Philipino Indiepop Scene - Summer Escape

Someone called heyconstance uploaded four albums of stuff from the grandly-titled Philpino Indiepop Scene Collective on anorak today. Four whole albums for free!

I'll link to the other three over the next few days (or you could go and find them on anorak, I suppose), but here's the first to download.

Volume 1: Summer Escape

Tracklisting:

Hello Misery by Blue Stereo

Constellation Of My Heart by Archaster

Clouds Upon Clouds by Under Shooting Stars

Moonlight Darling by Carnival Park

Winter Over Summer [Live] by Melody Style Apartment

The Rain Knows by The Wentletraps

Pillows And Blankets by Kid Auto Races At Venice

Until Goodbye by A Painted September

Last Summer's Love Affair by Apple Orchard

Why Are You So Lovely? by National Express

Sunday Picnic Love Affair [Live] by Sunday Picnic Love Affair

The Things You Say by Sodajerk

Just Like The Sky by Soft Pillow Kisses

Everything She Had by Citrusphere

Before Anything Else by Fantasy Lights

Untitled #1 by In Between Blue and Green

A Summer Escape by Golden Teardrops

Division by Envelope And Seabirds

Pretending That We're Smart by Candyaudioline

Sleeve design courtesy of Chary, of The Wentletraps.

Withered Hand - Good News (SL Records)

Lynsey and Marianthi and Andy and Pete have been mithering on about Withered Hand for a while now, and apart from hearing about a song and half on the radio I've sort of been too lazy to hunt anything down. So it was nice when Ed from SL Records got in touch and sent me a link so that I could listen to 'Good News', Withered Hand's debut album. And it's a rare treat.

The first thing you notice, of course, is Dan Wilson's voice, which veers between choirboy and complete emotional breakdown about fifteen times every five seconds.

The second thing you notice are the confessional, often quite funny, lyrics. 'Religious Song' tells (I think) of Wilson's experiences of organised religion, and is pretty hilarious without being all "hey maaannn, religion SUCKS". And so it's really quite clever and charming.

'I am Nothing' is particularly wonderful. As Wilson sings: "In the greater scheme of things/I am nothing" you can feel hundreds of broken hearts pounding along with his. And yet he somehow manages to turn his own feelings of nothingness around by the end of the song, and it becomes a celebration of being anonymous. That's quite something, isn't it? And that's what will turn Withered Hand into some kind of touchstone for everyone who relishes being the underdog, and like anonymity of a crowded city centre, or a busy pub, or a train ride. Because being anonymous means you've got time to write amazing songs like this, obviously.

I'm probably gushing a little too much. But in Edinburgh there lies, in Withered Hand, a thing of great beauty. 'Good News' means you can own a little piece of that. Lucky you.

The Champagne Socialists interview

I ordered The Champagne Socialists' new single 'Blue Genes' from Slumberland the other day. Of course you can hear it at their myspace page, but it's not quite the same, is it?

The Champagne Socialists are something of a mystery. Apparently, they have members of The Royal We and Bricolage amongst their ranks, but are now based in the US.

That dull history lesson over, you should all know that The Champagne Socialists are thrilling. They sound like The Ronettes playing Crystal Stilts songs. And so I asked them a few questions. The answers confused me even more...

How did you come to meet?

Jihae, Mike, and Devon, who sadly is no longer with us ( the band that is, not the world of the living), met at the West Coast School for advanced children. Jihae and Wallace met through a correspondence program run by the international ring of 'special' schools. New members include Jackson Baugh, whom we met on Sunset Ranch while riding horses in the hills, and Jessica Espeleta, whom we sadly can't remember meeting.

What's with the name, and who is your favourite champagne socialist?

We're actually thinking of changing the name. We hadn't played any shows yet when Slumberland asked us to put out a 7" and tour with the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, so we didn't really get to think it through, and now that we have, we don't really dig it. However, our favorite champagne socialist would have to be... George Galloway, George Hamilton, Geroge Best... all the Georges... sounds like a twee band...

My wife you said you sound like you're playing at the end of a very long tunnel. Does this please you?

Oh yes, in many ways. We learned a lot of atmospheric tricks from great Uncle Joe (Meek), who is actually Wallace's great uncle. And then there's the metaphoric tunnel... the one we hope we are coming out of into riches and hi-fi recording studios.

Which John Waters film do you belong in?

Cry Baby. It's good bad, but not evil. Which means no singing anuses? Ani? How do you say more than one anus? Anyway, it ain't got none.

How did the single come about? And are you pleased with it?

Mike Slumberland asked us and we said 'Yes.' Don't mean to sound cheeky, just not very interesting a story.

Who are your other favourite bands at the moment - present and past.

Favorite bands past... the Beach Boys, Sparks, Fire Engines, Heinz, Del Shannon, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Slade, Brett Smiley, the Television Personalities, the Zombies, Lenny and the Squigtones... Jan and Dean, Tiny Tim, and 1910 Fruitgum Company!

Present... Jihae doesn't like much new music but there are a few we can all agree on... Abe Vigoda, Magic Kids, Tyvek, Hunx and his Punx, Brilliant Colors, Panda Bear.

Mike from Slumberland tells me you're about to start recording an album for the label. Tell me all about it.

We're currently holed up in the top secret practice space making lists and getting everyone up to speed to start recording in October. We can say no more. It's a secret.

When will you be coming to Europe?

As soon as it is possible for us! Whenever we get out of this bloody tunnel...

You can - you should! - buy The Champagne Socialists' single from here.

My defiance is my number one

I was just talking to Marianthi about songs that make you feel defiant. Because sometimes feeling defiant is better than feeling happy, isn't it? Sometimes being defiant can make you do great things, go great places and meet great people. And often just being happy can make you a bit lazy, and no-one wants that.

Anyway, I don't know if Marianthi's making a mix cd, or whatever, but I offered up the Windmills' version of Airport Girl's 'Striking Out on your Own'. If this doesn't make you get up off your knees and go and thump a Labour MP, nothing will.

Download The Windmills - Striking out on Your Own here.

It's Christmas!

Remember November? Good, because that's when the next Nottingham indiepop all-dayer is going to be. Sunday 15th to be precise, and Lee Rosy's Tea Shop on Broad Street.

Last year's was a gentle success, so me and Andy thought we'd done another one this year. There'll be about seven or eight bands, and there'll be a BAR. Or so we've been promised. We were promised that last year, like, but there was a mumbled excuse about forgetting to apply for the license in time, or something.

So far The School, Standard Fare and Mascot Fight are confirmed, but we'll be announcing more as the weeks go by and we get even more bored at work than normal.

It'll be ace!

In other news the swine flu pandemic has claimed its first indiepop victim. Dan Pocketbooks is currently sat on the sofa moaning like a big fanny that he needs some soup (I imagine). It's Emma Pocketbooks I feel sorry for in all this.

Horowitz - Super Snuggles (This Almighty POP!)

Happy August.

Finally - finally! - this Horowitz single sees the light of day. And it's been worth the wait.

Horowitz songs are like something you can cling to when times are hard, or you've had a shit day or work, or you have no money or your girlfriend's just told you she's running off with your sister. 'Super Snuggles' has this melancholic feel which makes you realise that it's not just you who's fed up and skint. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, 'Winona' hammers out a primitive beat whilst Ian purrs about doing the nasty with the unnattainable. Warning: contains mild peril.

Hang on! What's this? It's 'The Boy From Whatstandwell', and it's a Horowitz torch song! It's in 3/4 time, and everything. I think the more pompous among us would call it "mature". I won't bother doing that.

Another amazing pop fix from Horowitz, then. Look out for the album which is apparently ready to go when the band can get a label to release. Come the revolution, comrades, Horowitz will be fighting record labels off with a shitty stick.

Slow and fuzzy

I really do feel like this crappy photo looks at the moment. To stave off - or more probably wallow in - post-Indietracks blues I've taken to listening to really downbeat for the last few days. Stuff like Galaxie 500 and Slowdive and Beulah's more maudlin moments. And you can't beat Beulah's more maudlin moments.

This got me thinking about For Stars, a now defunct band from San Francisco who put a quite wonderful record out on the Shifty Disco singles club in March 2001. It's still one of my most played records when I'm feeling all fuzzy like this. Nice, simple clarity.

Also, can you believe it's Friday tomorrow? I can't...

Download For Stars' Spectators here.

Download For Stars' Cowboys Lost at Sea here.