Light - Turning/Presence 7"

Been a bit slack recently, as you might have noticed. Well, it's New Year's Eve, so I thought I'd wish you all a very happy 2012 with what can only be described as the ultimate party single.

I know nothing about this record, other than it was released on clear vinyl 7" by Wurlitzer Jukebox in 1995, and it sounds like Flying Saucer Attack. That alone is surely a good enough reason to check it out. It comes with a photocopied insert with a picture of a man with a big beard, and the word 'mono' written several times.

What more can I say. If any of that sounds interesting, and I hope it does, then see what you think. Happy new year, y'all.

1. Turning
2. Presence

Party!

Ash - Jesus Says 7"

Say what you like about Ash, but whatever stage of their career they've come up with some cracking singles. Their singles collection is a really good album, sadly unlike some of their actual albums...

This single is off 'Nu-Clear Sounds', from 1998, which I can only remember for this song. And the fact that the LP was on clear vinyl, which in itself is obviously a good thing, but I guess some of you purists will claim the music's important too. That said, I saw an advert for them playing this LP in order (plus other hits), so I guess it's only me that didn't really rate it.

Anyhew, the single's a good 'un, and you should take a listen if you can. The b-side is also surprisingly good, a little less straightforward/more metal than their songs usually are. It's a Charlotte Hatherley track, which she also sings, if you're interested in her pre-solo songs. All of which possibly means I should go back and check out the album again.

This is one super over-compressed recording. Who needs a dynamic range when you've got ROCK!

1. Jesus Says
2. Taken Out

Here they are.

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - 2Kindsa Love 7"

Look me in the eye and tell me you don't already love a Jon Spencer Blues Explosion 7" on bright pink vinyl. Good. So do I. I've tried to scan the 7" itself, but the colour doesn't do it justice at all - it's really quite horrible in real life.

Now, if you don't know this track then you've been missing out for 15 years or so; it's bloody great. Everything about it, shouting, crazy guitar sounds, great production... Love it.

It's off his Now I Got Worry album, which is up there with his very best. The b-side is a poorly-punctuated but nicely-nuts slice of blues/punk madness, with some killer keyboard (at least that's what I think it is).

1. 2Kindsa Love
2. Lets Smerf

Here

The Flaming Stars - Sweet Smell Of Success 7"

I used to love this band. Still do, in fact, but back then they were one of those ones that I seemed to be into, but no-one else was, which always adds a certain something. Partly I loved them for the music, partly for the sound (all analogue equipment and so on - same studio the White Stripes used a lot, I think), and partly for their habit of releasing limited 7"s with four tracks on them. Needless to say, the one I've chosen only has two tracks, but they're both awesome. It's listed as a double a-side, which always seemed a completely pointless idea to me, but there you go. Still, it kind of makes sense on a record like this.

The first a-side is a killer tune, and sounds lush when the guitar really kicks in. The second a-side, however, is one of my favourite of their tracks, and completely different to the first. Great stuff. And both under 2:30!

You should listen to these, it's only 5 minutes of your life. You'll like them. And I'm glad y'all liked Teenage Fanclub.

1. Sweet Smell Of Success
2. The Day The Earth Caught Fire

Here it's.

Teenage Fanclub - Grand Prix Bonus 7"

Just when you thought I'd run out of Teenage Fanclub... Because I was/am kind of obsessed with this band, I picked up this LP pretty much the day it came out, and was lucky enough to get hold of one with the bonus 7". Here, for your (hopefully) equally obsessive interest, it is.

Track 1 seems to be a recording of some vocals and a shaker, with the rest of the music in the background somewhere. There's some whistling too. And clapping. It's kind of nice. Track 3 is another version of the album track, with louder drums, I guess it's also a demo. Tracks 4 and 6 I had to do some digging about to find names (there's nothing listed on the record) - both instrumentals.

I hadn't listened to this 7" in years, and it's got a real intimate feel to it. Maybe that's just me. I like it, and hope you do too.

1. Discolite (demo)
2. Answerphone message (to Norman)
3. I Gotta Know (demo)
4. Coffee Morning
5. Norman's outgoing answerphone message
6. Untitled

Hear them roar.

The High Fidelity - Addicted To A T.V. 7"

Feeble amount of information about this 7", I'm afraid. All I know is that it came out in 1997, on Plastique Recordings. Side 1 is labelled 'analogue side', and 2 is 'digital side'. Beyond that I know nothing. Anything I told you would be what I could find by searching for them on the internet. What I do know is that this single's well worth an ear, and I hope you enjoy it. Any more information would be welcome. I like the cover.

I will attempt to resume normal service next month!

1. Addicted To A T.V.
2. Pelvic Rock

Here y'are.

Echo & The Bunnymen - Nothing Lasts Forever 7"

I know, I know. And I'm not here for the next two weeks, so there's going to be another huge gap. I'm so slack.

Anyway, to keep you going, here's a cracking tune from an early indie comeback (before Ned's got in on the act). The single is really, really good, and was quite big at the time. It was recorded before he lost the ability to sing. 'Hurricane' sounds like The Doors, and it's a good track. It does sound like a b-side, but it's well worth hearing.

Fair amount of surface noise all over this, for some reason, but I guess if that bothered you, you wouldn't be here.

The packaging is lovely, kind of gatefold, and with an inner sleeve. That and two b-sides... Well. You know what I like, and that's the kind of thing I like.

1. Nothing Lasts Forever
2. Hurricane
3. Jonny

Here you go.

Cable - Arthur Walker 7"

This single's off Cable's second proper LP, 'Sub-Lingual' (third if you're counting the first EP). At the time I really wasn't into it as an album, suffering pretty badly by comparison to 'When Animals Attack', which you should check out if you don't know it already. However, listening again the other day I enjoyed it more, I guess time changes your appreciation of these things. This single is really good, and there are certainly some other cracking songs on it. Give it a go.

Anyway, the main reason for putting this up is the b-side, which is one of my favourite Cable tracks. They had some great b-sides over the years, and someone very kindly sent me a link to a compliation of them a while back. 'Vertigo' was in the compilation, and I knew I recognised it, but it wasn't a very good recording, and I didn't know where it was from. It's from here. And here's a good version of it. It's ace.

1. Arthur Walker
2. Vertigo

Hey ya.

PJ Harvey - The Wind 7"

Hello again. Here's a good one. It's a track off the 1998 LP 'Is This Desire?', and is a real standout song. The b-sides off this single are also very good, as is PJ's way. 'Rebecca' sounds lovely, especially the drums, and 'Nina In Ecstasy 2' (number 1 was somewhere else, I guess) is a beautiful little song, just simple organ and vocals; one of those little classics that used to turn up as the third track on a single every now and then.

Track 3 also contains portions of 'Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep', which I initially hoped was going to be some massively out of place sample, but it doesn't, sadly. Enjoy.

1. The Wind
2. Rebecca
3. Nina In Ecstasy 2

Here you go.

AC Acoustics - Stunt Girl 7"

I'm still here! Sorry again for the long gaps between postings, but just occasionally I have to give other things priority. Here's a little something to keep you going, a great single by a great (and greatly under-rated) band. The b-side is also good, more of the same really.

If you don't know them then I'd really recommend giving this single a listen and then searching out 'Victory Parts', which is the album it's taken from. Really good. The one after it is good too.

1. Stunt Girl
2. Shoka

Hear me now.

And 'Repeater' by Fugazi is an awesome track, isn't it?

Crescent - Sun 7"

Right folks. Another quick one, what with everything else happening at the same time, but this is really, really good. Really good. It's another from back in the day, back in the Westcountry, on Planet Records straight outta Bristol in 1994. Labelmates of Flying Saucer Attack, Movietone and the like.

You may well not have heard of this band, but if you have then you probably own this record already. If you don't know it, I can't recommend it highly enough, it's a superb slice of noisy, rocky, LoFi, shouty, home-made... And with a killer tune on top of all that. The b-side's well chilled.

Just try it.

1. Sun
2. They Are Rebuilding The City

Here it is.

Sebadoh - Beauty of the Ride 7"

Hello. Sorry it's been so long between posts, but I currently have very little time to eat, sleep or think, so it's taken a bit of a back seat.

Anyway, as an apology for the delay, here's something a bit special from Lou Barlow and the boys. The a-side is off Harmacy, their 1996 Sub Pop LP, and is one of their best tracks, I reckon. If you don't know them then it's quite a good example (as long as you're also prepared for a few touches of noisy nonsense along the way).

Your b-side is a cover of 'Riding' by Will Oldham/Bonnie 'Prince' Billy/etc., which is a great song in its own right, and this cover does it justice. It's off a Peel Session, I believe, and is a kind of slack, ragged, laid-back... you know what to expect. Good stuff. Enjoy it.

1. Beauty Of The Ride
2. Riding

Here it's. Let me know if you like it.

The Third Eye Foundation - Universal Cooler

Told you I'd found something special... I don't think I have anything with an Easter theme, so you'll have to make do with this. Think of it as the result of an Easter-egg hunt, but with records as little chocolate eggs and shelves of vinyl as mysterious wooded areas, with me as that weird uncle who's following you around and you're not allowed to talk to.

Those of you who know me won't be surprised, but this is some extra proof that I am a dumbass. For a long time I thought this record was by a band called Universal Cooler, and I didn't listen to it for years, on the basis that Universal Cooler is an awful name for a band (apologies if it's your band's name). It's not by Universal Cooler. It's called Universal Cooler, and it's actually the first single from The Third Eye Foundation (Matt Elliot), on Planet Records, from Bristol, back in the day.

It's bloody great.

1. Universal Cooler
2. I'm Not Getting In A Car With You

It's right yer.

Bivouac - The Bell Foundry 7"

I'll be honest with you, one of the main reasons I bought this record was the colour of the vinyl. Just look at it. Beautiful. You try doing that with an MP3.

Anyway, turns out I made a great decision, as this is a superb slice of noisy guitary mid-90sy ROCK! And, looking them up right now, it appears they ended up on Geffen for their third LP, which is actually the only one I have; it's called 'Full Size Boy', and I'd strongly recommend getting hold of it. Great stuff. They were from Derby, like Cable.

This is a couple of years earlier than that album, and is great. A-side's really good, first b-side also good, second b-side (happy days) is an acoustic track, which is a bit of a departure from anything else I've heard by these guys. Also good, but suffers from either shoddy recording or a shoddy needle.

By the way, I've found a great 7" in the pile, which will go up next...

1. The Bell Foundry
2. Lead
3. Saltwater Heal (acoustic)

Hear ye.

Verbena - Shaped Like A Gun 7"

I don't know anything about this band, so I thought I'd fake it by looking on Wikipedia. That's probably given it away, mind.

Anyway, this is a bloody great single, with a nice relaxing b-side. The a-side sounds a little like Elastica, but American with a boy singing. The b-side sounds like a quiet Foo Fighters track. Interestingly, Dave Grohl produced the LP after this one. Coincidence..? This one came out on Merge Records (everyone's favourite label), and was produced by Dave Fridmann of Mercury Rev/Flaming Lips/everyone else fame, so they have some pedigree in their production at least.

I think it's a really good song, very of its time (1997), but yeah, a good one. Hope you like it.

1. Shaped Like A Gun
2. Postcard Blues

Here it is. You love it.

Smog - Ex-Con 7"

Robster, here's your prize! It's a post dedicated only to you, and you alone. Other people might read it, sure, but this one's for you (and Steve Ogriz0vic). I hope you like it. I tried to gift wrap it, but I ran out of Sellotape (or sticky-backed plastic, if you're into the whole Blue Peter thing).

Mat, this is second prize. Squeethorp, this is third.

And this is Smog, who are generally quiet and acoustic, as far as I'm aware. This is a kind of demo-sounding tune, but it shows how important a bit of space in a good song is. You'll see what I mean. Anyway, it's really good, and was the first thing I ever heard by them/him - Bill Callahan is/was the main man, who is/was Mr Joanna Newsom, I think. Did I make that/up?

The b-side is a real rocker! Full of bashing the crap out of the drums and feedback. Seriously. I don't know if anything else of theirs sounds like this, but maybe it should have done.

1. Ex-Con
2. Just Like Napoleon

Here it is.

The Hitchers - You Can Only Love Someone / Strachan 7"

Not feeling too inspired today, but here's a couple of tunes to inspire all you folks out there in the world. The very Irish Hitchers are up today, with a good a-side and an absolutely brilliant b-side. The lyrics alone would be worth posting, but as I'm not going to you're probably best off listening.

If you don't know who Gordon Strachan is then you'll need to do some research to get the real benefit of this song. If you do then you'll get it fo sho.

1. You Can Only Love Someone
2. Strachan

Gordon. You like? Name the 'keeper for a special prize.

A - 5 In The Morning 7"

I'm going through another Cable phase at the moment, which happens a couple of times a year. Anyway, this one lead me to remember their last show, where they were supported by A. Possibly on the basis of the set, or maybe on the basis of having a nice sleeve with a bit of masking tape with typing stuck to it (I'm easily impressed), I picked up this record.

It's kinda shouty, loud, punky/melodic... You know the deal. The a-side has a really great chorus, and the b-side's one to play loud and jump about to. They're not a band I put much time into finding out more about, so it's possible that their other singles didn't grab me like this one, but I hope you enjoy it. Let me know if you do.

1. 5 In The Morning
2. 8 Fingers

He's right here. Say what you see.

Flying Saucer Attack - Outdoor Miner 7"

What can I say? Simply brilliant, this record. Funnily enough I heard this version of Outdoor Miner first, then another cover by the Lightning Seeds, then finally the original. It's such a good song, and I guess because this was the first one I heard it's got a special place in my heart. It's also a really good cover (with a really good cover) - very FSA, but the tune still shines through. If you've not heard it then you're in for a treat.

The b-side is more typical of their stuff, but with a bit of a looped drum (kind of drum, anyway) beat behind it. Also really good.

1. Outdoor Miner
2. Psychic Driving

Here it is. Please let me know if you like it.

Teenage Fanclub and Jad Fair - Near To You

In celebration of the impending Jonny album, this is the second of the Euro Childs / Norman Black double-posting. Before you read on, you should click right here. Understand? Good. Now check out their free EP, and buy the album the very second it comes out...

This is from a while back, off an album by TFC and Jad Fair, and it's a really great track. It's the best off the record, I'd say, but the whole thing is worth a listen. I have a feeling that I heard an interview around the time saying that the band had basically improvised around Jad Fair's singing, and if it's true it shows you how good they are. The b-side is also a good song - "this heart is bound for glory!" Quite.

1. Near To You
2. Always In My Heart

Here it hear, and if you like it then please comment, I'd appreciate it.

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Young Girls & Happy Endings 7"

Happy New Year everyone, and I hope that 2011 is everything you hope it will be. As a celebration, here's a song about happy endings. The a-side appears to be a release all to itself, as it's not on an album, but is on the US version of 'Barafundle' as a bonus track. The b-side is off that album.

This song is great! I don't know if you're familiar with the band (you should be - I posted something a while back...) but this is a typically cheerful, poppy bit of Indie goodness. It's really good, one of my favourite re-discoveries of the last few months for sure. The b-side is also excellent, bit less cheerful, but has a great hypnotic ending.

And what a sleeve!

1. Young Girls & Happy Endings
2. Dark Night

Here!

And hey - how come some of the uploads I've done have been downloaded off Mediafire before I post them here? Is there a way to get in and see what's there before I post the link? Stop spoiling the surprise...