Here we go again. A new week of p!o!p!

The Reds, Pinks & Purples: I don’t know if Glenn Donaldson who is behind this band is tricking me to post every single song he makes on the blog. I say that because he adds one song at a time to his Bandcamp. One by one. The latest is the pretty “Human Life (demo)”. I really hope to see a full album soon!

Fanclub: the latest from this Austin, Texas, 3 piece, is the lovely song “Reflection”. Previously they had uploaded the song “Leaves” which is as nice! That’s it. I look forward to more by them. They do have some gigs lined up, even a SXSW appearance next year.

Lovejoy, 1973: “песни о сиянии” is the name of this 7 song album by this terrific Russian band. I know very little about them aside that the tape is being released by Pow! Pop Kids Records from their home country. It is all in Russian, so perhaps you (like me) don’t understand a word. But it doesn’t matter. This is great as it is!

Luby Sparks: there is a new video by the fantastic Japanese band. It is a video for their song “Perfect”. This song was released in physical format on the “(I’m) Lost in Sadness EP” by the Space Shower Music label a couple of days ago. Sounding superb as always!

The Perfect English Weather: the band formed by ex-Popguns have a new album out on Matinée! It is called “Don’t You Wanna Feel the Rain?” and it includes 10 brand new songs. If you follow the link you can preview three of them, “Only Shadows”, “Rocking’ to the Beat” and “Still”. What lovely pop music this is. Classic sounding. Timeless.

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Decoy Avenue went through a few changes from 1981 before settling with their most successful line up in 1982. Playing only their own songs, they were regulars at the London clubs of the day; including The Embassy, The Rock Garden, The Ad Lib, 101 Club and The Moonlight. Their energy needed to be put on disc, so in May 1983 an independent single was recorded “Turn and Face” b/w “Stay”. Interest came from EMI Publishing but was never fulfilled due to internal disputes. The band carried on with different musicians coming and going till 1984, but never reached the heights of the original five boys of Decoy Avenue.

Pete Lancaster: Trumpet/Vocals
Martin Holleyoake: Bass/Vocals
John Varnarva: Guitar
Martin Papier: Keyboard/Vocals
Tony Kutner: Drums/Vocals

That’s the information the compilation The Sound of Leamington Spa Vol. 4 shares with us in its booklet. Decoy Avenue had appeared on this 2003 compilation released by the great Firestation Records. On that compilation they had contributed their song “Gone Native”, which doesn’t appear in the one and only single the band had released. That’s interesting. But even more interesting is that around this time it seems the band was selling a CDR, self-released and all, with 8 songs they had recorded between November 1981 and September 1983. I didn’t know about it then. And actually I only found out now. I always liked the song on the Leamington Spa comp, but never went looking for their records. I mean, I knew my changes of getting a copy of their single was pretty hard. But if I had known there was a CDR maybe I could have tracked it. Today, many years after, it looks like a difficult task.

This CDR which seems self-titled included as I said before 8 tracks. They were: “Gone Native”, “Lord Mountbatten”, “Parallel World”, “In Negative”, “Funk You”, “After Dark”, “Beanpole Blues” and “Reasons”. Discogs doesn’t offer any more details about it.

Previously, of course, they had released their 7″. Just the one. As mentioned it had “Turn and Face” on the A side and “Stay (You’re the One)” on the B side. None of these songs appear on the CDR. The year for its release was 1983 and was put out by themselves with the catalog number COY 1.  There is not much information on the sleeve. There wasn’t one really. But thanks to the labels we know that both songs were produced by David Kenny.

Aside from these two releases and the appearance on The Leamington Spa, there is another compilation appearance listed. They contributed the B side of their single, “Stay (You’re The One)” ,  to the “Pop Renaissance” (EX 014) triple CD comp that Excellent Records from Japan put out in 2004. A superb compilation this one, with incredible bands like La Casa Azul, Mocca, Love Parade or Pale Sunday. A mix of old and new for the time.

Googling for Decoy Avenue I end up noticing that there is actually a Decoy Avenue in London. A proper avenue. Well, it is kind of a small avenue. It is in the Golders Green area, though kind of a very long walk from the tube station.

But even a better find is “Reasons” on Youtube. This song, which is included in the CDR, has been uploaded to the web with a bunch of cool photos and live footage of the band. But that is not all, Tony Kutner has uploaded more stuff to his Youtube. There is “Funk You” with lots of video footage of the band and “Stay (You’re the One)” with a bunch of rare photos of Decoy Avenue. These were uploaded like 9 years ago. Only today I have stumbled upon them. Not good!

I suddenly find a Facebook page for Shaz Lancaster, it seems that’s the name Peter Lancaster uses now. He is an actor/entertainer based in London. He also has a website.

Online I also stumbled upon some photos of the band at the Bedfordshire zoo. It seems like it was a fun day for the band. It also looks like Tony Kutner had been in a band called Equinox before being in Decoy Avenue.

Lastly I find out that both Martin Papier and John Varnava were playing in a band called Ramirez. There is an article on the Brent & Kilburn Times, dating from 2011, were it mentions they were going to play Cricklewood Castle and that they had played Gladstonbury just before.

That’s about it really on the web about Decoy Avenue. I would love to know many more things of course. They sure played a lot in London, but what about outside of London? Why didn’t they get to release more records? Is there a way to get the CDR still? Are there more songs other than the ones in the single and CDR? Were they involved in other bands? Would be fantastic too to get in touch. Maybe do an interview. Why not!

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Listen
Decoy Avenue – Gone Native