A few quiet days. I hadn’t heard much from you all about the many questions I had asked through my previous posts. I guess we all are very busy.

I keep trying to find time to do these posts, while baby takes his siestas. They are short. Some babies seem to sleep a lot in their naps. Mine doesn’t. Just about 30min. Complicated for me, to find time like that… but so far I’ve been managing. Also I have to say many of these posts about old bands had been prepared back in October, before I traveled. So that helps. But when I run out of these posts and I have to investigate and write new ones?!!!

Crystal Meadows: four very nice tracks by this jangle pop band from Greenfield, Massachusetts. Very little info, other than they formed in 2021. I suppose they say, let the music speak. The EP is titled “Fall to Pieces” and as mentioned it is jangly, sweet, and also lo-fi. Has the charm of a good bedroom pop band.

Chocolate Chainsaw: another band that has no info! We know they hail from Peterborough, UK, and that’s it! There are just two songs on their Bandcamp, “Jeannie Wakes Up” and “Emily’s Fine”. They are fuzzy and a bit ramshackle. A bit like songs you’d expect in early 90s indiepop compilation tapes.

The Jack Rubies: I should get in touch with this classic band. “Foolish Boy” is a true favourite since forever. Lately they put together an EP titled “Doppelganger Songs” where they share 5 rare and remastered alternative versions of their songs “Be With You (Alternative Version)”, “Vegas Throat Stomp (Original Strut)”, “Wrecker of Engines (Buskers Version)”, “Fascinatin’ Vacation (Live on the Radio)” and “Dallas Blues (Live on the Radio)”. Jack Rubies if you read this, drop me a line.

Under the Bridge: Here’s a wonderful compilation put together by Skep Wax Records, the label from Rob and Amelia from Heavenly. On this compilation, available on CD and vinyl we find 14 songs of bands that were in Sarah Records or Sarah Records alumni, meaning bands with people that had been in Sarah Records bands! Very cool! There are plenty of superb songs and this seems essential to me. Chris Jigsaw has promised me he will get copies in the US. So there’s no excuse.

Marinita Precaria: Out now on 10″ on Elefant. It is a 9 song album called “No Me Miréis” and it includes the wonderful songs “Celosa” and “Al Campo” that I had recommended in the past. I’d like to get this in my collection.

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The horse latitudes are the latitudes about 30 degrees north and south of the Equator. They are characterized by sunny skies, calm winds, and very little precipitation. They are also known as subtropical ridges, or highs. It is a high-pressure area at the divergence of trade winds and the westerlies.

I saw on Facebook a flyer from The Vertigo Club at the Camden Falcon from 1991 I believe. On it I see a gig listed for July 31 with the Horse Latitudes and Penny Arcade and thought… I should write about Horse Latitudes!

This short-lived band featured members from superb bands like The Raw Herbs, Summerhill and The Passmore Sisters. As you’ve seen I’ve interviewed two of these bands, and yes, I should try to talk with The Passmore Sisters. The band was formed by Chris Clarke on bass, Derek Parker on acoustic guitar and vocals, Robert Grace on drums and Wilson N. Scott on electric guitar and piano. And so, speaking of the other bands, let’s say that Derek Parker (also known as Del Parker) was in The Del Parker Band and The Raw Herbs. Robert Grace had been in The Rob Wilson Band and The Passmore Sisters. Chris Clarke was in Danny & The Champions of the World and The Rockingbirds. Wilson N. Scott was on Summerhill and also played with Peter Astor.

The band was signed to Cherry Red and released two records with them. Both came out in 1990. Which one came first? Not sure. Let’s start with the album…

“September Songs” (MBRED90) came out on CD and LP vinyl and there were promo cassettes as well. It had 9 songs, “O Caroline” (a cover of Robert Wyatt and David Sinclair), “What is More than Life”, “Baby Don’t Go”, “Harvest Days”, “Thrown Away”, “Building Mansions (That Will Fall)”, “Northern Country Line”, “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and “Untitled”.

The songs were recorded at Bark Studio in Walthamstow, London, in July 1990. The producer and engineer was Brian O’Shaughnessey with John William as assistant engineer. John Hymas from Hoover the Dog and who had worked on some of McCarthy’s recordings arranged the strings. David Robinson played the cello and Geraint Tellem and Philip Aird played violin.

The album would be released in Japan by Toy’s Factory (TFCK-88819) in 1991. It would include 3 more songs, “Younger One”, “Some One”, “There I Go Again”.

The “What is More than Life” single would come out in 1990 on Cherry Red (CHERRY 111). This one was released on CD and 12″ vinyl. The songs included were “What is More than Life”, “Younger Generation” (a cover of The Lovin Spoonful), “Someone”, “There I Go Again (demo 3/90)” and “Untitled”. The untitled track is not listed on the sleeve, it contains a few drum sounds.

When it comes to compilations the song “Oh Caroline” was included in Toy Factory’s CD compilation “Pastel Beans” (PR-882) in 1991. And lately, as their songs are part of Cherry Red catalogue they found the way to the many boxsets the label has been putting out. “What is More than Life” was included in “C90” (CDTRED802) in 2020 and “Northern Country Lie” on “C91” (CRCDBOX119) that came this year, 2022.

Then I find something great! A song that wasn’t released on the records. It is called “Word” and it is on Derek Parker’s Soundcloud! Wow! And then another called “Sorry“.

And that’s what I could find out about them. I wonder how long the band lasted. I read short-lived, maybe a year? And why so little then? Are there more recordings by them? Any info would be appreciated!

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Listen
Horse Latitudes – What is More than Life