Saturday 18 December 2010

Twisted Nerve - Christmas Stocking Filler 7"



I said I'd found it! I have genuinely been looking for this 7" for over a year. Not continuously, obviously, but you know what I mean. It's Twisted Nerve records' 1998 Christmas single, with five tracks from bands/people who have become variously more or less well known since. I know nothing of Dakota Oak, Sirconical or Mum & Dad, but I guess you folks might?

It's all good, and I recommend putting this record on repeat throughout Christmas dinner - granny will LOVE it! Actually, the first couple of songs are alright instrumentals, Badly Drawn Boy does his own festive composition, and Mum & Dad's one is, despite its name, probably the least jolly...

The highlight of this little offering, for me, is Elbow. This is the reason I spent so long searching for the record. They're not a band I'm that enthusiastic about most of the time, to be honest, but this song is great! The ending will make your Christmas.

Your songs are:

1. Weinachten im Moomintal - Dakota Oak
2. Silent Night - Sirconical
3. Donna and Blitzen - Badly Drawn Boy
4. Christmas - Mum & Dad
5. Baby Jesus - Elbow

Happy Christmas!

p.s. It seems that this single is worth upwards of £50! Consider that I have saved each and every one of you this much money; that is my present to you all.

Friday 17 December 2010

The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Firmament Vacation 7"



This song is bloody great. From memory, this band are (were?) Swedish, and the singer is (was?) a big fat man who wears (wore?) huge carpet-type cloak things on stage. I heard this track before a Glastonbury festival many years back and went to see them because of it. The LP this comes from is loooong, and I'm not sure I ever got through it, but this song is a slice of rock goodness.

The b-sides are also good, the first one more than the second, but both worth a listen. I hope you like it.

1. Firmament Vacation (A Soundtrack of Our Lives)
2. Greatest Hits Providers
3. Cleaning Session Raga

Hear it here.

P.S. I have finally found the Christmas 7" I was searching for last year, and in the next couple of days it's going to be here. It's brilliant, and it's been worth y'all waiting a year...

Friday 10 December 2010

DJ Shadow - Stem 7"



Hello again everyone. Sorry things have got a bit slack recently, but in my defence I'd like to say that I've become a father in the last month, and so much of my time is no longer my own. I'm guessing that a lot of you folks who are into mid-90s vinyl might have some sympathy... For the record, the only music which has possibly had any effect so far has been Brian Eno's 'Music For Airports', but seeing as babies sleep most of the time anyway I can't say with 100% certainty that it did much. I sang her some Guided By Voices in hospital and she didn't cry, which can only be a good sign.

That said, I'm going for quality, not quantity, and I've dug out a whole load of great singles recently. It's going to be a case of digitising them when I can, but I promise you there's some great stuff to come, both 7"s and 12"s are getting an airing right now.

For today, DJ Shadow's superb Stem single, this version is stuffed with samples from the film Heat, and is (in my opinion) even better than the original for just that reason. The b-side is also really good - great drums, an equally good title, and an excellent sleeve! Hope you enjoy them, and see you again soon with more from the vault...

1. Stem (Cops 'n' Robbers mix)
2. Red Bus Needs To Leave!

Here.

Monday 29 November 2010

Me Me Me - Hanging Around 7"



I know, I know. I promised something special. Well, this is something kind of interesting instead, and also a kind of definitive guide to the sound of 1996, in case anyone here wasn't sure what that sound was. You'll have to wait for the something special I'm afraid, when I have time on my hands again (maybe in 16 years or so).

Me Me Me were an indie-pop supergroup, if you will. Stephen Duffy (Duran Duran/The Lilac Time), Alex James (Blur), Justin Welch (Elastica) and Charlie Bloor (Charlie Bloor) got together to do some tracks for a Damien Hirst show, and this single was the result. The single itself is great, I reckon. But it probably polarises opinion, I'd think. Sounds like it would. It's a little like the more chirpy Blur tracks but without the piss-irritatingness. It's only 2 1/2 minutes long, if you can't stand it.

The b-side, funnily enough, sounds like early Blur. I like it too. I wonder how much input Alex James really had into Blur's songs..?

1. Hanging Around
2. Hollywood Wives

Here y'are.

Monday 8 November 2010

Longpigs - Lost Myself 7"



It's been a pretty dramatic time for me/us recently, but I've found a little time to put up a little treat for all of you. I always forget how much I like this band, maybe because they were kind of over-exposed back in the day on the radio stations I used to listen to. Anyway, whenever I hear any of their tracks it reminds me.

This is not their most famous track, or even the second most, but I think it's a killer. Also it's on a 4-track 7", and that dates it to the heyday of the format in my opinion. The only disappointment is that it's not coloured vinyl too... The a-side is great, the first b-side is also great (was it ever released on anything else? It's proper catchy), second b-side is good but odd, and the last track is a Richard Hawley composition, well before he became Richard Hawley. If you see what I mean. He was in this band, see.

1. Lost Myself
2. Floss
3. The Wonder Drug
4. When You're Alone

It's right here. Please comment if you like it, that FSA post got over 35 downloads within about a week, and one thanks (which is much appreciated). If y'all are nice to me I have a proper treat up next..!

Monday 25 October 2010

Flying Saucer Attack / Jessamine - split 7"



Here's my contribution to the Keeping It Peel tribute going on today. It's a lovely split 7" from 1996 or so with Flying Saucer Attack (Peel favourites since they sent him their first single and he played it within a week) and a band called Jessamine, who I'm ashamed to know nothing about.

The FSA track is great, it's a classic of theirs, recorded in Bristol back in the day at the wonderfully named Feedback Studios. The Jessamine track (which I've named slightly wrong in the MP3 - sorry) is really good too, quite different to the FSA one, but none the worse for it.

I figured this was an ideal contribution today, seeing as discovery was what John Peel was all about, for me and so many others.

1. Flying Saucer Attack - At Night
2. Jessamine - From Hereto And Otherwise



Hear it.

Thursday 21 October 2010

Slack Dog Ensemble - New Yawk Dog 7"



Here's something very special for you all. For 'special' read 'mental'. This 1995 7" is the only release by this 'band', who included among others Luke Vibert (from Wagon Christ and, well, Luke Vibert) and Robin Proper-Sheppard (from the God Machine). It's a great, great record. The a-side is a crazy distorted techno drum 'n' bass slab of madness, and you can only love it. The b-side is a little calmer, but still in a kind of threatening way. How it's a version of the a-side I have no idea, but the whole deal's something special.

1. New Yawk Dog (Super Seven Edit)
2. New Yawk Dog (Acoustic Version)

It also came out as a 12" with some more mixes, but I never picked it up. I'd be very grateful to anyone who did if they could point it my way.

Hope you like it as much as I do. And as much as I know my friend Dave will.

Here.

Wednesday 13 October 2010

Groop Dogdrill - Lovely Skin 7"



This is a killer song, by a killer band, with a killer cover, on killer red vinyl. You need any more recommendation than that? Good. Get to it.

I don't have time to talk much about this one, but when I saw them years back at the Garage in London the singer did the encore with a mic gaffer-taped to his face.

1. Lovely Skin
2. Rockabilly Workout

Here. HERE! As ever, let me know if you like it.

Wednesday 6 October 2010

Versus - Glitter of Love 7"



It appears I bought this from Tower Records, which dates it somewhat. I seem to remember that it was the Tower Records in Camden Town too, which dates it even further. Ah well. There's still one in Tokyo, if you're ever feeling nostalgic.

The single itself is a pretty good example of this band, who are an American indie-rock outfit from the mid-90s, but who also recently reformed for a new LP. Their drummer is/was amazing. I love this, it's an absolute killer track, and if you're not familiar with Versus then you really ought to check it out. It's off the '96 LP 'Secret Swingers'.

The b-side (live version of a previous LP track) is slightly disappointing, after the single, but if you already know them it's worth a listen, and if you don't then the a-side should do it for you. The bass player (Fontaine Toups) sings the b-side, and she's astonishingly cool live, so we'll forgive her this one.

1. Glitter of Love
2. Forest Fire (live)

It's right here.

Wednesday 22 September 2010

John Parish & Polly Jean Harvey - That Was My Veil 7"



After all that raucous Tiger nonsense I reckon it's time to get quiet, acoustic and Westcountry. This is one of my favourite PJ Harvey tracks ever. I know it's not just her, but you know what I mean. PJ Harvey-featuring tracks, if you like. It's off the first of the two collaborative LPs between these two, which is the one I got into more than the second. Brilliant song. Brilliant single.

The b-side is a bit noisier than the single, with a lush drum sound, and some kind of keyboard weirdness. I can hear why it didn't make the album, stylistically, but in terms of quality it's right up there. Great stuff.

1. That Was My Veil
2. Losing Ground

Here 'tis. Comment if y'all enjoy it. Right. Back to the Warm Jets hunt.

Friday 17 September 2010

Tiger - Race 7"



So, as promised, here's the second half of the Tiger double-bill. Sorry, not much time to write anything about it, but I hope you like it.

Any requests, by the way? I'm digging through an awful lot of old 7"s at the moment and there are some real old ones in there... 'Deadstar', anyone?

1. Race
2. Honey Friends

Hear.

Thursday 9 September 2010

Tiger - On The Rose 7"



This is the first of a Tiger double-bill, ladies and gentlemen, mainly because I dug up a couple of their 7"s together. This one is the first Tiger song I remember hearing, and it made me think of the Ramones, which is no bad thing. You may see what I mean. Anyway, it's a good tune, from a band which I always found a little variable, although I never got properly into them, so might have to give them another try.

The b-side sounds like... Well. A b-side, to be fair. However, it's got a kind of Beatles-y vibe to it, and a lot of kick drum. It's a grower in fact - I didn't think much of it when I first heard it back in the day, nor when I listened the first time a little while back, but on third or fourth listen it's starting to get me.

'Race' is coming your way soon. Now that is a tune...

1. On The Rose
2. On Spanish Farmland

Here.

Friday 3 September 2010

Oas*s - Wibbling Rivalry



This is just brilliant. Fourteen minutes of verbal mayhem, and ain't that the truth. It's 1995, some journalist left his tape running while Noel and Liam were shouting at each other, Fierce Panda released it. It's very, very funny in places. Especially when Noel asks what Liam's about. And when Liam explains his recurring dream.

1. Noel Side
2. Liam Side

Sorry it's such a big file for what's basically a mono recording of speech, but hey.

MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC!

Saturday 21 August 2010

Yet another takedown

So it's coming on for one DMCA email every 10 days or so. Ned's this time! Ridiculous.

Anyway, I fear I might get stamped on sometime, so if I do, please check out http://thefreewave.blogspot.com/, and I'll stick a new address in the comments for that blog if this one vanishes. Thanks for looking. Remember, I like to see your comments if you like what you find...

Monday 9 August 2010

Money Mark - Legitimate Pop Songs? 7" E.P.



And here's treat number two, which is a whole different kettle of mid-90s fish. This is Money Mark, out of the Beastie Boys (and others), playing some songs in the Rough Trade store in Covent Garden (I think) in 1996. The second half of track 1 is off his first LP, 'Money Mark's Keyboard Repair', which I think my friend Dave had on tape. I was reading an interview with Tim Robbins the other day (who is 6' 5" tall) and he reckons cassette and vinyl are far better than MP3.

Anyway, these tunes are very relaxing, as you might expect if you've heard any of MM's lounge-y tendencies before. Just right for an August evening, the sun's out, the birds are singing, and the forecast says thunder storms before dark...

1. Untitled Instrumental / Sometimes You Gotta Make It Alone
2. Untitled Instrumental

This way.

Friday 6 August 2010

Comments

Hey everyone.

Just been poking around my Mediafire page, looking at what you folks have enjoyed listening to off this blog, and there's a load of posts with 40+ (or even 100+) downloads. However, there are also a lot of/most posts with 0, 1 or 2 comments. It's not why I do it, of course, but it would be nice to think someone's reading, not just that everyone's coming, clicking the link, and heading off.

Maybe that is what everyone's doing. Ah well. It's really nice when folks do comment, though, so thanks to those who do, and those who are following - I appreciate it. And just for you guys there are two super-special treats coming this weekend...

DBF

Monday 2 August 2010

Movietone - Mono Valley 7"



More Movietone loveliness now, this time a 1995 single on Planet Records from my hometown of Bristol, in the UK. This is a really chilled one, and fits perfectly with the cover, in some weird way. Really nice. It's quite typical of what I remember of their first LP, quiet, with a mixture of murmured and sung vocals, and some odd noises. The clarinet squalling is notable by its absence from the a-side! It's not missing from the b-side, as you're about to find out, where at times it turns a bit more avant-garde. Still in a chilled way though.

I love this single.

1. Mono Valley
2. Under The 3000 Foot Red Ceiling

They live here.

p.s. Made a mistake in my last Movietone post - it's 'Orange Zero' which is the superb track off their first single (with a different version on the LP).

Wednesday 21 July 2010

Drugstore - Injection 7"



Y'all like Drugstore, right? Y'all like the Flaming Lips, right? How about Drugstore plays the Flaming Lips? Don't say I don't do nuffink for you. This is a single from 1995, which I think I'm right in saying (I mean, I think Wikipedia might be right in saying) wasn't on any of their albums. The a-side is good, maybe not one of their best, but a good song - the squeaky noise at the end is good. B-side number one is kind of similar, very like the others of their songs that I'm familiar with.

The cover of "She Don't Use Jelly" is really good, somehow her voice really suits the song. I'd forgotten how much I liked this, even though it was presumably the reason I bought the single. Chorus is ace. Don't know what happened to the acoustic version - any ideas? The remix of "Gravity", the original of which was on their first album, is all orchestral. You might appreciate it more if you know the original.

And it's on clear vinyl. Sweet.

1. Injection
2. Heart Of Honey
3. She Don't Use Jelly (Electric Version)
4. Gravity (Terry Edwards Mix)

Hey ya.

Monday 12 July 2010

The Delgados - Pull The Wires From The Wall 7"



So here's what I found in the Grandaddy sleeve! If you've checked the comments on the last post then you've had a sneak preview from Andy Silver Rocket (he sings it beautifully).

Funny band, this lot. Never got that into them, to be honest, but I heard this single on John Peel's show one night and went out to buy it the next day. Loved it then, love it now. I'm not even sure what it is about it, but it's just SUCH a good song. I hope you can see why I was pissed off to have lost it - still had the sleeve, but not the record. Now happily reunited.

The b-side's not so much to my taste, although well worth checking out, as I think it's probably more typical of their output. It's not bad at all, and has something of the Pavement about it, but very much of its time, I'd say. The ending's nice. However, this one, for me, is all about the single, like this paragraph is all about the commas.

1. Pull The Wires From The Wall
2. Mauron Chanson

Hear it here.

Saturday 10 July 2010

Grandaddy - Everything Beautiful Is Far Away 7"



This single is notable for two things. One, it's my favourite Grandaddy song, I think. Although that changes quite often. Two, I found the 7" of "Pull The Wires From The Wall" by The Delgados inside the sleeve, along with the Grandaddy single. Weird, huh? I'd been looking for it for ages, and if you want to know why then stay tuned...

Anyway, back to the plot. The a-side of this is a great introduction to Grandaddy, synths, acoustic bits, quiet, got a groove, and the tune! Oh, the tune. It's all about the tune. And this is a good one. The b-side's also well, well worth a listen, kinda lazy-sounding, falsetto-y, smooth. Ah, the adjectives. Maybe you should just listen to them.

1. Everything Beautiful Is Far Away
2. For The Dishwasher

They. Are. Here.

Saturday 3 July 2010

Flying Saucer Attack / GbV / Änglagård - The Polite Cream Tea Corps E.P.



In 1994 this 7" came with the Ptolmeic Terrascope magazine. I knew about it because I was into Flying Saucer Attack, and it includes one of their best tracks; "All About Dreams". It was notable for something else, though, because it was the first time I'd ever heard anything by Guided By Voices, who went on to become one of my favourite bands. You're lucky - this 7" was really warped when I got it on the magazine, and now it's flattened out thanks to years in a box! Today's probably the first time I've heard it without that weird wobble you get on a properly bent record.

So, FSA do their thing, lovely song. GbV do their thing, as only they can. Änglagård I can tell you nothing about at all, sorry! But their track is properly nuts. Some kind of crazy jazz/prog weirdness, with some Zappa and God only knows what else thrown in. How on earth do you write a song like this!? It's like about four songs together. Every minute.

Not much of a photo to look at with this post - there's no cover, and the information is scratched into the centre of the vinyl. There were, apparently, 16 copies of this with hand-made covers by Flying Saucer Attack. I only wish I'd been quicker to get mine... I don't have the magazine any more either, sadly.

1. Flying Saucer Attack - All About Dreams
2. Guided By Voices - Chicken Blows
3. Änglagård - Gånglåt från Knapptibble

Hear y'are.

And here are more pictures I found:





Monday 28 June 2010

Archers of Loaf / Small - split 7"



By way of apology for yesterday's flexidisc...

The split single. Is it a way to get people to buy the same two songs they've already bought on the albums? Or is it the way to introduce people to new bands through bands they're already into? Or is it just because you can put two songs that are just SO good on one record? Maybe all three. Definitely the last one in this case. Man, this record is great. 1993 was the year, and these were two of the great indie-rock bands coming out of the South Carolina area at the time, playing two of their best songs.

Eric Bachmann of Archers of Loaf is also the main man in Crooked Fingers, and if you're into this song (off their first album) then you have a WORLD of good music opening up in front of you. There are a load of AoL albums, also the best E.P. ever released ("Archers of Loaf vs The Greatest of All Time"), then about five Crooked Fingers records, plus at least one solo album. Great, great, great stuff. Small became Small 23, and they are also well worth checking out if you're into this. Enjoy the sounds of my teenage years!

1. Archers Of Loaf - Wrong
2. Small - True Zero Hook

Hear!

Sunday 27 June 2010

Dinosaur Jr - Just Like Heaven flexidisc



Ah, the flexidisc. At the same time it's one of the coolest inventions I've ever come across (a free record? On a magazine? No problem!) and one of the worst ideas in the history of man. I've spent about fifteen minutes trying to make the Lunachicks track (first on this disc) play, and it won't - too folded I guess. Anyway, I did manage to get the Dinosaur Jr cover of The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" to record, so if you're into the whole LoFi experience then you might like it! It's a good cover, but the sound is... Well. Like a flexidisc.

And then it fades out at the end! Must have been some kind of promo. Nonsense. Sorry. I'll put something proper up tomorrow by way of apology. Come on - it only cost me 20p.

1. Dinosaur Jr - Just Like Heaven

Here it is.

Thursday 17 June 2010

The Family Cat - Remember What It Is That You Love 7"



Ah, now here's something a little bit special for y'all. 1990's second single from the (in my opinion) criminally underrated Family Cat. I saw these guys supporting several bands in Bristol in my youth, and loved 'em every time. The first two albums are proper, proper indie rock, like you only got in the early '90s. Third album goes a bit more rock, but has some killer tunes on it nonetheless. I'm getting all nostalgic now.

Anyway, both tracks on this record are great. I actually bought the 12" the other day, but haven't got round to ripping (is that what you call it off vinyl?) the second b-side, but it's not all that. Good. But not all that. If you want it then drop me a line and I'll stop being so lazy.

Meanwhile, here is what 1990 sounded like. 20 years ago. 20 years ago...

1. Remember What It Is That You Love
2. Push Comes To Shove

There you go.

Thursday 10 June 2010

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Diamond Dew 7"



Well, after the popularity of the Super Furry Animals posts, here's some more Welsh craziness! This was a band I always meant to get more into, but somehow never got past a couple of singles. Have to dig around on Spotify and see if I can find some more...

This single is a good one all round. The a-side's really great, with the Jew's harp putting its mark on indie-rock - a sadly under-used instrument, in my opinion. Except by Leonard Cohen, when it's perhaps sadly over-used at times. The couple of b-sides on here (those were the days) are also good, a slightly more rocking one and a slightly less rocking one. Relaxing, that's the word all round really. Somehow this record fits exactly with its cover. You'll understand.

1. Diamond Dew
2. The Queen Of Georgia
3. Tears In Disguise

It's right here.

Saturday 5 June 2010

Movietone - Useless Landscape / Summer 7"



A bit of a break with the indie-rock theme, but very much still indie in the truest sense of the word. Here's a band on Planet Records ("never knowingly understood", which will mean something to those of you in the UK) from Bristol, and one which I had a tenuous social connection to back in the day. The bass player was also in Flying Saucer Attack, and Matt Elliot (Third Eye Foundation) was either in the band or played live with them. Connected, anyway.

Anyway, they brought out a 7" in 1994 with an absolute killer track on it, called "She Smiled Mandarine Like". Sadly I didn't have the foresight to buy it at the time, and I guess it's not around much any more - vinyl only, see. It appeared again on their first LP, but in a different form.

Enough rambling. This is another 7"-only single, this from 1997. The a-side is really chilled, very relaxing, and without the clarinet noise that characterised a lot of their stuff. The b-side has an awful lot of surface noise, so sorry about that. Just pretend you're listening to John Peel at 2am.

1. Useless Landscape
2. Summer

Understand.

Tuesday 25 May 2010

Another takedown...

Hi all.

Just got a message saying that the very first post I ever put up here has been removed for copyright infringement - it went up over 14 months ago! Anyway, I guess this might be nothing, or it might be that I've come up on someone's radar...

I'll keep going anyway, it's not the first time, but if anyone's keen to keep in touch with whatever might replace this blog if it all goes pear-shaped then email your email to dbfreedom@rocketmail.com.

But maybe all's well. Thanks for looking.

Thursday 20 May 2010

Mudhoney / Gas Huffer split 7"



I don't know anything about this record, really. It's on a German label, it came out sometime in the 90s, and I bought it because I liked (and still like) Mudhoney. What more to add? Well, I don't know who the songs are written by, nor if they're available elsewhere. I also don't know what the Japanese on the cover means. I don't know anything about Gas Huffer either, except that they may have been on Sub Pop. They sound like they were, that's for sure.

So, I don't know anything. But what I do know is that the first chords of the Mudhoney side will take you right back, and the little bit of guitar at the end of the chorus of 'Knife Manual' is superb. I also know that the Gas Huffer cover photo is great. And that Danny out of Withnail & I seems to have joined Mudhoney. Both tracks are fun. Enjoy them.

1. Mudhoney - You Stupid Asshole
2. Gas Huffer - Knife Manual



Record here.

Saturday 15 May 2010

The Nightblooms - Never Dream At All 7"



Here's another discovery thanks to John Peel, way back. This is a Dutch band, and I don't know a lot about them (other than they have a lady singer, and are pretty indie-sounding), although I do have an LP kicking around somewhere. Anyway, this track is so good I went out and bought it the day after hearing it, and got the album a little after. As I say, it's very indie, but all in a good way, and has a killer of a chorus.

The b-side starts with just bass and vocals, and as a bass player I'm a sucker for that kind of thing. It's also well worth a listen - a good single all round, this one. By the way, the spelling mistake on the b-side is theirs, not mine!

1. Never Dream At All
2. It's Allright

There you go.

Wednesday 5 May 2010

The Lemonheads - It's All True 10"



Here's a single of two sides, almost literally. The a-side is great, as you may already know; a track off 'Car Button Cloth', and a very good one at that. However, we're here for the b-sides, you and me, and there are some doozies on this 10".

So, 'Fade To Black' is a Metallica cover, and it's alright. Tell you what, though, if you were ever under the impression that the boy Hetfield could write lyrics then Evan's dulcet tones should knock that idea right out of you! 'Live Forever' is the standout b-side here, which also dates the release to the Oasis-loving period of Evan Dando's past. The solo near the end is superb. 'Keep On Loving You' is a truely chaotic cover of the REO Speedwagon track - well worth a listen/laugh, if only to help explain to your kids why drugs are bad...

1. It's All True
2. Fade To Black
3. Live Forever
4. Keep On Loving You

It's all here. And the photo (below) on the back of the record should have been a clue to the content..!

Saturday 1 May 2010

The Kelley Deal 6000 - Canyon 7"



So, a killer combination of knitting and heroin... This is the band that Kelley Deal was in post-Breeders, and pre-Breeders, and also before a band with the singer from Skid Row and the drummer from the Smashing Pumpkins. Weird career. I'm a big fan of her voice, which isn't to everyone's taste I know, but if you're partial to it then you're in for a treat. The single itself is brilliant, and also a grower, which is a winning combination. The b-side is a proper shouty/sing-y number, also great.

Hope you like it. You will, I'm sure. Give it a try...

1. Canyon
2. Get The Writing

Picture this.

Tuesday 20 April 2010

Drugstore (featuring Thom Yorke) - El President



Another gap in posts - sorry everyone. But I had a dream last night where the caretaker of a school told me they'd thrown a load of 7"s in a skip, and I could have them if I wanted, so I took that as a sign. See? This thing is getting into my subconscious...

Anyway, this is a great track. As the title says, it's a duet between the wonderfully named Isabel Monteiro and the wonderfully voiced Thom Yorke. The a-side is great, and is genuinely a good duet, rather than a novelty track, and the b-side is also well worth a listen - more typical of their songs, I think.

I thought I didn't really know any more Drugstore stuff, but had a vague feeling that I used to like them when they were around. However, looking at the track-listing of their first LP ('Drugstore'), there's loads of great tunes! They had two more after that, and this track is off their 1998 album 'White Magic For Lovers'. Apparently they've just reformed, along with every other band who split between 1995 and 1998.

It's on blue vinyl, and I played it a fair bit back in the day, which is a winning combination if you like surface noise. But then if you didn't, you wouldn't be here.

Here he is.

Monday 5 April 2010

Three Colours Red - This Is My Hollywood 7"



Here, my friends, is a band putting the rock into indie-rock. Maybe even the ROCK! This is proper sub-three minute guitar fun, and to add a little something to this post it's the first release of this single, which was their first, on the Fierce Panda label. After this record they ended up signed to Creation, and apparently then went by the name "3 Colours Red". But ha! Here's the proof you've been looking for all this time to settle the argument with that floppy-haired mate who was into Marion too. "Three" it was, back in the day.

Fierce Panda, eh? Great name for a label, and a great label. I have a couple of 7" compilations they put out, which I'll try to dig up. I also bought their 7" release of a fight between Liam and Noel Gallagher, called "Wibbling Rivalry", which I remember being very funny. If I can find it, I'll up it.

Meanwhile, though, this is a proper jump-around-the-room record. Stick it on, stick it up, and pretend you're 16 again.

1. This Is My Hollywood
2. Hate Slick

Reet here.

Saturday 3 April 2010

Marion - Sleep 7"



I can't tell you an awful lot about this band, except that one of the guitarists is now in Bernard Sumner's new band. I'm sure that either Wikipedia or one of your mates who used to have that sort of floppy hair will be able to let you know more...

What I can tell you, however, is that they released one of the finest singles of the era, and I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that. It has everything, great intro, harmonica riff, killer indie-rock bassline. Brilliant. If you were listening to the radio any time in the mid-'90s you will probably recognise it, and if you've not heard it before you're in for a real treat. Love it. And, on top of all that, the b-side's really good too (in a Suede kind of a stylee), and it's on orange vinyl! What more could you ask for? Except fewer crackles. But it has been played a lot.

Hope you like it. I appear to have paid 99p for it back in the day, and that, my friend, is a bargain.

1. Sleep
2. Waiting For No-One

Hear it.

Sunday 28 March 2010

Super Furry Animals - The Man Don't Give A Fuck 12"



By way of yet another apology for being a bit slack, here's a special request. The 12" version of this magnificent SFA single, which apparently has some exclusive remixes. The single itself should need no introduction, but it's a proper sing-along bit of cussin', and very well worth a listen if you've not heard it before/for a while. It's dedicated to Robin Friday, a legendary Cardiff City footballer, in action (to an extent) here.

The b-sides are very much from the SFA era of having their own rave tank which I remember being confused by at Reading one year. If that's your taste, then you'll be right into these. And if you're into Howard Marks you might be interested. For me, it's all about the a-side to this one, but it's an a-side which you should have.

1. The Man Don't Give A Fuck
2. The Man Don't Give A Fuck (Howard Marks Mix)
3. The Man Don't Give A Fuck (Wishmountain Mix)
4. The Man Don't Give A Fuck (Darren Price "Mix")

Yma.


Pizzicato Five - Mon Amour Tokyo 7"



So, do you know these guys? If you do, then this won't come as any surprise. If you don't, well, now that the spring is here (for one day only) and the daffodils are coming out, it's time to stick the b-side to this record on loud and open all your windows. If 'Twiggy Twiggy/Twiggy vs James Bond' doesn't have you simultaneously bopping, giggling and wondering what the hell's going on then you're a hard, hard man/woman to please.

Japanese, on Matador, from 1993. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the sound of Pizzicato Five?

1. Mon Amour Tokyo
2. Twiggy Twiggy/Twiggy vs James Bond

此処.

Tuesday 16 March 2010

Sparklehorse - Rainmaker 7"



So that's weird. This was going to be the next post I put up, having kind of delayed it for fear of it being spotted and taken down by those folks at the DMCA. Now, for all the wrong reasons, there's Sparklehorse stuff all over various blogs, so hopefully no-one will mind. Anyway, for the second time in this blog's short history it's an accidental tribute, but a tribute it is, to a wonderful songwriter who will be sadly missed.

This single is a great introduction to the band if you don't know them, a killer track if you don't know it, and an excellent b-side if you're not in the first two categories. This is off the first LP, 'Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot', and apparently made it as high as #61 in the UK chart. So it was a hit then, and still is now.

1. Rainmaker
2. I Almost Lost My Mind

Here.

Sunday 7 March 2010

Teenage Fanclub - What You Do To Me 7"



It's that time of year, the sun's out, the birds are singing, and it's time for what may be the last installment of my trawl through TFC's singles, although there may be one or two more hidden away... Back to 1992 for this one. That's right. 18 years ago. Does that make you feel old? It does me.

Anyhew, this is quite simply a great song, with a nice cover, and a nice cover on the other side. The TFC-written b-sides are alright, but to be honest they kind of live up to their names. Not to say they're not good, and they're worth a listen for sure (for completeness if nothing else), but they're not LP material. 'Life's A Gas' is a good version.

Now put it on whatever you carry around with you and listen to it on a picnic.

1. What You Do To Me
2. B-Side
3. Life’s A Gas
4. Filler

Here!

Saturday 27 February 2010

Veruca Salt - Seether 7"



Here's a 100% bona fide indie rock classic. 1994 was the year, and as far as I know this was the first single by Veruca Salt. Apparently not the last, as they're still around, four LPs in. I don't recall ever hearing anything other than these two tracks, and the a-side is certainly the sound of 1994 or thereabouts.

It's a good track, and when you hear it you'll know what I mean about it being timely. It has a great intro, with a proper guitar sound. If you were listening to music around this period, I bet you'll recognise it, even if you don't recognise the name. The b-side's pretty good too, not quite so good a tune, but has more of a garage-y quality to it.

Hope you like 'em!

1. Seether
2. Straight

Them's here.

Tuesday 23 February 2010

The Jesus Lizard / Nirvana split 7"



This came out around the height of Nirvana madness, about 1993, and being an excitable schoolboy at the time I remember finding out about it and reserving my copy at Revolver Records in Bristol. Happy days.

Around the same time, I went to see Senseless Things supported by The Jesus Lizard. I thought the support were terrible, and sat in the bar with my mates. Looking back on it now, I realise that I can only be described as an idiot.

Anyway, the Jesus Lizard track is great, and the Nirvana one isn't on any albums of theirs (I don't think - maybe a compilation..?), and is also worth a listen. It sounds like something off Bleach, but a bit more mature, which is a pretty good combination in my book. This 7" is also worthy of a mention for the worst cover of the decade, possibly. Back cover's cool though.

1. The Jesus Lizard - Puss
2. Nirvana - Oh, The Guilt

Here you go.

Sunday 21 February 2010

Pure Morning - four singles

By popular demand, now that I have a HiFi working again, here are four singles by the band Pure Morning, who became Clinic. The first is from 1995, and has my favourite ever track of theirs ("Dress Up"), the other three are from 1996. That first 7" is a little scratchy - it's been played a lot...

I did post a couple of them a while back, but they don't seem to have stayed where they were put, so here they are again. This is great stuff!

While I was digging around I found a couple of Clinic 7"s ("Monkey On Your Back" and "Cement Mixer") from way back, so will put them up sometime too.



1. All The Guests Smile So Sweetly (the original version skips - here's a proper one)
2. Severed Cuts Up
3. Dress Up

... is here.



1. Scum
2. Funky Hospital

... is here.



1. Dinky
2. Fake Lady
3. Police Car Atrocity
4. Containers

... is here.



1. Foxhole
2. IPC
3. The Gardener

... is here.