Augustine ~ Surface

Just a little snippet from when I went to see Augustine at Hootananny in Brixton this month. He was absolutely amazing. It was hot, loud and packed to the rafters, as every good gig should be! 

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Majorette ~ Forever Starts Tuesday EP

Hallo music lovers! Happy Sunday to you. 

I would like to make a public service announcement: this EP is incredible and you should listen to it right now! 

 

Majorette are a pop band led by twee chanteuse Danielle Salomon, a native of Queens, NY. What a little beauty this EP is: nostalgic, warm, and charming; the best debut I've heard in many a year. She possesses a gorgeous singing voice, too. I sound like a stuck record now, but I can't help it — this band have stolen my heart. 💘

For fans of: Stephin Merritt, Acid House Kings, The School. 

Releases 24th April on the Pretoria, South Africa-based indie label Subjangle. It's set to be an instant classic, you mark my words! 😍

Merry Christmas to all my friends. 💗

Enjoy this throwback to the time when fluffmeister Nancy dragged her own present - some catnip-flavoured treats - out of the pile and started opening it with her teeth. Even though it looks faked, I did not stage this picture in any way - cross my ♥! 

Merry Christmas to all the kitties.  

From the compilation Cwistmas Twee (Total Gaylord Records, 2004). 

And now for a pair of festive gems released just this month. ✨🎁

I'd like to wish everyone who reads this a very happy, healthy and music-filled 2024. 🥂 All Dressed Up in Dreams will be back in the new year - stay tuned! 😻

The Ballet ~ Daddy Issues

Oh man, I love The Ballet with all my heart — so I was beyond excited for the release of their fifth album last month. Already I can say with 99% certainty that this is going to be my favourite record this year. 💜😭🔥 Have a listen below. 

Recently I did a deep dive, and discovered this: before forming The Ballet, Greg and Craig (plus their fellow grad student Emily) were in a band called The Mean Corner. They released one EP in 2004 called I Learned It By Watching You. This is my favourite track, "Who Is Sean Cody?"

Cascading synths; strummed Spanish guitar; boy-girl duetting; witty and heartfelt lyrics: what a perfect pop gem. 🥰💛 If anyone would like me to upload the rest of this excellent EP to YouTube, please just leave a comment below and I shall do it!

(P.S. Sean Cody is the name of a gay porn studio, in case you were wondering. 😏)

Salt Lake Alley ~ Bankrobber

Continuing with the covers theme, this is Stockholm duo Salt Lake Alley - one of my top favourites of the last few years - putting their own jangly spin on The Clash. Gustav and Mikael say: 

"We tried to approach it like The Byrds approached Bob Dylan’s Mr Tambourine Man. In the end it probably sounds more like the UK circa 1989 than Laurel Canyon circa 1965." 

I say: "Certified banger!" 🏅

Blood Cultures ~ Set it on Fire

Wonky, blissed-out dreampop that sounds like an old Saint Etienne cassette that's been sitting in the sun. 

Discovered via the Instagram page of Thurston Waffles. Who the feck is Thurston Waffles, I hear you ask? Why, he is hands down my favourite internet cat! Long live Thursty the Shrimp King! 😻🦐

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Acid House Kings ~ A Little Dancing

Hooray! Acid House Kings are back with their first single in a decade. And it's a cracker! ✨💃

Acid House Kings · A Little Dancing

Corvair ~ Sunday Runner

Corvair are a Portland, Oregon-based group comprising of Heather Larimer (Eux Autres) and Brian Naubert (Ruston Mire), who between them have recorded or performed on more than twenty different albums. This terrific slice of retro pop is a taster from their forthcoming self-titled LP, largely conceived in isolation during the Covid shutdown of spring 2020. Releases 19th February '21 on Wiaiwya in the UK, and I can't wait!  

Real Numbers ~ Brighter Then

I'm loving Real Numbers' jangly new tune Brighter Then, a taster from their forthcoming EP of the same name. 💙 Releases 22nd January 2021 on Slumberland Records and Meritorio Records. 

Veronica Falls ~ Nobody There

I randomly discovered this tune on their SoundCloud and as far as I can tell, it was only ever released as a cassette single in Japan - however I think it's one of the best things VF have ever done!

 

The B-side is I Need You Around, also excellent. I miss them. 😔

The Radio Dept. ~ You're Lookin' at My Guy (cover of the Tri-Lites)

 They've still got it! I adore the Radio Dept. 🖤