After the bad taste of the issue about the Feverfew sleeve that was copied by another label, I’m trying to start this week a bit more positive.
But it is hard. I can’t deny I’m disappointed. There was no acknowledgement of the wrongdoing. I was told I could have waited more than half a day to listen their points of view. Maybe that’s right. But at the same time, they took months to put the release together and, with the front cover of the records being essentially the same, I was never contacted. So being demanding for more time to share their views (which turned out to be a simplistic and wrong, ‘you don’t own the logo and the photo’), before I made public my discomfort of the situation, it’s a bit out of place.
I’m beyond sad. As you know it is a label I like and I have championed because their music taste is excellent. But things like this and other questionable practices, do affect my idea of them.
Anyhow, last time I touch this topic, you all saw the images, as they say the speak louder than words. You all know what’s right and what’s wrong.
The Postcards: wow! this is a blast from the past. I worked many years ago with the wonderful UK band The Postcards on a split mini CD. Now to see 6 of their recordings pop up on Bandcamp is exciting! These 6 songs date from around the time I was releasing mini CDs, from 2008-2009. The EP is titled “At Home with the Postcards EP” and I totally recommend it!
Laundromat Chicks: the Austrian band quickly became a favourite of mine last year. They know how to make some superb indiepop tunes and it is no exception in their latest release, “Trouble”. This mini-album that consists of 7 songs is now up on Bandcamp. No physical release as of yet for these Vienna combo.
Captain Cocoa: here are 27 songs by the classic Melbourne band! This collection that is on Bandcamp includes songs recorded between 1985 and 1989. That means the full “Kite” album, three singles, B-sides and demos. There’s also live recordings from the Melbourne community radio station 3CR.
The Baggage Handlers: this Edmonton, Canada, band released digitally a 5-song EP titled “The Baggage Handlers Collected” a few weeks back. These 5 songs were recorded for the 155pod covers section. I am not sure what that covers section is, but maybe someone can tell me. Anyhow, 5 good lo-fi pop gems here.
The OK Nines: last May I discovered this Berkeley band. So cool that a month after we get 5 more songs by them! “Chien Renaissance” is the name of this new EP. The band, that clearly loves dogs, surprises here with some great pop melodies, hooks and fun lyrics. A band to keep an eye for sure.
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Another fantastic find. This time on the Brighton based label Slightly Off Kilter who specialize in short-run cassettes, cds and vinyl.
The band’s only surviving recorded output is up on this label’s Bandcamp. It consists of just 6 songs: “Faded Pictures”, “Illusion”, “Invisible Man”, “Perfect Day”, “Magic Pixie Dance” and “Beatonthebrat”.
We know the first 5 tracks were recorded back in the day, between 1989 and 1990 by Pete Dale. Pete Dale from Milky Wimpshake? The studio they used was the Electric Drum in Westbourne. That’s in Dorset. In the south.
The 6th song, “Beatonthebrat” dates from 2013. This one was recorded at Absolute Studios in Wallisdown in 2013 by Paul Khimasia Morgan. That’s also in the south, close to Bournemouth. Did the band hailed from this area?
Also when did they get back together? Was it a proper reunion of sorts? or just the recording of one song?
We know the first names of the band members, but no last names. Mark on guitar, Paul on guitar and vocals, Tony on drums and vocals, Marc on bass and vocals and Pete on keys.
It also says on the small text in the Bandcamp that members of the band went to different bands including The Cherryblades, Hybrid Kid and Imitation Electric Piano. Doesn’t say who was in which band, but maybe we can find out.
Then there’s a link to a blog called “The Stigs are VAGUE“. By now I don’t know what a stig is. What is it?
On the blog we find a discography.
There was a 1990 self-titled tape. On thiis one we find the songs “Perfect Day”, “Shadows in the Nursery”, “Magic Pixie Dance”, “Faded Pictures”, “Illusion” and “Invisible Man”. These were recorded at The Electric Drum by Pete Dale. So here are the songs from Bandcamp. Missing one. This is their only releasee as The Stigs.
It does look like that many of the members, Mark, Paul and Marc, went to form a band called VAGUE. This band released “Apocalypse Now” in 2017.
There is also a section of posters. In there we see that the band opened for a band called The Spoons at a venue called Whisky’s.
Lastly the band made a video for the song “Magic Pixie Dance” in 1989. Wow! This is indeed a find!
By now I think Paul, guitarist and vocals, is actually Paul Khimasia Morgan. Could I be right?
I see that he is the one behind the Slightly Off Kilter label. And he has been in many bands including Brambling, Imitation Electric Piano (a band with Simon Johns of Stereolab), Rubber Bus, The Seen and Vitamin B12.
That’s what I could track down about this obscure band. Anyone remember them?
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Listen
The Stigs – Perfect Day
