”. The B side had “Black and White”, “Butler to Your Masquerade”, “Manic”, “Answering” and “South of Nowhere”.

The song “Hand in Hand” had cello played by Rebecca Windsor and violin played by Andrew Cawse, Wendy Cawse and William Deer. Again the band recorded at Broken Toys Studio with Leroy Bath. Some curiosities about the album are the matrix/runout. Hand-etched on the A side it says “No Matter Where You Go, There You Are!” and on the B side “Just a Bit More to the Right…Ahh!”

Lastly that same year, 1991, the band appears covering The Plimsouls song “A Million Miles Away” on the compilation “This Ain’t The Plimsouls: It’s Just a Matter of Time!” that was released by Zero Hour Records (ZEROCD 1001).

I check out the band members on Discogs.

Neil Coombe runs The White Room, a recording studio in Mount Nebo, near Brisbane. He had been in other bands too like Bad Habit, Slant, The Stress of Leisure or Wishing Chair. And has worked in production of many bands like Flamingo Crush, St Andrews Fall and even he has worked with The Go-Betweens and Robert Forster! Cool!

Mark McElligott is a producer/recording engineer and mixed. He has been in the bands Drag and The Daisycutters too. As a producer he has worked with Battered Fish, Beanbag and Powderfinger among others.

I find a blog called Striped Sunlight where they share Australian obscure music. Here they have a scan of a May 1990 issue of the Brisbane Underground Music Scene magazine. There is an article about Fear of Falling and gives us many more details about them.

It says that the band is formed by an ex 42nd Street (the band that had the Atkinson brothers of the Ups and Downs) guitarist, a poet, a bass player from the Lemon Fabs and a drummer from The Louvers. Now, I’ve never heard of any of these bands before. The Ups and Downs yes of course, I have a couple of their singles. But not the other ones. Would love to find out how they sound!

It mentions that before them signing to Phantom or appearing on the RooArt comp the band recorded at single at Sun Studios in Sydney. That is how they got these labels interested in them. So, what single was that? Was it properly released?

They seem to have hoped to be international, get a deal abroad, tour Europe and the States, sell records there. I guess that didn’t happen?

Another blog, one by Greg Dodge, mentions the band too. He mentions a newsletter he wrote back in 1990, talking about new acts at the time. He mentions that Neil Coombe had also been in a band called Mr Meaner. That the band had won the 1990 Country Music Star maker award.

There is a Sydney Morning Herald article from February 1st 1991 where the band is featured. Sadly I need a paid account to be able to read it. I wonder what it says.

And that’s about all I could find on the web. I liked what I heard on the videos. I should track down the album and have it in my collection. Would love to know if the girls were involved in other bands? And how did they sound? When and why did they split? Did they tour all over Australia? Were they close to become “international” as they wanted? Do you remember them?

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Listen
Fear of Falling – Your Place

Short post today. But as always it is loaded with goodies, old and new.

Tallies: this was a superb recommendation from my friend Vernon. This Toronto outfit are releasing an album on January 11th, 2019, which sounds absolutely brilliant. It will be released on vinyl, CD and cassette. There are two songs right now to stream from the self-titled album and they are called “Mother” and “Beat the Heart”. It will be the debut of the band and I look forward to get a copy as I’m eager to hear the rest of songs!!

The Sweetest Touch: our Chinese friends Boring Productions have a bunch of new releases coming up. First up is a 7″ by this Indonesian band I’ve raved many times in the past. There are three songs by this lovely pop group, “Runaway”, “Too Many Dust, Too Many Haze” and “Last Wishes”. Definitely a must have!

Odd Gesture: another Indonesian band that will be releasing a 7″ on Boring Production is Odd Gesture. Their “Odd Fucking Gesture” EP was released yesterday, October 25th. There are five top songs that remind me a bit of 14 Iced Bears, “Sick of You”, “My Holding Hands”, “Saccharine”, “I H8 Sharesprings” and “You and I (Die Together)”.

Strange Creatures: and that’s not all, there is an album LP plus 7″ by another band I’ve raved in the past, the filipinos Strange Creatures! The 10 song album sounds gorgeous really. Pop perfection. Gosh! Jovi, I need these records!! And I think everyone needs them too. Great stuff, Boring Productions might be one of my favourite indiepop labels of the moment for sure!

Pting: there is just one song to stream from a 4-song EP by the Melbourne band Pting. It is a shame as I’d love to listen to the rest. But, well, “Bus Driver”, is a great song, very catchy! The band is formed by Elsie on vocals and guitar, Yura on vocals and bass, Rhys on vocals and guitar and Ben on drums. Lots of female vocals, that’s always a good thing!

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Crocodile tears: tears or expressions of sorrow that are insincere

I have very little to say about this band, I wish it was the other way around, that I had lots of information about them. I discovered them through The Fanning Sessions blog were three songs are posted: “Goodbye Susie-Ann”, “Tuesday Morning” and “Susie Sweetness”.

These three songs were part of a RTE Fanning Session recorded on November 9th 1987. As far as I know there were no releases by the band and these might be the only songs recorded by them, unless anyone know of any demo tapes put together by them? It would be great to find out!

Also it seems there are no photos online by the band. Even the Fanning Session blog and the superb IrishRock website don’t have one. So I have ended using a crocodile to illustrate this post. Hope the band forgives me.

And what about Susie? It seems they must have liked a Susie a lot, unless they are two different Susies, right? Susie-Ann and Susie Sweetness?

The band was formed by Brendan Tallon (guitar/vocals), Brendan Berry (guitar/vocals), Barry Woodley (bass) and Shane Rafferty (drums). They hailed from Ballinteer in Dublin.

Ballinteer (Irish: Baile an tSaoir, meaning “Town of the Stonemason”) is a small southside suburb of Dublin, located in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Ireland, extensively developed from the late 1960s onwards.

I’m quite excited lately about Dublin I must say. I will be visiting Dublin for a few days late in November. So I’m interested in any second hand record shops people can recommend me. I’m hoping to score a few guitar pop records from the 80s and the early 90s if possible.

Anyways. Crocodile Tears. IrishRock.org has a few more details about them. They were around between 1986 and 1988. We also know that in 1988 when Ian O’Donoghue replaced Barry Woodley on bass they changed names to The Coletranes. The Coletranes did release a 7″ record and appeared on compilations. But that’s not all. Other bands related to Crocodile tears were Saturday Captains (Brendan Tallon), Revelino (Brendan Tallon, Brendan Berry & Shane Rafferty) and Beat Club (Brendan Tallon & Shane Rafferty).

An interesting detail also from IrishRock is that Brendan Tallon was a midfielder for the Bohemian FC football club during the 1984/85 season making several fist team appearances that season. Sadly his career was cut short due to a knee injury. I could find an article on the Herald were they mention him playing for The Bohs.

As I said there is not much written about them, though for other bands they were involved there is much more on the web. I haven’t really checked out the the other bands they were in. I need to do so. Maybe they deserve a post on the blog as well. You know I’m particular about that. They have to have a particular sound.

For now I’d love to know more about Crocodile Tears. Especially if they record any songs properly. I know there were no releases, but maybe there were demos. The three songs from the Fanning Session sound very nice. So any details any of my Irish readers remember would be great! Would love to find out more about them. If they were around for at least two years, 1986 to 1988, they must have played gigs and appeared on fanzines or magazines at least!

Anyone remember them?

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Listen
Crocodile Tears – Tuesday Morning

Not many news, not much happening in indiepopworld this week aside that the superb documentary Teenage Superstars is now available on DVD. If you haven’t seen it or got a copy, do that now. It is available through different sellers on the web. I got it from Wall of Noise.

Finds? Yes there are more than a few:

The Reds, Pinks & Purples: have been following and enjoying every new song Glenn Donaldson has been uploading to his Bandcamp. And no, I’m not friends with him, never met him, never talked to him. I just like these simple jangly songs. His latest is called “Monday is Fine (demo)” and it really is pretty. I also enjoy these photos he uses to illustrate his songs. Where are tehse houses from? This last one looks like a Latin American house.

Foliage / Sound and Fury: it is really cool what the Mexican netlabel Stupid Decisions is putting together in their Bandcamp, most of the stuff is top notch in it. The latest from this label are two songs each by Foliage from the USA (“Don’t Come Back Anymore” and “Dare”) and Sound and Fury from China (“Innocent” and “It’s All Ok”). Two bands I have raved on the blog in the past!

VA – Goodbye Idiots II: the same label, Stupid Decisions, is putting together yet another online compilation. I was recommending a few days ago their “Para Siempre” comp and now there’s this one that includes bands like Andrew Younker, Marble Gods, Perrogato and more. Some of these songs are available to stream, some aren’t. I urge you to have a listen, it’s good!

Unicorns at Heart: the great tape label Hidden Bay Records from Toulouse have a new release coming out on October 29th. It is an album by Unicorn Heart. Only one of the songs is available to stream and it is called “No One Nothing Pt. 1”. Nice lo-fi jangle here. The band hails from Monrovia, California.

The Model School: this Sydney, Australia, band is actually just Brendan Wixted. He has just released an album called “Suburban Cinema” which has 10 poppy guitar pop songs. You can stream the whole album on Bandcamp and no, doesn’t look that there is a physical release for it. Lovely.

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Here’s a band whose record I’ve been tracking down for a long time. Maybe there will be some luck in the future though I don’t hold my hope up.

The double A sided 7″ single released in 1983 by Victorian Picture Show is a mystery to me. I know little about it though I’ve seen it mentioned on some blogs in the past. There were two songs on the record, “Travels of One” and “Love With No Words”, and so far I’ve only have listened the first song.

It was released by No Choice Records. On Discogs only another single is listed under this label, The One Takes’ “Extended Play” 7″ released in 1980. That was the first one in the label’s catalog. Victorian Picture Show’s 7″ was the fourth one (NC 004).

Happily someone has scanned the sleeve of the record so I can find more information about them. We know then that the band was formed by:
Brian Gibson (guitar)
Donna McDougall (vocals)
Geordie Taylor (lead guitar)
Billy Wilson (drums)

For this record they also had the help of Arnie Burgoyne who played keyboards. George Cowan produced and arranged the songs. I believe in the inner side of the sleeve the lyrics for both songs were printed and also a photo of the band is included. Everything on the sleeve was printed in red ink. A duotone. Just like I do in the blog with blue, they did it with red.

Something interesting is that the first song, “Travels of One”, is credited to Brian Gibson and someone with the last name White. Who was this White? “Love With No Words” on the other hand is credited to all band members.

No compilation appearances are listed.

I keep digging on the web. Trying to find any information about the band. I don’t know whereabouts in the UK they came from. That makes it harder to pinpoint their names to a location. I think I’m stumbling upon a wall so fast.

I look for them as if they continued making music, on the regular channels, like Soundcloud or older ones like ReverbNation, but can’t find them anywhere. It is strange. They must have continued making songs under another name.

I can’t figure out much about them. Just this superb single. And then they disappeared? They must have played gigs. Someone must remember them!

I wonder, if anyone has any details about the Victorian Picture Show that can be shared with me!

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Listen
Victorian Picture Show – Travels of One

A new week and I have a bunch of cool Bandcamp finds from the weekend. Hope you enjoy them.

Pealds: the label It Takes Time Records from St. Louis, Missouri, will be releasing a tape album by the band Pealds on November 9th. Titled “Melted” the album sounds really promising. The band, who also hails from the same city, have made two songs available to stream from the album, “Melted” and “Secrets”, and I can only say that they sound great!

VA-Para Siempre: this digital only compilation released by the Mexican netlabel Stupid Decisions sounds pretty good. Well, the 4 songs that you can stream sound pretty good. It is a strange setup though. It seems that the compilation will have 16 songs but only 9 are listed and other two have the band names. It seems they are completing the compilation as the days go by. You can now check tracks by La Última Isla, Yr Glow, Noizu and Diana Hutch.

The Seams: the new release on our friends Meritorio Records from Madrid, Spain, is a new album by The Seams. If you like jangle pop, this is definitely for you. There are 9 songs total and it will be available starting October 26 on vinyl LP. At the moment you can preview two songs, “Lemonade” and “on the Shelf”. The band is formed by Kyle Edward Connolly, Jonathan Kennedy Rogers, Jesse Mirsky and Omri Gondor.

The Phospenes: another Melbourne jangly band. It seems every week we discover a new band from there. And they are all usually pretty good! This quartet released earlier this year their album “Finally a Friendly Shore” on CD. There are 13 songs on it, and you can preview all of them on Bandcamp too.

Ghost Thoughts: after leaving the Vancouver band Thee Ahs and moving to Amsterdam, Davina Shell, has been recording songs under the name Ghost Thoughts. A 13 song album is now available on Jigsaw Records. It is a very personal album, packed with bittersweet popsongs. Definitely worth a listen.

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Japanese indiepop has a huge output and at the same time it is not documented enough. And I’m not talking only in English, even in Japanese is not easy to find information about the bands from the past.

With that situation in mind I should try to be more proactive, try to have a Japanese band now and then on the blog. The problem is too that I don’t own many of their records. It is not easy for me to find them. And it is also not that easy to get in touch with their members.

Bobbie’s Rockin’ Chair was a band that was active during the late 90s. Releasing two 7″s on the Left Bank label. A very fine label that for some reason I haven’t heard much about. It is not as popular or well known. But with releases of Photo Jenny, Chain Letter or 101 Dalmatians, it is a proper good label I think. Maybe their records didn’t get much distribution in the west? That might be it.

The second ever release on this label was Bobbie’s Rockin’ Chair first 7″. The “Love Can Make Your Mind” EP (LBRD-02) came out in 1998 and included four songs, two on each side. The A side had “Love Can Make Your Mind” and “It’s Starting Again”. The B side had “Summer in Love” and “Follow the Rainbow”.

At this point we already can tell the love of the band for 60s design, one that reminds me a lot of Siesta Records designs. Vintage photos, heavy fonts and lots of color. That would be the style for every release of the band. I really like when bands are faithful to their aesthetics.

The back of the sleeve gives us some names. The art direction for the record is credited to Atsushi Itoh. The record was produced by Masaki Yamaguchi. And then the band members: Tetsuya Ishiyama, Kazuki Morimoto, Takashi Yoshi, Yumiko Sone, Junya Miyake and Toshihiko Miyawaki.

“Young Friends” was their 2nd EP on Left Bank (LBRD-05). It was released in 1998 too. The A side had “Young Friends” and “What a Happy Day”. The B side had “Morning After Time” and “I Wish You Could Be There”.

The art for this record is credited to Shie Kutsuna. Then there are credits for many musicians that helped in this record. For example Toshihiko Miyawaki played drums on the A side while Yoshihisa Kawaguchi played drums on the B side. Kazumi Mimasu played piano. Naoyuji Tokota played trumpet and flugelhorn. Tetuji Kuriyama played trumpet and flugelhorn too. Nobunori Tsurukawa and Junichi Satour played trumpet. Junji Kawaguchi played trombone and Mayumi Hozaki played flute. Quite a bunch of instruments, it is clear that they loved to have some fancy arrangements in their songs!

Some years after, in 2004, the South Korean label Beatball Records put together a compilation called “… like Nothing Else You Ever Tasted” where all 8 songs of the 7″s plus the song “Here Comes the Sunshine”. So 9 songs in total.

Discogs lists one compilation appearance of the band. On the “Rabid Chords Compilation Vol.1 – Standby for “Action”” released by Victor Entertainment as part of their Rabid Chords series the band contributed the song “Young Friends”. This compilation came out on CD in 1999 and included a bunch of superb Japanese bands like Citrobal, Corniche Camomile, Penelopes and more.

Now, with their name misspelled as “Bobby’s” Rocking Chair they appear on two other compilations for Siesta Records. See? It is no surprise that their style fit nicely in the Spanish label. On the “Sombrero” (Siesta 80) compilation that came out on both CD and LP in 1999, the band appears with the song “Finders Keepers”.  With that same song they appear on “Blanco y Negro Music For Siesta”(RBCS-2024) from 2002, a Rambling Records compilation of Siesta tracks for the Japanese market.

An interesting fact about this song, “Finders Keepers”, is actually an original by Rod McBrien from The Salt Water Taffy and the Goggles.

I keep looking for more information. It seems the band was actually based in Kansai. Thanks to Google Translate I find that their song “Young Friends” was used in a Japanese TV series.

Other interesting fact is that Yumiko, after leaving Bobbie’s Rockin’ Chair has played solo gigs, for example in 2013 in Osaka. Before that I find that the band played a gig on May 9th 1999 with Three Berry Icecream, Trans Alphabet  and Uround Table. Other gig dates from January 8th, 2001, where the band played with Instant Cytron and Potbelly. And that Kazuki Morimoto also used to do DJ sets at pop gigs.

Speaking of Yummy (Yumiko) again, there is a compilation called “Boys (& Girls) Wonder” where she guests on a song by Lollipop Song (and Other Candy Pops) called “Speedy Wonder” where she is featured.

I believe the band was featured on the fanzine Beady on its edition of January 27 of 2000. It was the 3rd volume of this Japanese zine.

Kazuki Morimoto has remixed the Smiles song “Love So Fine” that appeared on their album “Strawberry TV Show”.

Nothing else I could find about them. Are they still involved with music? Were they involved in any other bands? I suppose they only recorded those 9 songs as they are the only ones that appear on the Korean CD. But maybe there are more? I would love to think that. Also where in Kansai where they from? Osaka? Most possibly. I would love to get in touch with them, interview them in possible. And of course find copies of their 7″s or at least their CD compilation!

My Japanese friends, do you remember them?

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Listen
Bobbie’s Rockin’ Chair – Young Friends

At last, the week is over! Here are a few recommendations for you to enjoy this Friday!

Alpaca Sports: “I’ll Do Anything You Want” is the chosen song to be released as a digital single from their brilliant “From Paris With Love”. Because of that we have a lovely video for the song that no one should miss! Filmed in Halmstad, Sweden , on the beach where our two heroes seem to have gotten a nice suntan! The digital single has a B side called “In the Sand” which is worth checking it out!

Chorusgirl: another favourite band of mine has a new video. “In Dreams” is taken from their new album “Shimmer and Spin” which will be out on November 16th on Reckless Yes Records. It is one of the albums I’m looking forward the most right now as I loved their previous effort!

The Color Waves: our friends have a new song up on their Soundcloud called “People End Up Everywhere” and what can I say other than it is a beauty? I believe the band is now working on their debut album which if we take the cue from the 7″ they put out with Cloudberry some time ago and the songs that now and then appear on Soundcloud, we know it will be precious!

Wave and So: a new song appeared on Youtube a couple of days ago by the Thai band that we’ve featured more than a couple of times in the blog. The song is called “Davy Jones” and is going to be included in the band’s new album to be released in 2019.

Tennis Club: first time I hear this Joplin, Missouri, band and I’m enjoying quite a bit this lo-fi twee-ish track called “Vodkas”. It seems the band is formed by the duo of Wilson Hernandez and Sean O’Dell. This is their first song since 2017

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As I continue checking out what I call proto-indiepop, meaning guitarpop/indiepop from the early 80s, I decide to check out another single that is missing on my collection, Mad About Sunday’s “The Drunk”.

As it is usual on the blog, I feature bands that I know very little about. About Mad About Sunday, I confess, I hadn’t even heard their single before writing this post. Just now I have heard “The Drunk” for the first time and really enjoyed. Sadly I couldn’t find where to listen to the B side, “Intermission”. Maybe someone can help me with that?

Those two songs were part of the only proper release the band put out. It happened in 1983 on the Backs Recording Company (NCH 006). This label, which was also a record shop and distributor, used to be based in Swan Lane in Norwich. The shop closed in 1990. The label’s last release was in 2003. Many of you may be familiar with the Farmer’s Boys who released many records on this label.

As mentioned, there were two songs on the record, “The Drunk” and “Intermission”. Both were recorded at Vicarage Studio in Chiswick on April 9th 1983 by Tony Cook. It is quite interesting to mention that Cook worked with Björk in the 90s. The art is credited to “accident”.

We also get to learn the band members names on the back sleeve, Hannah Solloway, Katy Solloway, Nick Eldridge and David Cuff.

Discogs also lists a compilation appearance. It was also on Backs Records, on a tape compilation called “Reel Number 3”. There, on the B side, the band appears with “The Drunk (Edit)”. It looks like a very cool compilation including the Vital Disorders, Kamikaze Sex Pilots, The Farmer’s Boys and the Fire Hydrant Men among others.

The only other important information I could find online was about David Cuff, one of the members. He had been a bassist and vocalist. He had played in another Norwich band, The Crabs, who did a Peel Session in 1982 and also played with The Higsons and The Farmer’s Boys at the John Peel evening gala at the Ballroom in the summer of 1982. That was before Mad About Sunday. And before being in The Crabs he had been in The Happy Few who also released records on Backs. It seems then that Backs supported Cuff’s different projects. That is a good thing of course.

Then I lose track of David. What happened to him? And what about the rest of the band members? It is hard to believe they just stopped making music just like that. Does anyone remember them? ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Listen
Mad About Sunday – The Drunk

While I wait for the inserts for the BV’s to arrive, and not many other news on my side lets’ get straight to the point, to what you were looking for. Some new music recommendations!

The Catherines: if we liked the previous offering by The Catherines, I think I’m ready to like the newest song by the Hambug-based bedroom indiepop band. Their latest song is available now on their Bandcamp and it has a quirky name as always, “If you don’t have a clue please get out of the line “. The lyrics are available for singing along too if you’d like to start a karaoke party at home!

Girl in Red: 19 years old from Norway. I haven’t listened to the rest of her songs but her latest one, “Forget Her”, that dates from last August, is a lovely slice of dreamy, sweet and melancholic popmusic.

Go Get Mum: just discovered this Melbourne, Australia, band that has a 6 song mini-album called “Cripers” that sounds great! It is now available on CD and includes the songs “Big Mind”, “Little Heart”, “Caroline” (my favourite), “Phone, Keys, Wallet”, “Don’t Start a Riot” and “No Control”. The band is formed by Garry, Izzy, Woody and Sam and I definitely would recommend getting a copy (I should do the same), and keep an eye on them!

Subsonic Eye: the second album by this Singapore band is out and already sold out. Well, the cassette release. Though it does look as if it was the only format the band released it sadly. It is available to stream though, and that is ok I suppose. I would love to have a CD at least. In any case there are 9 songs of hazy and brilliant dream-pop with female vocals.

The Beths: I have recommended the Auckland, New Zealand, band in the past. But I think I forgot to mention that they released their album “Future Me Hates Me” on LP and CD a couple of months ago. It came out on Carpark Records and at the moment they are re-pressing the vinyl for the third time! 10 top indiepop songs that one can’t miss!

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I can’t recall much of the time when I was in touch with Abeja back in 2004. I was compiling a CD for a Peruvian magazine called Revista 69 with indiepop bands from all around the world. That compilation was going to be released the year after in 2005 and was titled “¡Es Pop, Mamá!”. It was the 3rd promo CD that the magazine put out. I can’t recall which number of the magazine it came with. I also wrote an introductory article of what was indiepop on it. On this CD I ended up including a few bands from Mexico. Not too long ago I featured one of them on the blog, Robotril. Today is the turn of Abeja as I go down memory lane.

I’m honest when I say I can’t remember how I got in touch. Maybe it was through friends. Maybe it was through Soulseek. These were the ways I used to contact people involved in music. I don’t remember if Myspace was big then. I think Myspace was going to get huge the year after, 2005. The truth is I asked Abeja to contribute a song and they gave me “La Bufanda”. And I really thought it was great.

These days when talking to Mexican friends I know that Abeja became well known in the indie scene of that country. It seems they got played a lot on the radio. Everyone seems to remember them. It is quite surprising, these things don’t normally happen in other countries. I do notice on Discogs that the only record the band managed to put out came out on a big label, on EMI. That is also very odd to me. A band with this sort of sound releasing on a big label. Unusual to say the least. Their self-titled “Abeja” EP came out in 2006. After I had asked them for a song. So for sure the band had recordings before this release.

The EP they released included the song they gave me. And 5 more songs, 6 in total. They included “La Bufanda”, “Si te Vas”, “El Desayuno”, “De Mañanitas”, “Dios” and “Música en el Bar”. It is important to mention that the band put together a promo video for the song “El Desayuno“, which I believe is their most popular song. I read some comments saying that every morning they used to play it on radio Reactor as a “breakfast” kind of song.

The band hailed from the city of Monterrey in the Nuevo León state. The north of Mexico. Many bands come from that city. And I think during those mid 2000s there was a healthy pop scene there. They were formed by Leila Ibarra on vocals and bass, Beto Ibarra on guitars and vocals, Ricardo Ramírez on guitars, Juan Serna on violin and Beto Rodríguez on bass. I read that Ricardo was Leila’s boyfriend. And also that Beto Ibarra was Leila’s dad. That is quite unique. You don’t see that often.

Then I find out that the band had put together two demos before the release of the EP. That’s where the recording of “La Bufanda” that they gave me must have come from. These releases were called “Hendersonville Vol. 1” and “Hendersonville Vol. II”. Why Hendersonville? I read that they used to go on vacations to Hendersonville in Nashville, Tennessee. Interesting. But what songs were included in these demos? I do find the tracklists after a bit of searching.

“Hendersonville Vol. I” included the songs “El Bufanda”, “El Desayuno”, “El Cobrador”, “Quizás”, “Sabías” and “Música en el Bar”.

“Hendersonville Vol. II” had “Algunas Veces”, “De Mañanitas”, “Si Te Vas”, “Caí”, “Talismán” and”Dios”.

It is also said that the band was recording a second EP when they split. Two songs of that EP were available on the web somewhere. Maybe Myspace, maybe the long lost website that the band used to have. The songs were called “Caí” and “Si Te Vas”.

The same year they released their EMI EP the band appeared on a promo compilation CD released by this same label with the song “Si Te Vas”. The compilation was called “¿Cuál Es Tu Rock?” and included some up and coming indie bands from Mexico.

I continue their trail. I find that Leila moved to Mexico City around 2011. Then she formed a band called Nada. There are a few releases on their Bandcamp. Their sound has changed. A bit harder, and bassier. It also looks as she is involved in many other creative projects like Nona Limon (where she creates hand-knitted accessories), Transnacional (an online radio) and Comuniday (a sort of blog where she and three other friends share stuff they like).

But no more mentions about the band. I find it odd. Their video has so manny comments. But there are no online interviews with them. Only a few blog entries. Nothing in-depth.

I would like to find myself a copy of their EP. I have loose MP3s of some of their songs. Only a few. I don’t know much more about them. And as I said I forgot about the one time I was in touch. If I was. Maybe a friend was in touch for me and asked them to contribute the song. I wasn’t as good as networking back then. I hadn’t released any records yet. I was only learning how it was the process to put together a record. And Abeja was part of that first project. My Mexican friends, I’m sure you remember them. Do you know where are they now? If they had been involved in any other bands? Are there more recordings by them?

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Listen
Abeja – La Bufanda

The BV’s 7″s arrived this weekend! Just waiting for the inserts to arrive and will start shipping them! The original release date was November 10th. But we’ll probably be moving it to November 1st as things have moved so fast!

Un.Real: never heard this band before but according tot heir Bandcamp this band’s formation in Isabela, Puerto Rico, dates of 1995. Their latest effort though was released a few days ago as a 7″ and includes two songs, “Blue Garden” and “Kids are Astronauts / Drones edit”. What to expect? some very pretty shoegaze, as they also self-define themselves as the first ever shoegaze band in Puerto Rico.

The Hannah Barberas: a new batch of songs from this fantastic UK band. So, “No Mystery”, “Spellbound” and “Time Will Show the Wiser” are now available on the band’s Bandcamp and from what I read the first 50 downloads are free, so why not hurry up and check them out?

Echo Ladies: the Malmö band will be releasing a two song 7″ on November 16. Sadly it seems as if it is already sold out. But at least we can stream the A side, “Overrated (Robin Guthrie version)” which, as the name suggests, was reworked by the Cocteau Twins member. It is a superb song of course. On the B side we find the song “Rebel Rebel”.

Adults: tweepop as I haven’t listened in a while. Adults hail from London and their brand of lo-fi tweepop is available now in their latest cassette album “The Weekend Was Almost Over”. It was supposed to be released in August, but still looks as if it is only available to pre-order. So who knows. You can stream the 9 songs though.

Sueisnine: 5 demo songs by this Japanese band from the Chiba prefecture. Formed by Kana, Hayashi and Kajiya the band released last year the “Lilac EP”, and these 5 demo songs of soft guitar pop are definitely a nice listen. I wonder what will happen to these songs, will they be properly recorded for a new release?

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I was looking at my wishlist. There are some records that I assume I will never find a copy for myself like the one and only 7″ Rapid Dance released back in 1982. That’s life you know. But perhaps, I would be able to get in touch with the band and interview them through this post. That would make my day.

I was aware of the band thanks to the interview I did with Martin Cotter of the Wee Cherubs many many years ago. He mentioned that one of the members of the Wee Cherubs, Christine Gibson, had been in Rapid Dance before joining him. It was at that moment that I googled for the band’s music and found the A side for their 7″, “Fragments of Youth”. It would take some years until I was going to listen the B side, “Hidden So Well”, through the Messthetics compilations.

The 7″, released in 1982 on Resolute Records (RO 1) is a gem. It is this sort of proto indiepop, influenced by Postcard Records, by Orange Juice and Josef K. It is a terrific record. You’ll agree with me.

It seems to me that Resolute Records was perhaps their own record label as there are no other releases listed for this label. The sleeve doesn’t have much information, doesn’t say where the band was based in Glasgow. The labels though have some information. Both songs are credited to Love & RD. It also says that the A side, “Fragments of Youth”, was recorded at Pork Lane during the autumn of 1981. “Hidden So Well” on the other hand was produced by Kenny and Rapid Dance. On this side of the label they thank Ally and Hector.

A person on Discogs has uploaded some photos of extra promo stuff that came with the record he has. Like a letter asking a radio to play their music written by Iain Jenkins. Was he the manager? I can add another band member name though, Willy Bain who was also later in The Bachelor Pad.

That is the only Rapid Dance record listed on Discogs though of course there is the appearance on the “Messthetics #105” CD compilation that was released by  Hyped to Death in 2007 featuring a bunch of Scottish DIY and Indie band from the late 70s and early 80s. But there is some extra information on the booklet worth checking out:

“Alan Love met Willy Bain through a girlfriend who lived next door -and promptly found himself in the Bain’s living room on Vennard Gardens getting an earful of Taking Tiger Mountain, Sam the Sham and other aural hallucinogens. And as soon as Alan had warbled the Buzzcocks “Breakdown” and a couple others with a late version of the International Spys (with both Brian McNair and Iain Bain), it was time for a group of his own. Mate Colin Watson lived down the road from the Bains and invaluable worked weekends at the Record Exchange; he wanted to be the Drummer (no argument from the others!), and Chrsitine Gibson (who lived at the end of the road) had been learning classical guitar. Colin found the phrase “rapid pips” in the instructions of a Glasgow phone box, but Alan fretted over Gladys Knight associations so they became Rapid Dance instead.
They were committed fans of The Alleged (with Hector Bain) who’d become local stars playing punk hits (their originals on Second City Statik are garagey pop-punk classics) and a Doune Castle support gig duly came their way. Ere long the’d played a spate of shows in Glasgow bars (Christine was underage and was asked to stand out of sight in a couple of occasions -never did) and on the (much louder) Paisley scene, opening for the Fall, the Scars and the Revillos.
Colin’s standout drumming propelled both sides of their 45, recorded at Park Lane Studios in Glasgow. Christine had finally turned 16, but she was still in school when the 45 came out (and broke, to boot), so she left, as did Willy a short while later. Alan and Colin added Hector on guitar and Robbie Stewart on bass and re-christened themselves The Great Divide, who recorded (an as-yet unheard) 1982 demo before drifting away from the scene.
Willy Bain went on to the Oysters, Bachelor Pad, Bain Brothers and Sawney Bean –he now operates www.bicyclerepair.co.uk
Christine switched to bass and joined Martin Cotter’s Wee Cherubs, who became Bachelor Pad. More recently she has toured with Jad Fair and played with Five Piece Horse Theatre with Gordon Goudie (Simple Minds, Primevals, Echo & the Bunnymen) and Leigh Ferguson. She (and Leigh) are now with the Parsonage: www.myspace.comn/parsonagechoir”

That’s quite some information! So the band members were Christine Gibson, Willy Bain, Alan Love and Colin Watson. The myspace for Parsonage doesn’t work. But the Bicycle Repair shop belonging to Willy Bain in Glasgow does. He has been a cycle mechanic for the last 26 years. So cool.

Christine’s latest musical involvement, The Parsonage, actually has a Wikipedia page, where it mentions it is a group of around 40 Glasgow based singers. Their name is in honour of Gram Parsons.

What about Alan Love and Colin Watson? What are they doing?

Do any of you Scottish friends remember the great Rapid Dance?

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Listen
Rapid Dance – Fragments of Youth

So it seems the release for The BV’s will be in around a month. I’m hoping to confirm this in the coming weeks. Aside from that one of our upcoming retrospectives is almost done, it is by a Glasgow band if you are curious. Just waiting for it to be mastered.

Now, what’s new in indiepop world?

Pia Fraus: “Brutal Truth of the World” is the new video the Tallinn based band has put together to promote their latest album “Field Ceremony” that came out last year on their own Seksound label. As it is normal with them, it is brilliant.

Grrrl Gang: a new release from the amazing Yogyakarta indiepop band is out now. “Not Sad, Not Fulfilled” bring us 5 pop songs to sing along. It is out now on Kolibri Records I believe digitally only for the time being. You can download them for free if you like or support them with any amount you’d like. Great band and happy to hear new songs!

The Leave Me Alones: 3 demos by this Oakland band are what await for us on their Bandcamp. These are the first three songs I hear by them. They are called “Nothing Packs a Punch”, “You’re So Much better than me” and “Race to the Bottom”. They sound a bit rough, but they are punchy pop songs indeed.

Alexanderplatz: after the demise of the brilliant Klaus & Kinski, Alejandro Martínez started Alexanderplatz. He just released his first album “Muera Usted Mañana” with the Jabalina label. it is now available on CD and double-LP. There are 18 songs in total, which may sound like a lot, but they are pretty good!

The Tropicanas: I don’t think I’ve heard this Livingston, UK, band before. But it does sound good, even if we can only preview one song from their “A Lovely Coincidence” EP. The song we can listen is the one that gives the EP its name and sounds great. The band is formed by Joe White, Andrew Burns, Ruaridh Macpherson and Joe Murphy.

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Peppelkade is a road in Houten, Netherlands. Was Peppelkade 14 an important address? I have been curious about this band name since I first heard about their existence. No, I don’t own the record sadly. I saw once their name on those lists some collectors put together. And since then I’ve tried to track their songs. So far my luck has only gave me two songs, “Time Flies” and “Uptown”. But I’m hoping that with this post someone can help me listen to the rest of recordings and why not a spare copy? That’d be sweet.

Peppelkade 14 is a band that is truly a mystery. The jacket of their record, with the illustration of what looks like an old soap opera or something, is pretty different to what you see in records from those late 80s. Maybe these illustrations are of the band members? Also the song names appear on the front jacket with a different design for each of them. It is really unique.

There was indeed only one record by Peppelkade 14. A 12″ released in 1988 by the label Top Shelf Records (CAV 031). On Discogs there are no other records listed on this label. That is pretty strange if the catalog is 31, right? Maybe they were playing with the numbers, like in their name? The EP was titled “Time Flies EP”.

It is one of those records and bands I should have covered earlier on the blog. One that many people would love to know more about. I don’t know why it took me long to try to find out about them. It is true I don’t follow any order, but, I should have priorities. And Peppelkade 14 should have been one.

The A side has “Time Flies” and “Springtime”. The B side has “Deep Feeling” and “Hour After Hour”. The four songs were recorded at Cavalier Studio in Stockport, Manchester, in autumn 1988. It was produced and engineered by Lol Cooper. The cool art of the jacket is credited to Albert Pemberton while the photography to Scott MacIntyre.

The band at least appeared on one compilation, on the legendary “Manchester North of England” LP and tape released by Bop Cassettes (BC 001) in 1988. On this record the band appears with the song “Uptown”. This means that at least there were 5 proper recordings by the band. As many of you know, this legendary compilation includes the like of The Man From Delmonte, The Railway Children, Bradford, The Waltones, and more. Very good company. One detail though, the band’s name appears as Pepplekade 14.

All this information confirms that the band  hailed from the Manchester area. As I keep digging I find out the names of the band members, Mick Carroll, John Whittaker, Darren Pemberton, Nicholas Redshaw and Sarah Marion. From a forum I found that one of them is a Manchester City fan and goes by the nickname of Bombo. Who is it?

I thought that with those names I was going to be able to follow a thread. But that is not the case. I can’t seem to find any other music associated to them. There are a few people in Manchester with their names. It is not easy to pinpoint who could have been in the band in the late 80s. I don’t have much more to go with. The mystery will continue it seems.

There is just one more thing, with their name spelled wrongly as Pepplekade 14 there is a flyer on the Manchester Digital Music Archive where it shows that the band was to play on April 19th 1989 at The Venue with support of the Lonestars.

But here is where I ask your help. I’m hoping you can help me. I want to listen to the rest of their songs. I want to know their story. Anyone remembers them?

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Listen
Peppelkade 14 – Time Flies

Thanks so much to Nicolas Glorion for the interview! Les Enfants Terribles, from Tours, France, released a single and an album on Midnight Music just about when the 80s were ending and the 90s starting. Interestingly enough their music wasn’t released on French labels but on Midnight Music from the UK. They wrote superb guitar pop tunes, catchy and exciting, and deserved to be much bigger. If you haven’t heard them before, now it is a good time to fix that! Hope you enjoy the interview!

++ Hi Nicolas! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Still based in Tours? Still making music?

Actually, I am living most of the time near Orleans, important city in the center of France, and still playing music with Xavier, this is « Les Enfants Terribles » 2018 style…we’ll probably talk about it more, later…

++ Are you still aware of the guitar pop scene in France these days? Is there anything lately that have caught your ear? What would you say are the top 5 French guitar pop bands ever for you? And where in a ranking would you put Les Enfants Terribles?

Over all the bands definitely ! (hahaha)…well, actually in France, the bands which interest our ears are not numerous….but the most important ones are influenced by American and English music ;
Rodolphe Burger, The Liminanas, Feu Chatterton, Narrow Terrence, Bertrand Cantat (with DETROIT), Cats on Trees, The Inspector Cluzo….
that’s the bands of the moment…..about the 5 ever ones….brrr….difficult, well, personally, I must confess that I have been very touched and amazed by NOIR DESIR, OBERKAMPF, ORCHESTRE ROUGE & TAXI GIRL…..I have other ones, of course, but those ones, I still listened to them…..

++ Let’s start from the beginning. What are your first music memories? Do you remember what was your first instrument? How did you learn to play it? What sort of music did you listen at home while growing up?

In the beginning of the seventies, we had TV program almost the same as Top of the pops in England, but that was not the same bands than in UK..(laughing….)
I remember precisely french bands as MARTIN CIRCUS & ANARCHIC SYSTEM…….and on the radio stations, there were « hit parades »…I don’t know why, but I remember precisely having heard PINK FLOYD’s « have a cigar »….I have a deep focus on this song….and also, variety music as ADRIANO CELENTANO, ADAMO, THE RUBETTES….ouaouh , with their hats and incredible look….many bands at this time were dressed the same way, as with a Uniform, I remember this very well….KRAFTWERK & DEVO did the same later….it was like gangs, see ? In the Walter Hill Movie « warriors »…everybody had the same uniform….I was wonderin’ why…..
about instrument ? My mum made the same « program » for us all (we were 6 brothers and sisters, I was the youngest) : Piano ! …the lessons were too « mechanical»….I have souvenir about it, piano has more leaded me to appreciate the « sound »…more than the practice of it…

++ I read some of you were before in Acid Brains? Care telling me a bit about this band?

Acid Brains is our birth……Another Country our adolescence, Les Enfants Terribles our adulthood…………….things can be evoked as simply as this !….at each step, something happened…..Xavier came in Another Country, and Les Enfants Terribles can be described as the transition from Larva to Chrysalis.

++ And what about the band Another Country? Is that why you named the Les Enfants Terribles album with that name?

Our engagement for albums contracts was linked with the « almost » obligation to have a « french named band »….we decided to choose « Les Enfants » as a wink to the English people knowing their consideration for Jean Cocteau….and we decided to name the album « Another Country » as our French public can understand this transition…..My opinion is that it was really not necessary….but that was almost the « sine qua non condition » for our engagement with Midnight Music Records…

++ Were any of you involved in any other bands?

No, not at all….Xavier & me just participated to a « one shot gig » in March 1986. It was « Avant Première » of Julian Temple’s movie « Absolute Beginners » with David Bowie, Patsy Kensit, Sade, Ray Davies, Robbie Coltrane…..the radio station who was organizing the evening asked Didier, our first manager with Jean Daniel, to add a surprise….a mixed band, interpreting 5/6 songs from the sixties, etc…we did it, with other guys from 2 other bands…played « Ziggy Stardust », « you really got me », « honky tonk women », etc….really good fun…that was kinda first experience singing for me…..

++ Were you all originally from Tours?

Yes, Tours and its suburbs

++ How was your city at the time? Were there any bands that you liked? What were the good record stores? Or what about the pubs or venues to go check out up and coming bands?

Tours was an asleep, sanitized and almost « under control » city….because of the Mayor, a very conservative man..(watch on Wiki, his name was Jean Royer, stark and dour man, very famous about his law about Censorship in France 1975…..). There were some bars, and concert places, but during the eighties, some of them were closing, it was not so easy to play gigs….and also, it became as a prejudice for the bands to play several times in the same perimeter too often…..
People from Tours were not in the state of mind to see the same band 4 times in 2 months…..question of mentality, education…..Tours is not, very simply a « rock’n’roll city »…see what I mean ? Not as RENNES or LILLE…..Paris is another story….

++ When and how did the band start? How did you all meet? How was the recruiting process?

Olivier & Antoine (Drummer and guitarist) were in same lyceum…they started to play for fun in September 1984….I was working on a radio station with Jean Daniel who was studying at the University with Sophie, Olivier’s sister ; Jean Daniel told me one day that, Olivier has told her sister to ask Jean Daniel if he knew a bass player….I was at that time, playing the Bass at home, I just was loving it, but not playing in a band….Jean Daniel gave me the info, and one Wednesday afternoon, I came to Olivier’s house, and met him and Antoine, and we started playin’..Mid April 1985, Acid Brains was born…..we played our first gig on « Music’s day » 21th June 1985, Us 3 and Jean Daniel on Keyboards, who starting then , managing us , but no more playing, he was very busy with University…..what a gig…..it was the improbable meeting of Jesus & Mary Chain with Pink Floyd….so much noise…..it was fun, and we were totally free in what we’ve been doin’…crisis of laugh all night long…..

++ Were there any lineup changes?

Xavier joined the band in January 1986, then, we became gradually better in our way to write songs, that was very sensible in our evolution, Xavier brought its fineness and delicacy……Emmanuel was the singer until early 1987….and we decided to fire him….more because he was mostly « strangling the cat » than singing, than for his attitude, and his treason….we also were very attentive to the comments of our friends, and fans too….. : they told us after gigs : music is good, but « there is a problem with the singer »….we also couldn’t stay deaf to those critics longer….and so, it happened ….

++ What’s the story behind the name Les Enfants Terribles?

As I mentioned it before : just a change to be in the views and perspectives of Nick Ralph, Midnight’s music boss, he wanted us to be « French » in our name, to signify that we were a French band with French identity, etc…..He asked us during the recording of the album to « start thinking about writing songs in French »…………we did before our split, one song ! Called « En Couleurs »……an unreleased one…..I don’t ever saw the point with this desire to hear us singing in French…..we have french authors, singers…..ok, but the history of pop/rock music is universal….I have heard recently a Turkish band playing rock and singing in their language, with the add of traditional instruments, their culture…it was perfect ! Because they have assimilated the story of rock music, coming from United States and England….this is it, as Baseball is born in America, and Rugby in England….

++ How was the creative process for you? Where did you usually practice?

The Ideas were coming from all of us, periodically, with main influences from Guitarists, which were working very much together…it was so important this work of cohesion between Xavier & Antoine….almost as a second type of work in the process of writing songs : them 2, Us 4….

++ You were around in the late 80s, but whoever listens to your music might categorize you as a C86 band even though you were from France. What do you think of that term? Do you like it? Were you fan of the bands from this period?

Every time you write a note of music, you can be criticised….history as taught us that we were all coming from somewhere …..necessarily, you have influences…. in music as in literature or science, etc….The « C86 » format is another « crea-invention » of people who absolutely need to put you in a case..because if they don’t, they will feel lost, without repairs…….and that’s it…..some bands classified as it ? Well, I used to like The Bodines and The Mighty Lemon Drops….but there’s a problem : Mighty lemon drops were sounding so much like Echo & The Bunnymen that it becomes difficult to put them on a case !!!!!!!
I used to like them, and I still do…that’s music…..

++ And who would you say were influences in the sound of the band?

You mean sound of bands influencing us ? The Chameleons, The Bunnymen, definitely, we reclaim it, and we will always….The Chameleons could have been bigger than U2 and Simple Minds at this period….I will always wonder why The Chameleons haven’t had access to a great great public….it’s almost a mystery not to understand the beauty, the cleverness of their music…..a complete mystery….Easterhouse also….could have been bigger than all bands in UK at this time….. »Contenders » their first album is as the Bible for me, same as The Clash albums….everything is inside it….everything…..

++ Something that is definitely uncommon and cool about you is that your music was released by an English label, Midnight Music. It wasn’t normal for that to happen at the time. How did you end up working with Midnight Music?

I don’t know everything about this story…..We signed a contract meaning 5 albums during 5 years…it never happened….We have been told that, Nick Ralph, the English boss of Midnight Music records wanted to have as an originality, a french band on his label…….also, the french label manager Fred Delahaye was very much insisting, as I have been told too, as we were signed on the french part of the label (Midnight Music France)…..at the end, the promotion, marketing of the album has been a total disaster, because it has been released in french shops almost at the same time as the band was splitting… !!! I finally , and personally don’t know what happened really…also, our manager (Philipp), after having been working on the band in the first years, was strangely working very much, since the recording of the album, to have a definite job inside Midnight Music Structure… ! And he had it , then 2 years later moved to Geffen Records…..it seems, logically, that, managing the band had been a perfect launching pad for his professional career…….

++ And how was your relationship with them? Did you ever meet them? Travel to the UK? or them to France?

Fred and Yohel , the french managers from Midnight France were kind guys…..but what we know about their relations with Nick Ralph about us, was reported by Philippe…..so, it was troubled, strange….some news were hunting the previous ones….it was difficult to know what was happening….

++ Were there any prior recordings, perhaps demo tapes, to the “Paths of Glory” single? Or were these your first recordings?

In March 1986, we did a 7 tracks live session filmed in Rehearsal by Jean Daniel ; later ,
I converted it in MP3 format….all songs are from Another Country period, wit Emmanuel on vocals…..never released on other format….
In April 1986, we released a 100 copies tape with 3 track studio on A” side (mistakes-killing time-bobby’s gone), and 4 tracks live on B side, limited edition…all copies have been sold….I don’t have it anymore….
In August 1987, we went to London, and recorded a 4 track e.p that was supposed to be financed and sold in auto-production way, but we printed only 50 copies in Vinyl format, the first contacts with Midnight music were beginning, and so, we didn’t go forward. The project was to print 1000 copies, and to sale it by our own way….

++ This record came in both 7″ and 12″ formats. That means the label was really trusting in you. How did that work out? And what format do you prefer personally, 7″ or 12″?

the label did the same work for all the bands, the 7”inch only A side format was an interesting idea, with unique European price : 10 Francs, 1 Sterling pound & 3 Deutsche Marks….this is obsolete now with Euro money…hahaha….so , it was not a good marketing idea……
I have so many 7 inches….I like this format, as a little pearl….12” format is cool too…it’s the main place to listen to the unreleased tracks, live versions and covers….that was the good times rolling…..

++ I’ve always been curious about the photo on the cover, where was it taken from?

Path of Glory cover ? It’s Burt Lancaster in Robert Siodmak’s movie « the Killers »…photo has been taken at the moment of the impact of the chair in the window…..that’s the story of the cliché as I have read it…I just liked it so much……we chose with great enthusiasm…
++ How different was recording the album compared to the single? What do you remember from the recording sessions in London? Where did you stay? Were they short and easy or the opposite? What sort of drinks and food was consumed during those days?
We were at the Hotel, near Euston station, the English food was absolutely disgusting, we deciding to be on a fish ans ships mode, with some beers, sugar drinks….it’s interesting question, we normally should have a lot of souvenirs about the recording, but finally not ; what I remember most, is that we were feeling the time passing very slowly….a very big wait…..I was waiting Olivier to finish his « take »…..had to wait because he had to do it again, etc…..it’s same as it seems for the actors making a movie : they are on the location 10 hours every day, but they play their role only 20 minutes…………a huge Wait this recording……………..

++ The selection of photography for your work is really cool. I’m also curious about the photograph on the album cover, where did you got that from?

Philippe selected it from Life Magazine in the 50’s…I think it’s Arizona desert with young Mexican kids playing with guns.

++ Some songs from the single are included in the album, were these rerecorded?

No, it’s the same recording….one format we didn’t had is CD single….too costly….pity, because on Vinyl version, there is one track which will not be released on CD, « My reddened face »….I like this track very much..

++ As far as I know you only appeared on a compilation called “Contresens” that was put together by FNAC. It is a superb one, with the best bands of the period. How did that compilation happen, do you remember? Was there a presentation gig perhaps too?

Les Inrockuptibles were the new magazine in Mid 80’s, and they decided to do something for Rock scene in France, on the same model as NME , melody Maker and Sounds who have provided so many free singles, e.p, etc…..So, they wanted to do one of the first compilation about the french alternative Pop-Rock scene and they did it successfully I think….Principle is cool and simple as ever, 2/3 great names, and a dozen of new bands, starting to be reknown not only in their cities, but in all the country….Headliners were GAMINE & ETIENNA DAHO, very famous french singer who worked with American band THE COMATEENS….alos there was a band named SHREDDED HERMINES, believe it or not…they were about to be very great, sounding as R.E.M….really great band …I don’t know about them since a long time…pity…
No gigs presentation, but good promo in the musical press….it participated to give credibility french music abroad….particularly in England, but also in Belgium, Germany, Holland, etc……

++ Did you appear on any other compilations?

Yes , one about the city of Tours, with only bands from the city…it’s called « 25 years of rock in Tours »

++ And are there any remaining unreleased songs by the band?

Of course ! From Another Country’s period, at least 10 songs, and from Les Enfants Terribles’s period, we have 12 songs and the 2 covers we used to play (The Who & Jesus and Mary Chain)….

++ I have many favourite songs, but I will pick one in the hope you can tell me the story behind, what inspired it. Care telling me in a few sentences what’s the story behind “In a Room like Yours”?

I cannot , sorry ! Because the lyrics have been written by Emmanuel, and it’s very personal as it seems…we’ve talked about it one time, it was I think, about a place which changes the way you see, live life….I liked the rhymes, the way it was written….i decided to change nothing singing it after Emmanuel did it so many times…..the faces , the bodies, the moon……those words means many for me…Emmanuel and I are very different….I have the weakness to think that, he would have never behave the way he did if he hadn’t be 20 years old….. we all change with time…..I think he did…..but in 1987…..

++ If you were to choose your favourite Les Enfants Terribles’ song, which one would that be and why?

Ex Aequo , Bobby’s Gone & Koubla Khan….the first one has many qualities I think, and also, it’s our part of engagement in this horrible conflict in Northern Ireland which have lasted more than 80 years…the abomination of what « men » can do to other « men »…this is one of the darkest sides of UK, and there is so many……Koubla Khan had all the potential to be a very strong song if we could have been lucky to play it more often….heavy, loud and melodic….I have been very concerned and amazed about Orson Welles’s « citizen Kane », and the story of William Randolph Hearst…..

++ I mentioned the album and the single, am I missing any other release by the band? Any demo tapes?

The first one, from March 1986 only.

++ And why do you think you didn’t get to release more records? And how come there were no French releases by the band? That’s quite strange, isn’t it?

The band just split in 1990 after a terrible gig….the releases no more preoccupied any of us..

++ Was there ever interest by other music labels? Perhaps big ones?

What is funny, rather than strange is that, most of the french labels didn’t wanted to sign us because we were singing in English, and our style of music was too much English too…so when Midnight Music’s opportunity came on, we did it, and by the way, it was a kind of pride, because with our style of music, we were feeling good in this situation…..we had also the opportunity to have edition contract with Island Records, but it didn’t happened.

++ What about gigs? Did you play many? What was the farthest you played from your town?

We didn’t play thousands gigs….. but the choice we did was both simple and ambitious ;
being guests for the English/American bands on tour in France, and so it deserved to the french public to discover us, when they came to see and hear this kind of music….

++ And what were the best gigs you remember? Any anecdotes you can share?

With all bands we have played with, contact has been wonderful…some talkings, drinks, etc….it’s a great luck for us, we have learned so much, and be so lucky to play with The Woodentops, TV Personalities, The Wild Swans, 10 000 Maniacs, And Also The Trees, The Beloved, Miss Be Heaven, …anecdotes ? ….hmmm….I would say that I have felt sympathy and respect from English and American musicians….considering us as a kind tiny french band….

++ When and why did the Les Enfants Terribles split? Were you involved in any other bands afterwards?

March 1990, the last gig was in Beaune….the concert has been awful….we had a session drummer this time, he has « scuttled » the gig….we don’t know why….anyway, this became the end of 5 years that I will never forget, but something ended….

++ What about the rest of the band, had they been in other bands?

Yes, Antoine wanted since a long time to play heavier kind of music…he entered a band named DISTANT WINTER, playing 5 strings bass, even harder than Lemmy from Motorhead…..hahaha…..it was a mix of Pearl Jam, White Zombie & Guns ‘n’ Roses….they released an album in 1996 if I remember well….Olivier has played with Emmanuel, the « Iscariot singer » we had until 1987….music was a copy/stick of The Apartments, The Smiths or even James….with Emmanuel as the « strangling cat leader »….hahaha…I prefer to laugh about this….

++ Has there ever been a reunion? Or talks of playing again together?

Since 2011, Xavier & I have been working together in a very irregular mode…until 2015, where we decided to take a drummer, and working tracks with a unique target : play a gig on 21st June 2016….just for pleasure, and then…we will see….
so, between January 2016 and June 2016, we had at least 20 rehearsals … and…..small « miracle » occurred, in April 2016………. Antoine called Xavier as he was coming from Paris to Tours, Xavier told him we were playing with Eric (the drummer)….Antoine came to our place, I said him ; « take the guitar, we’re going to play Bobby’s gone »…..he took one of the Guitar there, in the studio…..and we played it in one f*****ing and amazing shot…….
there is a recording of it…..26 years after our last gig, we were 3 of the original band, with Eric on drums….it’s a true story….and it happened only one time….Xavier and me have …..diplomatically approached Antoine to play again….but he does not want to play music anymore…that’s it…..

++ Did you get much attention from the radio?

In Tours, yes, In Paris too when « path of glory » was released….we had a « rotation » on some indie Radio-stations….but the influence and power of the radios is totally insignificant in France, compared to the American system….in Your country, Radio are like kings and Queens…(that’s my opinion particularly when I look and listen for example, the work done by a radio like KEXP in Seattle)………………..and it’s wonderful, really…..pity that our country doesn’t work as yours…..

++ What about the press? Did they give you any attention?

you must know that , Until 1985, in French press, there was not any weekly Musical Magazine…..later, « LES INROCKUPTIBLES » came….By the way, We had some articles….but not a lot…..globally, there were announcements for the gigs, but the articles were for the « big bands »……

++ What about from fanzines?

…..and logically, what was possible to read about local bands was essentially in Fanzines…there has been, and that was good, a real « fanzine explosion » around 1983, most about the alternative movements, punk Rock, Cold Wave, etc….we had some articles in some local fanzines where we had our gigs….but most of them were « dying » after some years of existence…..even sometimes after some months….it’s typically from France….

++ Looking back in retrospective, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?

Everyone in the band had its own sensibility, so, better it will be to ask individually about our feelings….
well, personally, I can say some things I have in my soul….Jean Daniel has been the connecting key with Oliver and Antoine, so it’s essential, and also he has worked to obtain us those precious guests appearances with bands, and to my opinion, the most « memorable one » is the gig we had with The Wild Swans in Tours….it was in our city, with our first fans, and with this band which is a huge part of Pop Music story in England….So, maybe this moment is a prodigious highlight in my soul….the biggest ? If I say « the biggest », I rank other ones down, and I don’t want it….we had many biggests highlights in our souls I think…..

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Listen
Les Enfants Terribles – In a Room like Yours