Missive 52
03-03-2005
Singled Out – Missive 52

Dedicated as always to Kelly and Mark

‘Singled Out** – no ego, no kiss arsing, no favouritism and no corporate back-handers – just honest to good wholesome badly written ramblings’.

Okay just to prove I don’t sit on my backside all day doing nowt – the first in a series of quick fire Missives – which hopefully should read like three today plus at least two more before this weekend.

Okay all being well and granted it gets the required nod from those in the know – Singled Out will shortly be getting a much needed and serious overhaul in the weeks to come. This projected plan has been borne of the fact that Losing Today (US /UK) version has hit the buffers due to a combination of costs, written off debts (namely finances owed to us by a certain distribution company who refuse to cough) and lack of advertising revenue – which given the fact that we apparently engaged in employment two full time advertising reps has me thinking – was this really a wise move, smacks off the Titanic having an Iceberg detector that didn’t work. Now I’m not for a second going to get into any arguments as to what has happened, going to happen – who did what, why this or that didn’t work etc….I had no control, responsibility or liability and that’s that. Now for my part and a great many of you who know me well, this, pardon the vernacular – has really pissed me off no end. In October / November I was running my self to the point of exhaustion cobbling together what should have been issue 2 of the re-launched UK / US version – chasing up deadlines and bands who wanted to feature on the CD – only to be told that the magazine was no more just after Christmas. Now far be it for me to put my head on the chopping block but put my head on the chopping block I will – the magazine had over two years to sort out logistics, sales, marketing, advertising and potential pitfalls such as revenues owed – as far as I know none of the contributors who (loosely) worked to me have ever been paid, and before you ask – no neither have I not a cent in the four / five I have been submitting materials. Call me a fool – I’d agree – but that said it gave me a curious independence in that I could basically write and say what I wanted, I mean whoever could forget the early Losing Today issues – obsessed as they were with Goth and Shoegaze – an interesting read maybe but varied no, Sub Pop was a label that would never have featured previously let alone the whole scope of what passes for alternative music has to offer – ie folk, pop, agit, post rock, post punk, electronica etc……Now obviously this little rant (you wont be to surprised to hear) hasn’t been passed through the powers that be for clearance and no doubt if you don’t see another Singled Out (after that is these quick fire sessions) by this time next week you can bet your bottom dollar that I have received an electronic P45 for my sins. I’ve said my peace and that’s that. That said the Italian version of Losing Today goes from strength to strength – better get those translation manuals dusted down – ho hum.

Projected date for what will provisionally be called ‘The Sunday Experience’ (all being well and that I’m still here) will be just after Easter (end of March). The initial idea is to present a magazine within a magazine, Singled Out (although it may revert to its original title as Tales from the Attic) will be incorporated into the set up to feature alongside albums, gig listings and release schedules – hopefully in time we will be able to feature limited period downloads so as to compensate for the missing CD from the magazine which it is hoped will reflect the spirit of ‘The Sunday Experience’. Who knows we might even tie in a few band biogs / and interviews which so far I’ve managed to avoid at length. If all goes to plan this extended feature should arrive once a week on the site – obviously on a Sunday – so as to ensure that I for once keep rigid to the original promise of doing the missives once a week but failed spectacularly.

Okay enough of that for that for now – any further information or indeed comments as to the above – then please contact me at the usual address mark@losingtoday.com also keep a note that Singled Out has moved address – please see previous missives for details.

Okay the singles – which for a one time special only – we open with a very rare cock up corner type kind of thing – those with long memories – heck kids it was only the last but one Singled Out – we mentioned to glowing enthusiasm a dear bunch of upstarts called the Like – ha ha well it seems we well and truly led you a merry dance last time of hearing several record stores were being inundated by requests for a band that doesn’t exist – oops sorry. Well Scott from the band has kindly stepped in and pointed out the error of my ways while at the same time citing the blame being to do with his CD’s art work – while kindly opting not to mention the fact that the bands correct name is emblazoned for all to see on the front – what we meant to say of course was that they are called ‘Free Diamonds’. So to make up for the glaring error we’ve reprinted the review here (with the right band name) and given it centre stage – the band have also recently been asked by Deep Elm Records to appear on their ‘This is Indie Rock’ compilation. Am I forgiven now this sackcloths itchy.

Free Diamonds ‘Like Giraffes’ (Demo). And just when you thought it was safe to return to the safety and comfort of the old Hi-FI here comes a brace of crunching debut killer tunes from Newcastle based crooked kids Like. Now if someone had tried to sell this to me with the promise that it sounded like a pre-pubescent Supergrass I guess I’d have sniffed and paced around it with a nonchalant should or shouldn’t I kind of attitude but hell this nibbles, rocks and worries in all the right places. ‘Like giraffes’ saunters precariously between lunacy and abject no nonsense genius, rapid fire serrated riffs lay siege propelled by what sounds like a helium enhanced vocal recanting half remembered nursery rhymes which together merge to charge into a perplexing ‘anything can happen in the next two minutes’ foray – ultimately it’s all fraught, frenetic and totally fabulous. Flip side cut ‘J.P.L.D.’ does little to quell the fears – playground glam rock with a sneering cock sure punk-ish idealism (and blessed with the coolest and laziest licks we’ve heard since the Scissors Sisters ransacked the lazy cool riff store) goes hammer and tongs against the Floyd’s ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ (albeit loosely) to give credence to every medical practitioners fears that E numbers are, as suspected not good for you. Are we witnessing the birth of dumber rock, who knows one things for certain this lot could quite possibly be your new favourite band and we wouldn’t blame you. Contact scottpolarbear@hotmail.com

The Jim Muir Slideshow ‘Popular Art / As Equations’ (Bowman’s Capsule). Would you believe if I said that we almost neglected to mention this particular release because so smitten were we by it that we’ve been rendered speechless. In all honesty one of the best things we’ve heard in such a long while, if you can get past the post baggy-isms and subtle psychedelic lurch of the Pulp-esque indie disco anthem ‘After the Fireworks’ then this neat little four track EP shapes up to being something exceptional and dare we say it, special. This release follows the ensembles debut EP ‘Through industry to the Stars’ which sadly we missed (as is always the case) and on the evidence of these four new cuts finds itself elevated to the lofty heights of the Singled Out most wanted list. If the debut EP really was, as one critic suggested, ‘kitchen sink dramas set to fantastic tunes’ then this EP is the leaving of that kitchen, the past and the dramas with the sink in the backpack to brave the night air and to meet head on new horizons. Utterly unpretentious and without the usual bluster and column mileage that most bands seem to arrive pre packed with these days, the hype less Jim Muir Slideshow you feel just get on with it hoping to snag you with their off centre reminiscences and longing shimmer. Those of you expecting a quick fix cure had better look elsewhere, JMS slowly unravel with ageless glee, their all to apparent tenderness kindled by a sweet bitterness and a wholesome soft centre that once tasted seems to hook you like an illicit addiction. ‘After the Fireworks’ uses the day after the night of the ecstasy fall out as its subject matter, belying a finger wagging regret to its cause it ostensibly paints a bleak picture of the sheep like mentality of today’s societies dependency on substances to wipe away the pain and void of everyday life and which for those who’ve had the misfortune to watch the worrying increase in ‘reality’ TV might well reasonably sympathise with. The suggestive sumptuousness of ‘I don’t want to be a man’ is simply breathtaking, ethereal disconnected voices poke from gossamer wrapt linings lost and hovering lonely in the same heavenly climes as Air’s ‘Moon Safari’ its nimbleness is only equalled by its flaking heartache. ‘After the Fireworks Pt 2’ wallows in a spectral haze that all at once shimmers with the same sensitive aura of Baby Bird at his most hurting while splicing elements of Scott Walker that together are set upon a cortege of sweeping noire-ish strings that ably shred you to pieces. Personally though best cut is the sublimely pastoral ‘How the North of England saved my life’ which is beautifully cast from the same magical stuff from which Belle and Sebastian’s ‘Tigermilk’ was founded yet courted with the bitterly tinged personality of classic Guy Chadwick, resistance, it has to be said, is useless. Single of the Missive in case you hadn’t already guessed. www.jimmuirslideshow.com

The Tailors ‘A new hairdo’ (Trash Aesthetics). From the same dudes that brought you releases from the Bloc Party and the Rakes (something special radar at the ready), ‘A new hairdo’ is the third outing for Trash Aesthetics and the debut single for the Tailors, who on the evidence of this showing should soon elevate themselves to the top end of this years most wanted list. Strictly limited to 500 copies and hand made sleeves – (you surely know the drill by now) – this is set to sell out faster than your current indie darlings once the pay cheques and clothing adverts come a calling. ‘A new hairdo’ is simply superb make no doubt about it, punch drunk on the whiff of old country records left to mature in the finest assembled casks discovered dusty and thought lost at the back of Buffalo Springfield’s rickety old barn but with enough off centre boogie to keep the underground set well on their heels with ears a pricking. So chilled and laid back it comes complete with its own pillow, bedside cabinet and possesses more breezy pedal steel than the state of Tennessee could ever hope to muster up. ‘Backslap Club’ on the flip is more of the same damn finely concocted weeping strings and weaving pedals all set to a brisk as you like soothing 70’s country MOR pop coda that to these ears sounds like a young Mr Earle doing Gram impersonations with a particularly sprightly sounding Moviola doing the dusty legwork in the background. Buy on sight – consider yourself told. www.thetailors.org

No Fly Zone ‘Dead end’ (Internet). Another first for Singled Out I think I’m safe in saying and by rights something I should do more often but frankly never have the time is reviewing web based downloads but this lot did nicely ask so there. Now for obvious reasons we couldn’t resist these handful of cuts from Sicilian based quintet No Fly Zone. Amazingly still unsigned the band have recently been locked in the studio laying down tracks with the legendary producer Warren Riker (Fugees, Santana, Lauryn Hill etc….). ‘Dead End’ flirts seductively with industrial codas and classic rock licks that together weave ominously their snaking attraction, effervescent and magnificently primed with all manner of storm calling demeanour that to these ears sounds like a free from the excesses distilled take on the Mission. ‘Freedom Cages’ is less fierce some but don’t for a second read that to mean anything less than exceptional, swaggering and wavering with a driving MOR heartbeat it’s a bruised package replete with a dying sting that one minute crushes you low and then emphatically lifts you in a dizzying aura of euphoria, think of an updated Blue Oyster Cult., which lets be honest is nothing to sniff about, pretty damn fine if you ask me. Available to download gratis at www.no-flyzone.com you’d be a fool not to.

Maths and Physics Club ‘Weekends Away’ (Matinee). This cute nugget literally just dropped through the letterbox and in just one little listen we surrendered. ‘Weekends Away’ is the debut single by the hotly tipped Seattle based quintet Maths and Physics Club and let’s just say those of you out there still holding tightly to those threadbare early Sarah, Summershine, Bus Stop 7”’s thinking that those days of shy awkwardness and soul mate hand holding in front of the late night transistor listening to the Caretaker Race and Hey Paulette where to remain an odd but cherished snap shot to growing up had better think again. These maudlin gems will sound like the second coming of that age from the sprightly chime of the skipping chords on the angelic sounding opener ‘Weekends Away’ that’s so succulently bled through by the visible breeze of Hammonds to the reminiscent cardiac arrest ache of the nimbly drawn ‘Sixteen and Pretty’ which hits you cold and hard in the face like a downcast twist of Terry Jacks ‘Seasons in the Sun’. ‘When we get famous’ shirks and saunters with the spirits of the golden age of the Go Betweens running amok, jaunty, catchy, seamless melodies – what else could you ever want. Best of the lot though is the cruelly beautiful ‘Love, Again’ which take my word for, is carved from the same tugging threads that made those early Smiths releases both introspective and loveless and yet essentially life affirming brought out best by the contrasting shade to light morose matter of fact vocals rubbing oddly against the effervescent sunshine glee of the tumbling fret board workmanship. A classic all said and done. www.indiepages.com/matinee

The Happy Couple ‘Fools in Love’ (Matinee). Sticking with Santa Barbara’s finest exponents of lovelorn indie rock another slice of pristine pop this time courtesy of Germany’s the Happy Couple who when not in the studio recording timeless knee tremblers run the Felicite Singles Club (which we now feel compelled to check out). ‘Another Sunny Day’ (sadly not about the much missed band of the same band of the name – who were as we all know one of the unsung heroes of the Sarah roster) does as it says on the tin, top-drawer loveliness, warming harmonies a la Boo Radleys beam so bright you could get a West Coast tan just by sitting in the same room as, all the time Jane Honey’s vocals breathlessly dally barefoot amid the soft 60’s shimmer. ‘Hopeless Case’ bristles and bops with the sand between its toes while the punky pop strides of the stinging ‘The Pop Kid’ takes several leaves from Helen Love’s book of ‘irresistibly catchy spiked toons to send the kids wild’ and makes paper aeroplanes with points so sharp it stuns you into a frenzied bout of unexpectedly ecstatic pogoing. Leaving the best till last (don’t they always), ‘Don’t call it’ is as horny as hell, coolly oozing reverbs exact a sultry calm upon an overall late night torch femme fatale routine made up to be a shadowy late 60’s hurter, a kind of Nico masquerading as Francoise Hardy – guaranteed to hit whatever spot you care to name. www.indiepages.com/matinee

The Lucksmiths ‘The Chapter in your life entitled San Fransisco’ (Matinee). Last up from what has been a superb set from the Matinee stable comes via the ever-wonderful Australian trio the Lucksmiths. Lying sultry and lazier than two weeks in the peak season on the Caribbean this EP gives further evidence (as though it was needed) that the Lucksmiths are perhaps the southern hemispheres worst kept secret. What makes the Lucksmiths such a treat in terms of listening pleasure is the ease at which their compositions seemingly wash over you always catchy enough to keep you close with the promise of richly drawn song writing, take for instance the lead cut ‘’The Chapter in your Life entitled San Francisco’ (a little taster from their soon to released full length ‘Warmer Corners’) which ekes out of the speakers more like a drip than a flood and before you know it decorating your whole listening space with a carpeting of fertile luxuriant greenery in which to laze idly and observe the day waning towards dusk. ‘Young and Dumb’ has that faraway mellowing Southern breeze about it that’s more associated with the likes of the equally underrated Moviola while the gem like ‘The Winter Proper’ is tenderly aching in all the right places leaving you emotionally sapped by the close. Personally though the centrepiece arrives at the finale. Acting perhaps as a perfect way to pay respect to the second anniversary of Maurice Gibb’s passing a tearful and, dare we say it, masterly cover of the Bee Gees ‘I started a joke’ which pop pickers originally appeared on the ‘Ideas’ full length in 1968 and of which we will hold our hands up and say rather loudly is as deserving a place in any well ordered record collection as any of the early Gibb brothers 60’s Polydor albums – so there, I‘ve said it now. Blessed with a harmonica that’ll cut you in half and housing a numbing sensitivity that’ll leave you silent with jaw dropped for its entire duration. Absolutely perfect in other words. www.indiepages.com/matinee

Data 70 ‘Space Loops – Volume One’ (Enraptured). Now this is tasty. From the same people responsible for annoying our hi-fi with their peerless ‘Bedroom Ambience’ series releases comes a superbly packaged double seven inch, gatefold and on clear vinyl to boot release. Data 70 is the sometime collaborative head jam between Bob Bhamra and Jon Chambers (Sunray) and sees the two exploring moods and short memory sensations in what culminates as a 16 part odyssey (each part barely over a minute in length) into toy box electronica. Each side features four instalments with side one providing delightful funky backdrops that at times recall ISAN lost in space with elements of Sonic Boom dicking about with the (newly redecorated in a nice shade of vibed on sea green) TARDIS’ space-time differential (in other words the little alarm button on the underside of the console that goes oo-ee-oo). Side 2 is cuter still, introspective drone collages weaving hypnotically into the void flirt with curious toy box chimes not to dissimilar to the found melodies on Raymond Scott’s ‘Soothing sounds for Baby’ series, side three pretty much follows in a similar pattern but to a greater degree with a darker purpose with the oddly chunkily cut ethnic ambience of ‘Test Tube’ providing the highlight contrasting perfectly to the twinkling ‘1,000 satellites’ which even after repeated listens still sounds like the Clangers singing for their supper. Side 4 gets down and full o’ love for a spot of down tempo kookiness on ‘Return to form’ before the not as apt as you might think ‘World of Harmony’ ventures the tricky path more associated with early Ochre releases. Nice as the fat bloke on the Fast Show would more than likely say.

Ramp ‘St. Ockwell’ (Enraptured). In the finest time honoured tradition of things another Enraptured release no less, you know how it is, nowt for years as though subject to some great mysterious vinyl drought and then whoosh two at once. This particular release, again tasty looking, is pressed on 7 inches of splatter vinyl (of the white, blue and orange variety for those taking notes), its loveliness only outdone by the sounds found nuzzling between the grooves within. Last heard doing the business on the ‘Bedroom Ambience 4’ compilation (same label / second mention same missive – you owe me big time Jack!) with the blissful ‘Yellow Cake’ this time around it’s a lush line of erotik chill pop that served up on the aural platter. Starts off to the sound of a whirring nursery like chime and steadily grows in stature until it manifests sweetly into a darling brew of exotically sultry solar-scapes that all in all make it quite possibly one of the most arresting things we’ve heard since that awesome Manual release for those Static dudes from a while back. Flip the disc for more to die for tuneage though on this occasion sharing the same celestial space as Yellow 6 it would seem. ‘After the Flood’ astral planes with the Gods at its side, okay a little over the top maybe but you get my drift, introspective, hurting as hell and delivering the sweetest sense of melancholia your likely never to hear the likes of again for a fair while – until of course another Manual or Yellow 6 chooses to bruise the airwaves. As though it needs saying – buy in sight. www.enrapturedrecords.com

That’s it then for at least 5 minutes – back in the blink of an eye shortly.

‘Singled Out**- the Sunday Experience’ coming soon to a PC near you.

Stay cool, safe see you soon,

Love and stuff,

Mark
X

‘Singled Out** – if only your record collection could talk’

**Singled Out is a fat free product tested on Hi-Fi’s in controlled conditions. Repeated dosages may cause infrequent bouts of exuberance and wig flipping – if side effects continue – desist from all activities retire to a darkened room and repeat experience at maximum volume.

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