I have seen that many people have received their copies of Dayflower’s 7″ by now! How are you liking this release?

BDRMM: the very good English label Sonic Cathedral are releasing a 10″ vinyl and also tape for the 6 song mini-album “If Not When” by this band! It seems very popular, I don’t usually see that many supporters on Bandcamp. Maybe it has to do that this record is not exactly indiepop, but hey, it has some superb guitars in it!

Rocketship: the classic band will be releasing on October 11th their album “Thanks to You” not sure in what formats. On Bandcamp it looks only as a digital release. It will include 10 songs in total and four of them are available to listen, “Under Streetlights Shadows”, “I Just Can’t Get Enough of You”, “Outer Otherness”, “What’s the Use of Books?”, all of them sounding great!

Kodiak Galaxy: first time I am listening to this band is through this video for their track “Running Out of Reasons”. It sounds and looks great. This track will be part of their forthcoming album “A Bad Time For Dreamers” that will be out early 2020. They are based in Melbourne and are formed by Adam Pianta, Miranda Holt, Lewis O’Brien and Jake Elwood Grant. Let’s follow them.

The Leaf Library: I’ve recommended the London band more than a few times. Today I want to share the video for their song “Hissing Waves”. I don’t have much to say about it other than you can’t miss it. The song is amazing, the video is cool too!

Últim Cavall: “Alaska” is the name of the new album the Barcelona band ahs released with Discos de Kirlian. Available on 12″ vinyl and CD, the band that sings in Catalan, has put together another small masterpiece. Terrific chiming guitars, dreamy atmospheres, and elegant arrangements. I highly recommend checking them out.

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Remember many months ago I wrote about The Sensible Pencils? I was checking again the compilation they appeared on in 1988, “The First Great Wave” (OGRT 1) that was released by Great Records from Washington in Tyne & Wearm, and I started checking some of the bands on it. See if I could find any information. The other bands on the record being Contraband, Cringe, The Plastic Infidel and Million Dollar Legs.

When I heard the track “It Doesn’t Rain” from The Plastic Infidel I was hooked. I knew I had to write about them. But what about? I know nothing about them!

I look if they had any releases and it looks like they did. A 12″ in 1989 on Hostile Environment Records (HER 001). This was a label based in Northampton and was created by several promoters, musicians, artists, radio presenters. They also used to organize gigs and events in the area. They released many tapes and also some vinyl it seems. Some of its members went to found Kooky Records, Bastim Records, Astounding Promotions and B2M club night as well as many local fanzines. Interesting! Though only the 12″ by The Plastic Infidel seems to be listed. No other tapes!

The 12″ by the band had three songs. “That Goes Without Saying”, “Trash No. 7 (Radio Edit)” and “Trash No. 7”. I listened just now to “Trash No. 7” it is quite different to “It Doesn’t Rain”. It has no lyrics. It is just an instrumental.

Then I find a Soundcloud with a bunch of songs! I listen to “Here and Now”, “Innovation”, “Fun is Out of Control”, “Happy Landings”, “Trashing The House”, “You Could Be Wrong”, “Regrettable”, “Siberia” and “Smoke in Alberts Garden”. Not all of them are poppy as the song I am already a big fan of, there are all sorts of styles. But some of them are truly enjoyable like “You Could Be Wrong” or “Smoke in Alberts Garden”.

Then, why not, a Facebook page! We know the band was around from 1982 to 1990. Then there’s a long list of band members (what did each of them play? and when?): Jonny Briggs, Ian Smith, Paul Faulkner, Ian Anderson, Carl Bulwright, Paul Bulwright, Darren Chell, Steve Beswick and Mick Gudgeon.

From Facebook I see that there was a tape called “The Boys From Benghazi” that included three tracks, “Pack of Lies”, “365 Days” and “You Could Be Wrong”. The songs were recorded at Progressive Studio and the tape came out in 1987.

They also participated in the tape compilation “Christmas Compilation” released by Hostile Environment. They had two songs, “Chance of a Lifetime” and “Three Reasons Why” on it.

I notice too that they played alongside two great bands, Talulah Gosh and The Passmore Sisters at The Boardwalk in Manchester. And again at The Boardwalk as part of the ‘Gimme Shelter’ gigs alongside Biting Tongues and Laugh!.

There were also various gigs at The Roadmender Centre (supporting the likes of the Happy Mondays and Cud and playing alongside Headskaters, Bruise and The Adelaides), The Black Lion (with Der Dunger, Cringe, Dust and Western Colours),  Racehorse, Five Bells (with Voices of Sin), NCCC Pavillion, JCR Moulton Park in Nene College (with The H.E. Disco).

Well that’s quite something, no? I know more about them! They had some great tracks. But what happened to them after? Did they continue experimenting? Are there more songs in the vein of this indiepop gem that is “It Doesn’t Rain”?! If so, I would love to hear them too! Who remembers them?

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Listen
The Plastic Infidel – It Doesn’t Rain