SPLASH 31

Today it's a mix of new stuff and a few odds and ends that I wanted to get in before the final one, which you'll get next Monday. By then I should be safely back in Malmö again. The title of this podcast is from a Louis Philippe song that was on his first album Appointment With Venus. Fittingly, he turns up here with a track from his brilliant new album. The Sarah style cover picture is based on a photograph by Partick Camera Club, although I might have said before that I wasn't going to use any more of them.

The Wolfhounds – L.A. Juice
There's quite a bit of sixties-tinged music today, and we start off with "L.A. Juice" on which the influence of Nuggets and Pebbles lps becomes perhaps more apparent then anywhere else in The Wolfhounds' short career. It's from their debut ep Cut the Cake that came out on the influential Pink Label in 1985. I recently remembered how brilliant The Wolfhounds are, so this is why this is here as well.
Thee Headcoatees – All My Feelings Denied
This all-girl garage group evolved out of The Delmonas and is perhaps better known as the group Holly Golightly was in before launching a very successful solo career. This song is from their 1994 album Ballad of the Insolent Pup. Watch out for that amazing scream about mid-song. That's the true spirit of garage!
The Fallen Leaves - Repetition
A relatively new garage group based in London, that I discovered via Bus Stop's MySpace page. The members aren't exactly new to garage though. They run a club in London called The Parliament Club and even have a founding member of The Subway Sect in their line-up! They have a self-released 7"/cdep called Trouble that I bought directly from them. If you're interested you can contact them here.
The Cyrkle – Red Chair Fade Away
American psychpop group The Cyrkle had a hit in the late 60's with "Red Rubber Ball" then disappeared from the radar. But as many other obscure 60's groups they've been reappraised and since 1991 their output has been available on cd as part of Sony's Legacy Rock Artifacts Series. This song was originally by The Bee Gees, and it has also lent its name to Tim Vass' band after Razorcuts.
The Clientele – Nothing But Sunshine
The Clientele released their third album on Merge last month. It's called God Save the Clientele, and as usual it is a masterpiece. It also features the debut appearance of new keyboardist Mel Draisey. It was recorded in Nashville and produced by Mark Nevers who has previously worked with Will Oldham and Lambchop. The result of this new combination can be heard e.g. on the pedal steel equipped "Nothing But Sunshine".
Louis Philippe – Born Beautiful
Just as with Strange Geometry, the new Clientele album has string arrangements penned by Louis Philippe, who has been busy this year. Recently his collaboration with Stuart Moxham (ex-Young Marble Giants) resulted in album as Huddlehouse. He has also released a new solo album, that like the last one is released on his own label and was funded through subscription. It's definitely a return to his él Records roots and he describes it as his most orchestrated album for years. It reminds me of his first album, both in its complexity and simplicity.
Blueboy – Boy’s Don’t Matter
My tribute to Keith Girdler continues with songs from two of his previous bands. Only after his death have I finally heard the whole Blueboy catalogue, which is quite extensive. And impressive to say the least! Three albums all in all, and looking back now I can conclude that as suave as If Wishes Were Horses is, my favourite will have to be Unisex. A complete artistic statement in a way that no other record from his career became. This is song is from that album, released by Sarah in 1994.
Feverfew – Crimson Gloom
Before starting Blueboy, Paul and Keith played in this band. Two of their songs ended up on split with The Rileys on A Turntable Friend. It was dubbed The Happiness EP and came out in 1992, when they had already split up and Blueboy was well on their way to stardom. At the time of Feverfew's existence though, a handful of songs turned up on compilations and "Crimson Gloom" from the Corrupt Postman tape is the best I've heard from them.
Twig – At Work and At Home
Eventually Twig's first single has seen the light of day. This band from Stockholm have been active off and on for many years, producing only a few demos. I first heard them in 2004 and fell in love with "Find Me". They got played on Swedish radio and were described as a cross between The Wake and Orange Juice. And I have to say that is the most well-founded description of that kind I have heard! The "Life In a Swedish Town" single is available from Cloudberry, but I can't wait for the release of this opus of a pop song.
California Snow Story – A New Light to Guide You
I've already told you how much I love Close to the Ocean but if you're still not convinced, just listen to this song from the new album. It was my favourite already when I heard it live last year.
The Hi-Life Companion – You’re the Greatest
The Hi-Life Companion's first album should be out sometime this year and should include this song. It is the best I've heard from the band so far and it was on a sampler called Say Yes! they were nice enough to send me. The Rain Fell Down wishes them all best for their future career!
The Pocketbooks – Not Going Out
London's darlings The Pocketbooks have been headed for a place in the hearts of pop fans ever since the inclusion of "First World Record" on Ian Watson's Kids At the Club compilation. This song is from their first single, released by Atomic Beat - newly started by the lovely Marianthi. You can get the 7" from their website, and should also take the opportunity of grabbing a copy of the Pete Green single.
Wake the President – Sorrows For Clothes
Glasgow boys Wake the President's first single is truly a double a-side, and it took a while to figure out that this is the actual 'first' song. It came out on Electric Honey - legendary for releasing Belle & Sebastian's first album - and it's a prestigious title to chosen as their band of the year. Wake the President definitely live up to expectations though, and manage to simultaneously be at the centre of Glasgow's indiepop scene and wallow in their influences from 80's Scotspop acts like Remember Fun.
The Hardy Boys – Wonderful Lie
...or The Hardy Boys. This obscure Scottish group released one single in the late 80's and this is it. And what a wonderful single! They've recently reformed and Erik and Bjorn from Wake the President were quick to book them some gigs in August. According to the new MySpace page there is a retrospective cd in the works, although it doesn't say on what label.
Bubblegum Lemonade – 10 Years Younger
Laz continues going from triumph to triumph. The new Strawberry Whiplash tune "Summershine" (that you can listen to here) is an instant classic that wouldn't be dwarfed next to The Sea Urchins' song with the same name and other 'summershine' songs like Bulldozer Crash's "Sarah Said". Equally "10 Years Younger" is a flawless addition to the Bubblegum Lemonade catalogue. Now all we need are a couple singles! And something tells me it might happen soon.
The Thanes – World of Stone
This is the best garage revival group from Scotland. They started out as The Green Telescope, which is a much better name if you ask me, releasing two seven-inches. Since then they've recorded countless albums, but a good introduction might be the Evolver compilation from 2004. This song is on it, and someone said it sounded like "Simple Things" by Belle & Sebastian!
Thee Milkshakes – The Best Things In Life
Another Billy Childish band. This is from Thee Milkshakes' album They Came They Saw They Conquered that came out on Pink Dust in 1984.
Shawn Robinson – My Dear Heart
The week's northern soul tune is a recent favourite, that I had the pleasure of dancing to at the Function club in Sweden. One of the places you can find it is on the second volume of Stateside's Talcum Soul compilations.
The Leaves – Words
The early stage of The Turtles, and they've been credited with cutting the first version of "Hey Joe" that became most famous in Jimi Hendrix's rendition. This song is from the album Hey Joe that came out in the US in 1966 - two other songs from it is on the Nuggets box.
The Knickerbockers – I Can Do It Better
The Knickerbockers' first album goes for big money on eBay, I've read. But it's nowhere as good as the second one, called Lies, that apart from that staple of garage rock that the title-track is (also on Nuggets) also includes this slightly more psychedelic song.

SPLASH 31
Heaven Is Above Your Head