Monday! This week we’ll have three posts at least, today, Wednesday and Friday. If by any chance we get some interviews, then on Tuesday and Thursday. The usual. Im just saying this because there won’t be any posts next week nor the following Monday. That is because I’m heading to Lima, Peru, for holidays. Having said that, if anyone in Lima wants any records from the label please let me know no later than Thursday so I can take the records with me and then we can meet up in Lima of course.

After this vacation I’ll be announcing new releases, so keep an eye on the blog!

Now, moving to what you came here for, new music:

Terry: yet another good band coming from Melbourne, Australia. I’m a bit late to the party as this band released their album “I’m Terry” back in late August 2018. Not sure if there were physical copies but the album is available to stream on Bandcamp. There are a total of 10 songs and I think, at first listen, that “Oh Helen” is my favourite song so far.

White Town: the classic band headed by Jyoti Mishra released “Deemab” on January 1st. It is a new album and he dedicates it to his father. 13 songs on it of all sorts of pop, quirky, electronic or guitar-driven. So far it looks as it is only available in digital format.

The Total Bettys: another album! So far no new singles! Interesting. This one is not that new, it came out just over a month ago, last November. It is called “This is Paradise” and it is also the first time I listen to this San Francisco band.  They are formed by Maggie Grabmeier, Reese Grey, Chloe Lee and Kayla Billos. An all girl summer fun band!

Wolf Circus: ok! now an EP. 6 songs on a digital EP titled “I Don’t Want to Go Back” by this Santa Clarita, California band. Two California bands today. What do we know about the band? Well that it is a combo led by Lesley Price who wrote 4 songs out of the 6 songs, the other two are by Yukihiro Takahashi from the Yellow Magic Orchestra and Brian Wilson from you know who.

Автоспорт: I think their name translates to Autsport. This Russian band just released a compilation tape of their fast-paced shoegazey sounds on Pow! Pop Kids Records from their home country. From what I understand these songs are all their recorded output. They date from 2017 and 2018. And even though I don’t understand a word they do sound superb.

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This 7″ has been on my wishlist for a long time. I wonder when I’ll get around getting a copy and have it in my collection. It is true that lately I’m buying less records, much less than what I used to. Not sure why. I guess it is become more expensive. Shipping costs from the UK are not friendly. And I don’t blame them. Shipping from the US is not nice either.

Ronnie Can You Hear Me?’s 7″ with “Vroom for Romance” on the A side and “Patrick’s Them” on the B side is a great single. Sadly of course there is barely any information about them on Discogs. I wonder if I’ll find any other details somewhere else. I’ll try.

Their 7″ was released by their own Ronnie Records (Spoon1) in 1984. The art for it has this cool cartoon printed in black over a yellow-green paper.

The only other recording listed on Discogs is the song “Chachi’s Theme” that appeared on a compilation called “Good Morning Mister Presley” that was released by Grunt Grunt A Go Go Records (GGAGG 1) in 1986. On this compilation they appear alongside top bands like Yeah Yeah Noh, Microdisney or The Fire Hydrant Men. It does tell that all recordings on this compilation were made in Norwich, Leicester, Leeds, Manchester and London. So, most probably our band hails from one of these cities.

I find out some important detail. So Ronnie Can You Hear Me? are actually an offshoot of the Norwich band The Farmers Boys! I also find out that the song “Vroom for Romance” actually had a promo video for it. Where is it? I would love to watch it!

According to Music from the East Zone. The band was formed by: Ian Thirkettle, Carole Bush, Tom Fenner, Mark Kingston and Paul Kingston.

Ian, a guitarist and keyboardist, had been in bands like Uncle Romeo, Uncle Rodeo, Heigham Sounds, Bluegrass Boys, The Ordinaires, Bang Goes My Stereo, The Farmers Boys, Dr Fondle and The Great Outdoors.

Mark, the bassist, was in The Great Outdoors, Uncle Romeo, Uncle Rodeo, Dissolute Youth, Heigham Sounds, The Ordinaires, Dr. Fondle, The Avons, The Farmers Boys, The Nivens and Blues Machine.

Paul Kingston, vocalist and guitarist, had been in Polish Corridor, Dissolute Youth and The Ordinaires.

Tom had been in The Monotones and Dr. Fondle.

Carole, the vocalist, had been in Terminal Fun too.

Well that’s a lot of band names. Many that I’m familiar but even more that I have no clue about!

Maybe this could start a couple of posts about related bands from the Norwich area? Could be interesting. In the meantime, anyone know anything else by them? Gigs? other songs? their promo video? Any information would be great!

Edit: My friend Jessel just pointed me out to a promo video for “Vroom for Romance“! How cool is that?!

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Listen
Ronnie Can You Hear Me? – Vroom for Romance