Continuing with the new indiepop discoveries, here are 5 more! But I also want to remind you that the Salt Lake Alley 7″ should be out around the corner. Hoping for it to arrive late this month or early May. I’ll keep you updated. So please do keep that in mind as we are taking pre-orders now !
Tiny Fireflies: Well, well, the fantastic Chicago duo whose single I’ve been recommending time and time again with every little piece of news that became available. Now they have unveiled a video for their song “Nothing”. First impression? It is really nice and cinematic. It is great indeed. And hey, Kristine and Lisle, top actors too. I can’t wait to receive the 7″ at home!
The Sunjays: I checked this Hamburg band as they are supporting the Pale Lights on April 16th. That day the Brooklyn band will play that great venue that is Astra Stube (oh! the memories!). The band defines themselves as an indie rock band and that might be right, but they do have a pop sensibility to them that makes me enjoy their music. Their last release was a limited edition CD titled “Apples” which came out in 2016. There are 5 songs total and I think my favourite at first listen might be “Konnichiwa”.
Caliza: another discovery from the Spanish label Gramaciones Grabofonicas. Not exactly indiepop but a very good synthpop band, well, one-woman project. Caliza is Elisa Pérez, who used to drum for Cosmen Adelaida and Rusos Blancos. I haven’t heard the latter but this new song that I’m listening called “El Paso” is much nicer than anything I’ve heard by Cosmen Adelaida. This song will be part of a new album, her 2nd, that will be titled “Mar de Cristal” which will be available only on vinyl (and digital too).
The Color Waves: “Better Angels” is the new song that our friends from Buffalo/Glasgow have uploaded to SoundCloud. What is this about? Well, the band seem to be working on their debut album “At Bay”. When will it be released? I don’t know. Hopefully soon! I’ve loved their music since the first time I heard them. They sent me a demo and loved it. At that moment I couldn’t put it out immediately, but the wait paid off and I released a brilliant, precious, record. I am sure their album will be as good!
The Sherbet Fountains: wow! just wow! Couple of weeks ago I was recommending Laz’s old band on the blog as he had shared the one song. Wasn’t expecting to hear more so soon. But dreams come true and I see the song “In the Picture” was uploaded to Youtube. It is a demo that dates from 1987 and here Laz tells us a bit about the band: The Sherbet Fountains were, from left to right, Ally T (vocals), Laz (guitar), Maggie (violin / drums), David (bass / keyboards ). They played gigs in and around Kilmarnock, Scotland during 1987 and 1988. I saw on Facebook that there might be the intention to release a 7″ with their songs. Wouldn’t that be magnificent? Also, I should ask Laz to do an interview about his band!!
————————————————–
A shoegazey indie-rock band from Melbourne, Australia (1992 – 1995), that appeared on the Summershine label. Hamish Cowan (guitar, vocals), Nick Batterham (guitar, vocals), Chris Smith (bass), Nick Peeters (drums).
That’s how Discogs introduces everyone to this band. I look into my collection and notice I only own so far two of their records, “Plague” and “Idle Eyes” 7″s, but before that they had put out two singles and also an album. I’m far behind. Will I ever catch up?
It is true that all of their releases happened on the very fine Summershine label. Their first was even released in two formats, as a CD and a 7″. That was the “Endless” (SHINE 26) single, that had a CDEP with four songs and a 2 song 7″ vinyl single. It was released in 1992 after being recorded during February that year. The CDEP included the songs “Plague”, “To Be Found”, “Babylon Fallen” and “Endless” while the 7″ had “Plague” and “To Be Found”. I suppose the CD is t he better deal then, 4 songs instead of two. But, I must say these two releases have different art, always designed by Nick Batterham, so might be worth tracking them two. The producer and engineer for this record was Simon Grounds who had been in bands like Rococo Pops and The Shower Scene from Psycho.
Their 2nd single, “Teenage Goth Suicide Cult” (SHINE 43), also was released in both formats. 5 songs on the CDEP, 2 on the 7″. This time though the 7″ didn’t really come with proper artwork. From what I read the 7″ came in a generic Summershine sleeve. Not that nice. Released in 1993, all songs were recorded by Nigel Derricks at Metropolis Audio, a music studio in South Melbourne that sadly closed in 2006. It was mastered by Paul Bryant. The 7″ had two songs, “Teenage Goth Suicide Cult” on the A side and “Anvil…(Cop Out Radio Edit)” on the B side. The CD on the other hand did have a photo of a girl on the front and of a woman on the back as its art. This CD had the songs “Anvil”, “Teenage Goth Suicide Cult”, “In Hollow Time”, “Ebb” and “Anvil (Cop Out Radio Edit)”. Something curious is that on this record there are these names for each of the members. For example Nick Batterham appears as Beebaa and Laalaa. Hamish Cowan has Biggest Muff, Matt Sigley has Spacebass and Crazykeyss and Nick Peeters has The Beat. A new name does appear here right? Matt Sigley. He had been in many bands like The Daytime Frequency, Belles Will Ring, Drop City, Eden, Polak, The Lovetones, The Steinbecks and even The Earthmen who I had interviewed in the past.
Lastly the release of the 7″ “Idle Eyes” (SHINE 34). This time too there was a CDEP for it. It was released in 1993. The CDEP included four songs, “Gummy Bear”, “Idle Eyes”, “Lips Still Move” and “Meccano”. The art is credited to Nick once again and it seems the name of the girl on the front cover photo was Christine. For the CDEP we see a darker take of the photo, while on the 7″ it is a much lighter print. The 7″ just had two songs, “Idle Eyes” on the A side and “Gummy Bear” on the B side. The producer for this record was again Simon Grounds.
Blindside continued having the luck of not many bands in the 90s. Their album was to be released on both vinyl and CD. “Hopes Rise” (SHINELP007) was released in 1993 and had 9 tracks on both of its versions. The songs were “Barely a Glimmer”, “Idle Eyes”, “Gummy Bear”, “Comforts”, “Hopes Rise”, “Past”, “Once Before the Last Time”, “Ether” and “To Be Found”. The songs were recorded on a 16 track during December 1992 and it was once again produced by Simon Grounds. The art for the album was again different in both versions. The LP has a small black and white sort of photography, while the CD has a monotone white and blue building photo.
Then we see listed 4 compilations on Discogs. All after the release of their album. In 1994 on the Summershine compilation “Tomorrow’s Hits Today” (SHINECD002) they appear with the song “To Be Found”. Something interesting is that this album was released in Australia and also in the USA by Summershine itself. Remember that Summershine’s boss moved to the USA around this time.
On “Youngblood 4” (RooArt 4509971130), released by rooArt in 1994, the band contributed the song “Cliffhangar” which seems to have been unreleased up to this point. This was a compilation of young Australian bands. There was also a “Youngblood 3+4” that included both volumes (volume 3 dates from 1991) of these compilations and again on one of the CDs we see “Cliffhangar”.
Then of course there was the “Just a Taste” compilation that Slumberland Records released in 1995. It was an introduction to the US public of the Australian guitar pop scene that Summershine was championing. We see all the usual suspects here, from The Sugargliders to The Rainyard. Blindside appears on the record with two songs, “To Be Found” and “Ether”.
That was about it when it comes to releases for the band. But not for the band members. For example Nick Batterham has released music by himself but also with The Earthmen or Cordrazine and Hamish had been part of Cordrazine and released some songs under his own name.
I look for Blindside in Melbourne, and I notice these days there is a Blindside Gallery there. Inspired by the band? Probably not. I need to find more information about the band. My first find is this line: Nick Batterham released his first records as the singer-songwriter of Blindside in 1991. They supported international acts like Smashing Pumpkins and received accolades including “single of the week” in UK Spin Magazine in ‘93. This on a Nick bio on Head Records.
Sadly aside from a mention saying they supported The Sugargliders, there is not much more information on the web about them. There is definitely much more on Nick’s solo project and Cordrazine. Blindside seems to be forgotten. But I’m sure the Aussie readers of the blog remember them. And will definitely let me know if the band had any other releases, compilation appearances, or unreleased tracks. If they had been in any other bands that I haven’t mentioned. And about their gigs, whereabouts in Australia they gigged?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Listen
Blindside – Plague
