SPLASH 29

Just a podcast this time. Most of the songs today are by bands from Asia and other faraway places. And some new stuff from closer to home as well, including Trembling Blue Stars. The programme today is called Riding On the Equator, which is probably my favourite Felt composition. Several of the songs here are from a compilation called Peachy Little Secrets, released by Singaporean label Fruit Records last year. This programme is dedicated to them!

The Oddfellows – Unity Song
The oldest song by far on the Peachy Little Secrets comp is by The Oddfellows from Singapore. They formed in 1988 and must have been something like Singapore's Happydeadmen. From the sound it, this song ought to be an indiepop classic in Asia.
Annemarie – Bubblegum I See
One of the best albums so far this year comes from Indonesia and Annemarie, via the Music Is My Girlfriend and Plastilina labels. Annemarie's name is a tribute to Anne-Marie from The Field Mice, but the record sounds more like Swedish pop by the likes of The Cardigans and Acid House Kings. This song has one of the most well-placed ba-ba-ba's I've ever heard!
Fibi Frap – Catherine
Our Swedish band of the week does not have any equatorial connections, and in fact comes from north of the polar circle. It's a duo consisting of Madelaine and Sarah and they've released three eps on labels like the now defunct My Secret Garden. This song is from How Fast Is Your Heart Beating?.
Trembling Blue Stars – The Tenth of Always
Undeniably one of their strongest releases to date, I'm sure The Last Holy Writer didn't let anyone down. Skatterbrain has already posted "Idyllwild" and raved about how it's one of best songs of the year. I agree, but I like this one just as much. It's calmer, and more reminiscent of The Occasional Keepers album and, maybe even Her Handwriting.
Mocca – I Would Never...
As I said earlier Mocca from Indonesia have just released their third album, but here is a song from the Fruit comp (taken from the Friends album). Fruit have indeed made their name from the release of Mocca's first album, called My Diary, in 2004. This song features Karolina from Club 8 on guest vocals - she comes in somewhere in the middle, but you'll notice, it's impossible to mistake that voice!
Purplepaige – Suzie On Monday Morning
Here's one of many bands I got introduced to through the Fruit comp. They're from the label's home country and have released two singles so far. Go to their MySpace to hear some more songs! And if you want to hear even more songs, go to their SECOND MySpace page, which you'll find linked there.
Pale Sunday – Just Friends
Here's the promised Brazilian song. Pale Sunday and Postal Blue are pretty much the only Brazilian bands I know. Do you know any more? Pale Sunday have released one ep (A Weekend With Jane) and one album (Summertime?) on Matinée as well contributing tracks to their compilations. "Just Friends" is a Gregory Webster original from 2003's Matinée 50 compilation, on which the Matinée bands cover each other's material.
Lollipop Sonic – Exotic Lollipop
Lollipop Sonic was the first band Japanese Keigo Oyamada (aka Cornelius) started. He was only in junior high then, and later went on to form Flipper's Guitar as well as founding the influential Trattoria label. I've got this song on Accident Records' reissue of the Hoopla compilation.
The Delmonas – I Feel Like Giving In
One of Billy Childish's girl bands, later turned into Thee Headcoatees. I think Billy wrote their songs because I have one song recorded by both Thee Headcoats and Thee Headcoatees. But either way, each member went on to projects of their own afterwards and Holly Golightly has turned out to be the most prolific. And no, they don't normally sing in French.
The Draytones - Time
Fresh-faced garage group The Draytones are from London, but their singer is of Argentinean origin. That's not why they're here though - it's because their debut ep Keep Loving Me is a cracker.
Garnet Mimms – As Long As I Have You
Maybe I should have had a 'Southern Soul song of the week' instead? But why, when we can dig the northern stomp of this Garnet Mimms classic?
Los Shakers – Break It All
Nuggets II has a handful of songs from South American garage groups and Los Shakers were Uruguay's answer to The Beatles. Apparently there was something of a Uruguayan Invasion in Argentina, with several Montevideo bands rising in popularity there. This was Los Shakers their first single and came out in 1965.
My Writes – Love In the 60’s
Another Singapore band on Peachy Little Secrets. They have one ep out since last year and a MySpace page here.
The Pancakes – I Know
The legendary Hong-Kong artist Dejay has been making music as The Pancakes since 2000 and supports herself by making music for tv commercials and films. Her synthesizer-based music is as cute as her voice, and she's got a charming website over here. This song is from her second album Pancakes Can Panic that came out only seven months after her first live performance!
The Marshmallow Kisses – Everyone Is Ahead, Far Ahead
This band is also from Hong-Kong and the song was on the Fruit comp as well. It's from an ep called I Wonder Why My Favorite Boy Leaves Me an EP, that seems to be from 2004 according their website. But according to their MySpace they are now in London!
Carnival Park – Candy Coated Kisses
An old indiepop band from the Philippines, where the indiepop scene seems now to have disintegrated. This song is from Shelflife's covers compilation You're Still Young At Heart that came out the same year as Matinée's. Carnival Park take on that staple of tweepop that is The Autocollants' "Candy Coated Kisses". Their only release is otherwise the sold-out ep Her Kinder Crush.
Apple Orchard – Half-Steps Toward Bright Skies
Brothers Ryan and Dale used to live in the Philippines and have played in several of that country's indiepop bands. But they moved to California years ago and have been making music as Apple Orchard for at least as long. At long last, their first album will soon be ready - the last I heard they were just about to send it off to the pressing plant.
Ferns – Wistful Thinking
The latest release on Fruit is the debut album from Malaysia's Ferns. One of the tracks has been featured here before, but here is another of my favourites.

SPLASH 29
Riding On the Equator