We start April!

Records are traveling to Disk Union in Japan, so hopefully many Japanese fans can get Cloudberry releases at a better price.

Other than that things moving slowly for the next releases. Still in very early phases.

Studio Electrophonique: we travel to Sheffield to discover this project by James Leesley. He released this year the EP “Happier Things” on 12″ vinyl and it is still available. The EP has 5 songs of lo-fi bedroom pop. Mellow melodies with simple but smart arrangements. I know it is a cliche but it is the perfect soundtrack for a rainy day.

Hydroplane: many years ago I interviewed the wonderful Melbourne band Hydroplane. Today there’s news about the band re-releasing their 1997 debut album on vinyl. This is fantastic news as the album was previously only available on CD and we know how much people love their vinyl these days. The record includes the same 14 songs as the original release, you can preview two of the tracks, if not familiar with them, on Bandcamp.

Fine.: this is something I am saad that I missed out while I was away. “Fine” was a double CD that the Boston, UK, band released this week but had pre-orders available before. The double CD includes a full album from April 2021 (that was only released digitally) and also tracks from the back catalogue of thee band. It was released by the great Subjangle label.

Truck Train Tractor: I had written about this Australian band many years ago and was in touch with Karl, their guitarist and vocalist too. Tried to do an interview but sadly never heard back. Well, good news is that the band has put all of their recordings on Bandcamp, as a compilation called “Anthologically Challenged”! This is a must listen for any indiepop fan. Hopefully this gets released properly (though it seems it was in 2005 on CDR?!)

Bedflowers: another band that I still don’t understand how there is no compilation out there. The Manchester band had amazing songs! I thought Firestation was working with them… my memory might be wrong, but I totally had the idea that this EP, with the four songs that we find on Bandcamp was to be released years ago on physical format. I was also in touch with Danny and again, an interview didn’t happen, I believe because we were waiting for the release to come out and then promote with an interview… maybe now is a good time? This is essential indiepop!

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What a fantastic find by stoneeyedkiller! Wow. I hope he/she doesn’t mind going through all of his discoveries as of late. I have been away for months and I am only catching up and, as you can see, I am enjoying a lot of their songs!

The song he has shared is called “Ebenezer” and dates from 1988. It is a superb slice of classic indiepop! I don’t know where he found this song as I’ve been googling for any info but couldn’t find anything!

Luckily he has uploaded a cassette sleeve. And there is some info there!

It seems this song was part of a tape album? There are many songs in the cassette, “Devil in my Wardrobe”, “Ebenezer”, “Summer in Africa”, “Ham Green Pill”, “The Day is Long and Restless”, “Blue and Gray”, “Two Dye the Minute” and “Bare Breasted Woman”.

It is a bit hard for me to read some of the words. Everything has been hand-written, so if anyone understands the text better than me and see typos, please correct me.

I see that the band was formed by Bongs on vocals, Jonboy on red guitar, Mike on Gibson guitar, Mayneman on fretful bass, Kevin on timeless percussion and Jim on blues harp. No last names are listed.

It says where the songs were recorded but I don’t understand the handwriting. Does it say Fermain? Les Camps Du Moulins? One thing that seems to be a fact is that the band hailed from Guernsey. So perhaps it is not strange to see these French names?

I have actually never written about a Guernsey band. Quite exciting. It is a place I’d love to visit someday.

Sadly there is no more info on the web as I said. Would be fantastic to listen to all the songs and find out more info about them! Anyone remembers them?

EDIT: All of the songs are on Soundcloud.
The A side with the band’s notes:
1. Devil In My Wardrobe: an invitation to alter ego.
2. Ebenezer: a pagan philosophy of seaweed for breakfast
3. Summer In Africa: Bougs growls in the smoky acacia glade
4. Ham Green Pill: Jim Searle’s harp is witness to the execution of the jongleurs.

The B side with notes too:
1. The Day Is Long And Restless: anthem for the lost souls of finance.
2. Blue And Gray: uneasy guitar haunts the loves games of 2 in the twenty first century.
3. Two Bye The Minute: this side of paradise is out of time.
4. Bare Breasted Woman: all you need is sex!
5. Bonus Track: Movin’ On!

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Listen
Mr. Rottcodd Again – Ebenezer