So here’s the thing. I am having a hard time to keep up with three posts a week. So starting next week I’ll be doing two posts, on Tuesdays and Fridays and if I have an interview to publish it will be posted in any of the other days. I hope in the future I can pick up the great pace I have had for many years, but yeah, right now it is a bit of a struggle with the lack of time.

Again thanks for all the support to the blog and the label.

Kindsight: here’s a very nice Copenhagen band. Kindsight has just released “Love You Baby all the Time”, a digital single that sounds superb. This four-piece is clearly influenced by Swedish pop from the 90s, think The Cardigans, Pineforest Crunch or Backfish. I am really enjoying their sound and I hope to see a proper record in the near future.

Spice World: the Australian four-piece is back with two new songs, “Dying to Go” and “What a Pity What a Shame”. These songs are actually the first offering from the band’s upcoming album to be released by our friend Álvaro on Meritorio Records. The album is set to be released on January 2023.

The Sundries: now to South East London, for this wonderful indiepop band! I am crossing fingers that I can make it to London next May to see Heavenly, and wouldn’t it be fantastic too for me to see some up and coming bands? For example I’d love to see The Sundries. Their latest release, the 4-song EP “Full of the Joys of Springs”, reminds me of the terrific Pocketbooks. Great songs, great melodies.

Orchid Mantis: now to Atlanta, Georgia, where I discover this dreampop band with an interesting name. Their latest song is called “Lucid Dreams” and from what I understand on November 11 the band is releasing an album where this song will be included!

Smut: and lastly we head to Chicago to listen to Smut and their upcoming album “How the Light Felt”. This record will be out on November 11 on CD and vinyl and will include 10 songs. Right now you can preview one of the songs, “After Silver Leaves”, which is ace.

—————————————————————–

Helvetia is the female national personification of Switzerland, officially Confoederatio Helvetica, the Swiss Confederation.
The allegory is typically pictured in a flowing gown, with a spear and a shield emblazoned with the Swiss flag, and commonly with braided hair, commonly with a wreath as a symbol of confederation. The name is a derivation of the ethnonym Helvetii, the name of the Gaulish tribe inhabiting the Swiss Plateau before the Roman conquest.

Thanks to stoneeyedkiller I have discovered this wonderful early 90s band from Guernsey, from the Channel Islands.

Helvetia seems a true mystery to me, and maybe to anyone that have stumbled upon their Soundcloud. There you’ll find a bunch of superb songs, all uploaded 9 years ago. Their music style is dreampop, with amazing female vocals. It sort of reminds me of Secret Shine, well with the girl vocals. It’s really good.

Uploaded are, as I mentioned, many songs. 3 of them, “Dreamy Dreamy Dream”, “Feel” and “Clear Head Cold Heart” were part of the “Cascade EP” that was recorded on 4-track tape.

The “Soundblind” EP was their 2nd release. This one was recorded on ADAT (8 tracks). This EP had 5 songs, “Waiting to Fly”, “Valentine”, “Circus”, “Temptress” and “Rollercoaster”.

The third release was “The Experiments” which consist of “Copter” and “Sue and Mary”. Their sound had changed by this time, being a bit more rockish.

Then I find a name. Phil Bartie. He works at Heriot-Watt University as an Assistant Professor of Computer Science. He was part of Helvetia. He has a website with some of his computer stuff as well as links to his music projects. These projects include Ztimenz and Babe Serene. Sadly he hasn’t shared any details about the bands.

And that’s all I could find. Would be great to find out who were the other band members and if they continue making music. And about the EPs too, if they were released in any form! Who remembers them?

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Listen
Helvetia – Feel