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.

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.

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.