Under Blue Skies

"All That Jazz"

2008-12-01T20:07:00.000-08:00

Hi,

Time to get back again and it's a manic Monday so im gonna catch some things up like as i need some light to shine on me... Yesterday was a bit busy weekend as i was with my friend waking hours up and talking about the recent CD sale happening and the current great new & upcoming releases ( which im gonna post in the coming days! ) while we we're having dinner somewhere in an overpopulated mall in Quezon City ( so many people this season isn't it?! ). I was very full when we parted ways and it was my first time eating a FULL hainanese white chicken meal! Im so full packed!!! But thanks anyway mate...

I wake up at 11:30 AM earlier and had the chance to listen to this swirly/indierock group who called themselves The Permanent Smilers. I first heard them back in July this year when Richard from the band emailed me and was very kind to send me some of their music including their newly released LP titled "Jazz Liberties". Heavily influenced by post punk band The Stranglers and mix it with jazz singers with a hint of classical music, The band plays music that recalls the heydays of indierock groups like Sugar and Pixies with Richard's voice not so distant far with Francis Black and Bob Mould in song's "Temporary" and "Curfew Of The Sun" with crunchy guitar lines washing along the lines.

The band is composed of Richard Lemongrower ( acoustic/electric guitar/keys/mandolin/oil drum/spade/percussion ), Johnny Cole ( bass guitar ) and Pete Fraser ( drums ). Richard formed the band after his previous band, The Lemongrowers ( who released 2 LP's in the mid 90's, "Segments" and "The Ultimate Mutation" respectively. ) folded in the late 90's. Influenced by New Wave and Ska in the 80's along with the Britpop cockiness of the 90's which he later mix up when he formed The Permanent Smilers. Their debut LP "Sit Down And Smile" was released last year on their own Citric Sounds label. It includes the shimmering 60's pop of "Without You" and the splattering powerpop of "My Beautiful You". A band to adored for if you loved indierock with a touch of true DIY ethic and class of their own.

Feel free to listen to them in their Myspace or Buy their records Here

"You'll Never Know"

2008-11-29T12:29:00.000-08:00

Hi,

How's anyone? How's the music world revolving lately? Im a bit wee but im still around and STILL listening! Gosh! It's been so long since i write and thanks to Tom for asking me in Facebook if my blog is still alive and kicking and now i just wake up from a dream, A long lost dream... A happy feeling specially in this part of the year, a few days before Christmas falls and a mere month to welcome the coming year. To start things up, Which i usually do in rounding things off and there's so much great music that had been part of us this year but i just stumble on and it was great, great music... So lovely i very much adorn it...

Just a few days when i was browsing the web ( Myspace to be exact ) i discovered a lovely fellow who plays music reminiscent of The Hit Parade on a mary go round riding along with 80's popsters Prefab Sprout. Im talking about Kevin McGrother, a one man band who played happy, fun and jangly music reminiscent of classic 80's guitarpop. Recalling the days of great p!o!p! hits and the much loved indiepop music, Kevin started making music in the early 90's with Just Like Alice and after that a band named Tickety Boo, which released an EP but was laid off because of a court case.

The year 2008 was a really virtual change and ten years on, Kevin and co. strut their guitars and instruments to release the wonderful "Living In An Enid Blyton World", A collection of his past 10 years in recording and what a blast from the past!!! The first time i've heard the single "You'll Never Know" i was totally happy that music like this has been made and i just wanna smile, smile and smile while i was walking the laneways of our neighbourhood. With the whispering intro through the chimey piano chorus line, I feel like i was a child again, no worries to think about and when i heard the vocals i was reminded how Julian Henry made great music with The Hit Parade.

The title track show's a more janglier track in the vein of C86 ala Friends ( with matching horns, handclapps ), The Smiths, The Housemartins and many janglepop bands. "The Same Old Story" truly capture the Sarah Records sound as it also draws the closest comparison to The Hit Parade's "In Gunnersbury Park" with the tilting acoustic guitar lines mixing along with the beautiful lovelorn vocals of Mary Joyce followed by Kevin. A lovely record, beautiful pop melodies made by a genius.

You can visit his Myspace page and feel free to buy his beautiful album. A must have!!!

"Quiet Hearts For A Quiet Start"

2008-05-08T14:42:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I'm gonna be rushing up to things as there are a lot of catching up to do but first let me get on to a bit of rounding up new releases and upcoming ones too...It was truly a cracking dawn when my speaker's blown to the sound of dreamy atmospheric's of Moscow Olympics new release "Cut The World" out now on Lavender label. After the release of their astonishing single debut "Still" on Fraction Disc comes this new mini-LP. Whew! Was it Keith fronting The Radio Dept. with Peter Hook on their bassline? This was a wonderful release with the new and very gazey "Ocean Sign" on it, Im really throwing myself offshore ( not to the sea! ) but through a waves of glittery guitar soundscapes. This really put our country on the map.

Buy the CD Here or Direct from Lavender

Another lovely release was from the melancholy yet very catchy lovelorn kids from Richmond, CA. "Half-Steps Towards Bright Skies" was Apple Orchard's debut release and also their first on their fledging label, Haymarket Recordings. This marks the heavy output made by Ryan & Dale which took the LP 2 year's to be made but now has been widely released to critical acclaim. This includes new songs but still carrying that same sound mix only to broader horizons which can be heard on trace on "Unfazed", "The Cloud Fleets" and an old favorite "Midnight Stars And Kisses". Hearing them now is like hearing Trembling Blue Stars riding on a winter train, This is the start i guess and we're waiting for more! Can't wait for that compy on Haymarket and the Sonnet LVIII LP or a Golden Teardrops EP or finally a Sodajerk LP release but it will see the light of the day...Keep your fingers crossed.

Buy the CD Here or visit Apple Crumble ( Japan )

Now we go to upcoming and new bands that set up the tone of Filipino music nowadays, Let's start with The Fantasy Lights. Another melancholy yet very dreamy outfit armed with heavy synthesizers and organic laptop's, Patryk and co. have just released an EP on the beloved Cloudberry label. Check them out if you'd loved the music of Brighter, Trembling Blue Stars and many Sarah Records acts.

Another lovely act that should be heard by the globe was the charming sister's Ria & Chary Silva, They composed the lo-fi, acoustic outfit The Wentletraps. Formed by the loved of music and was not quite an idea to be a live band but more of a studio project but at last these guys made it sure that their music was to be heard, Hearing them remind me so much of The Softies and Rose Merlberg ( and her other outfits as well ). I loved their cover of The Radio Dept. song titled "Bus" and The Smiths "This Charming Man". Im sure there will be more to follow...

As the once heralded guitarpop outfit had parted ways last year, A new crop of talented band emerged from the ashes of that group. Im talking about The Camerawalls. It was spearheaded by the former singer/guitarist of Orange & Lemons Clem Castro. It was a joy hearing their demo "Markers Of Beautiful Memories" on their Myspace page and i was delighted to hear that they are up to a new LP this year. The band which composed of Clem ( guitars/vox ), Law Santiago ( bass ) and Ian Sarabia ( drums ). Hearing them puts me in nostalgia when i first heard OnL back in 2003, This one was great! A far cry from their mainstream counterparts! A hint of Trash Can Sinatras, The Housemartins and a dose of Mozzer on this fledging group. I hope they sustain that musical feeling... A true marker of beautiful memories.

That's the first part of this round up and i'm off to my friend's place to get some drinks and keep an eye soon to a lot more of great music...

"Feel The Beat And Do It Anyway"

2008-05-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

Hello,

How are the popkids and fans feeling nowadays? It's been close to a year since i last wrote an article but it's kinda refreshing to be back!!! Thanks to the wonderful world of music and a lot of great new bands to hear on in with new releases to catch on their backs...I just woke up after a drinking spree last night with the Ortega boys and it was lovely to see a brand new day passing by with the sounds of electro-tinged pop from the beautiful London based band, Sparky's Magic Piano.

The band which is comprised of Marion Turnbull ( vocals ) and Oliver Bartlett ( guitar/synths/effects ) plays music which may bring to mind the likes of St. Etienne, Freezepop, Stereolab and Club 8 on their electronic mode. They have just released their LP late last year titled "Feel The Beat And Do It Anyway" on the Melody Factory label which features songs filled by love layered by beautifully crafted electronic music, Songs such as "Something Somewhere", "You Like Her" really mend my ears and my favorite track "Like Falling In Love". This is pure, crisp indiep!o!p! music you must chilled on! Cloudberry Records have also released an EP which is also my personal fave none other than "Falling In Love". They have been playing around the UK since last year and im sure there is a lot more coming in from them, I can't wait and surely will feel that beat and i'm really doing it anyway!!!

Buy the CD Here or Direct from Them

"From DNA To Yesterday"

2007-06-28T01:03:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Im back on track as i just got home from a rainy and dull ride from Cavite and i feel a little weary and lovesick! ( or the feeling is really there? ) maybe due to slight changes of weather...Whew! I just changed my clothes and put this ready to be heard disc of mine and gosh, Is it them? I find this long lost band a gem that really needs to be heard as they play soft jangly guitarpop reminiscent of those past indie stalwarts like The Sundays, The Band Of Holy Joy, April Showers and The Popinjays or any female fronted popgroup you had in mind that point's into that musical direction! The band im talking about is No Flags Etc..

Formed in Swansea, South Wales in 1986. The band played music that was meant to be pure pop, jangly and ironic with class! Having the momentum they are long been longing for, They quickly released their first single titled "Wonderful" on "12 inch format, Indeed it lives up to it's name as it capitalizes them to a wider broad. The chance of releasing a debut LP was already on their hands ( titled "Voila Godot" ) but sadly it was shelved... Tragedy seems to struck them when founding member Martyn died and things got lose out of hand. But in 1996, Things got well again with a contract with Canadian label Hi-Rise landing on them but again it didn't work that well because of another reason. But luck was really on their way as the great Firestation Records of Germany included one of their earliest song "Rubble" ( and a rare one too! ) on their great series , The Sound Of Leamington Spa Volume 5 in 2004 which attracts unknown fans across the globe.

Having several line-up changes over the past year's, Only Rob Thomas ( bass ) and Wayne Hughes ( guitars ) remain on the original core of the Flags lineup. They are now joined by long time singer Sian Wilson ( who already are with them through their early years ), Paul Boorman ( guitars ), John Corbett ( drums ) and finally their tech who sometimes also play with them, Niall Feldman. Now the band is nowhere to be cut again from releasing their great music to fans across the globe as they just released their full length ( of old & new recordings ) titled from "From DNA To Yesterday" which was co-released by the band with Apple Crumble Records of Japan. It includes early favourites "Don't Bring Me Back", "Wonderful" and my fave "You Skin Me Smaller" ( this one is gorgeous! ). Im looking for more as the band is setting out new songs to be recorded and released soon! You can hear the band's music snippet's Here

Check out the interview with the band's Sian Wilson and the band's new recording session's Here

Buy their releases Here or direct from Apple Crumble

Thanks to Rob Thomas for the help and kindness

"Safe"

2007-06-26T17:05:00.000-07:00

Hello,

It's been a while and gotta shake that giggling summer feeling that i feel...Thanks to that great news that this band has already gotten up the webspace that i long been waiting for their astonishing sound and musical direction, Im talking about the mighty Moscow Olympics. I just get the desire back into writing when i heard their new songs they uploaded on their Myspace. They just keep getting better and better whenever i see them play live or hear their demos as each time it was different just like harmonies waving around my head!.

The band ( originally known as The Lubitels but had to dropped the name when one of their member leave & in respect to the former ) which play music that recall those dancings days mix with a beatiful wash of noise that can be aligned with the likes of Blueboy in their "Popkiss" and "Unisex" days, New Order with Bobby Wratten on their lead and The Wake on their MBV mode. Consist of Aj Domingo ( vocals/guitars ) , who used to be a former Candyaudioline, Soft Pillow Kisses, Colour Contest member and also currently a member of soul specialists, Soul Connection. Richard Olaguera ( guitars ) also a former Colour Contest and used to be with Fingernail Cocktail and now leads Soul Connection, Jojo Sarmiento ( keyboards ) who is a member of Dorian Of Juniper Bells, The Violet Hour, She Came To Stay and plays now in the monicker of Joaquin Esquivel, Dino Amparo ( drums ) another former Candyaudioline and lastly the girl with the bassline in her side, Melanie Valera ( bass ).No wonder Peter Hahndorf voted them as one of the best bands not residing in the UK or US on his recent trip in Manila and on the TweeNet Poll.

They are currently mixing some new songs & I can't wait to hear for more as prior to what i heard on their new tunes like the hypnotic yet chillbending track "Safe" ( which is my favourite now! ) which reminds me of Blueboy's "Imipramine" on their shorelike guitar waves! We want more & I hope the world is listening for this beautiful supergroup...Surely they will!.

Pay them a visit Here

"Pop Goes The World"

2007-04-30T04:42:00.000-07:00

Hello,

How are you guys? It's Summertime!!! And it has been a long time and i'm back on the current mood to write some new music and event's that happened to me in the past year and month's...Wow! I miss this but hey don't think that i also stop listening for the past months as it was a no-no specially when i gotten hold of listening to this band one hot afternoon, So cloudy day that it perfectly fit to what im listening at that moment.How come you wouldn't loved this new but great band from Gothenburg, Sweden who called themselves The Electric Pop Group.

The band was formed by accident (or by nature of love?) when Martin Aamot (guitar/drum programming/vocals) met Linnéa (keyboards) back in May 2003.The meeting spark what will be the core of the very lovely song "Popgirly" (I really loved this song...It came from the heart!) with it's dreamy guitar lines mix with the JAMC'ish drumming which Martin wrote for Linnéa.The idea of forming a band soon followed as Martin's brother, Erik Aamot (guitar/vocals) also came aboard.In fall of 2006 the band has grown into a five-piece unit as they were joined by Gustaf Murman (guitar) and Jimmi Thunholm (bass guitar) which typified their crowning sound of heartache and gorgeous melodies.It's like The Field Mice was reincarnated along with the bunch of Sarah Records bands like Another Sunny Day or The Hit Parade, They played songs that echoes those bands like they upstart the revolution of twee 15 0r 20 year's ago.

The debut self-titled LP was released December of last year to critical acclaim to the loyal indiepop followers earning them one of the bands to look up to as they jangle our cold heart's with brimming glitter of soft tunes which speak slowly to your ears.Just as the band was so busy rehearsing and making new tunes, Linnéa opted to leave the band just this month due to reason of lack of time practising with the band...A bit sad but life must go on.They are schedule to play this year's Indie Tracks Festival on July with the likes of The Orchids, The Hermit Crabs and many more...

Let's keep hoping there's more from them as we listen to their heartwarming tunes along the way, Here are a couple:

The Electric Pop Group - "Popgirly"

The Electric Pop Group - "She's Playing With Your Heart"

There's more Here

Buy the album direct Here or if you're in Sweden you can buy it Here

"You're My September"

2006-09-27T05:31:00.000-07:00

Hello,

It's been raining...At least for now i do hope as things go bright it seems...I woke up late due to back pains i sustained listening to this group which remind me of a minty afternoon,dreaming up the perfect P!O!P!.It was fantastic which is what i say to this much missed band called The Fantasy Lights.

Formed in 2000 in a small bedroom by concept of Patrik Durmiendo (keyboards/guitars/voice)which give birth to the soothing and tearful music by The Fantasy Lights.It reminds me of The Field Mice,Trembling Blue Stars,Harper Lee,Silver Screen and a bit of Sarah Records.He has released & contributed to many compilations including "Mutual Admiration Society" (Definition Records 2001),"Hit Music Only - A Heavenly Pop Hits Compilation" (Heavenly Pop Hits 2002),"We Are Not Alone:Songs For The Lo-Fi Generation Vol. 6" (Best Kept Secret 2002) and "Dashboard Teddy Version 1.0" (Dorothy Records 2003).Also he played gigs around 2001 up to 2002 with the help of Chax and Lawrence in live sets.Afterwhich a hiatus followed...

But not for long as 2006 see's the return into new fold as Patrik recorded new songs which gives life to music fans who missed his lovelorn music (including me).He started to play live again (on the last Girlboy gig which sadly i missed his set) and recorded a new lovely song titled "Cinema At Seven" (my fave nowadays!) and im looking for more which i think will follow in the coming month's.

You can hear/download more of The Fantasy Lights music on their Myspace Page

"I Killed A Party"

2006-09-24T23:35:00.000-07:00

Hello,

How's everyone?It's been a while now and i haved miss so many things...Im glad to be back and what a way to start as i just got in from a gig last night and it was a bash!The event was called "I Killed A Party" which was actually the 5th installment of the burgeoning Girlboy series.It was 11:25 PM already when i got in the very cool place amidst from the old concept of a bar and this one was like throwing a party for all combined with great music and old faces and some new ones gathered when i came in just in time for the set of the chiming Soul Connection (i have missed The Fantasy Lights set which was staggering according to my friend Sherwin which includes a cover of The Field Mice song "Willow" and the swinging Balloon Derby who popped the crowd out!).

Soul Connection brought down some materials of their own which reminisce the good ol sounds of 60's soul accompanied with Pancho's chimy keyboards.The band even do a cover of a Small Faces song which the title escape me to the delight of the crowd.Noise harbingers TV Guide soon followed which feels like it was early 90's again with their shimmering guitar lines coming out of Baron's guitar effects.It was like Yo La Tengo or Versus whenever i hear this band plays,Indierock or shoegaze,put them on!Dreamy!

Now it's time for quiet approval,a time to hear some fresh tunes from the widely missed Jojo Sarmiento (Dorian Of Juniper Bells/She Came To Stay/Moscow Olympics) who played along with his new monicker Joaquin Esquivel.Armed with a guitar & his witty lyrics,The crowd gathered around him listening to his songs like it was a storytelling.The highlight of his set was when he covered a Serge Gainsbourg song which receives an applause from the crowd including a smiling Peter Hahndorf which serves as a guest.

After Jojo's set came Aurora Borealis.With it's pummeling noise showered in all it's shoegaze glory,The band jettisoned quickly to their own brand of noisemaking then afterwards i was shock when they covered a familiar tune which bop to my head...That was a Candyaudioline song i whispered!Titled "Flaming Walls" the band do quite well giving the song it's own purity.Gaze on!

I go out to get some beer when i chanced upon Peter & we had a little chit chat about some new indiepop and old UK bands,travelling around the world,new releases from his label Clarendon Records and some Filipino tunes which he download on his Ipod which has a lot of Belle & Sebastian songs on it.We got back in time for the post punk aesthetics of Through The Lens.They started off with their instrumental tune with a tribal sound which reminds me of Factory label bands like Kalima & The Durutti Column.On to their set they played their brand of ESGsque tunes accompanied by the dancing crowd.

Then came the mighty Moscow Olympics headed by a superb line-up and the fact that these guys are vastly becoming finest everytime i see them play!Very lovely guitar lines & melodies...I really loved "Second Trace",What more can i say?The crowd began to dance as one on these part as even Peter Hahndorf raises his cheerful hand on this band.

It was a night full of worth and great music,How'd i'd wish it was always like this but thanks it was done in a tremendous preparation and It was time for my friend Sherwin to part companies as im still going to Malate for a meeting & my other friends are already having an affair with their daydreams and im looking forward in seeing everyone on the next Girlboy gig...It's a must!

Thanks to Sherwin for the pics. Thank you mate!

"Her Kindercrush"

2006-04-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Hello,

It's the last day of the month & waaahhh!!!How quickly time passes by...Tomorrow is holiday and the 1st day of the coming month is gonna be a bit busy for some political rallies set to take in...Have to find some alternate routes...

It's a bit HOT nowadays but thanks to some cool music to lighten up the fiery mood & I've miss this band for it has the music that properly fit in this kind of weather,Setting up half-smiles and frowns the 1st time i've heard them one afternoon,It was early 2004 when i was attending my summer class...Walking along the bristle lanes of Intramuros up to the time i got home humming the melodies of "Dorothy" singing along with it's "do rot do roo" chorus lines...I have always loved Carnival Park.

Formed in the nothern city of Valenzuela,Philippines in 1999 armed with their pop antics,The 1st line-up is composed of Khristian Emas (guitars),Evan Gallo (guitars,vocals),Madz Dilabakun (drums) & Ryan Marquez (see:Apple Orchard/Sodajerk/The Haircuts/Dorian Of Juniper Bells) (bass),Cez Silva (vocals) & Mike Dy (Toy Keyboard) who would later launch the Dorothy label.Listening to them is like dipping ice cream on a hot summer afternoon without even melting it,The music soothes along with it's toy keyboard roaring along the lines of pop perfection reminding of the music of Moving Pictures,Club 8,Shoestrings,800 Cherries and any Twee that comes to your Twee mind.

They have released a CD-R EP titled "Her Kindercrush" on Shelflife Records in 2001 which brought attention not only in the local community but also outside the world.They also released a split CD-EP with Sodajerk titled "That Happy Glow" on Dorothy Records in 2002.Just when things are shaping up the 2nd line-up changed came as soon as the band is already circulating the local indie community back in 2002,Ryan left for the US as a new voice came on board in the form of Chai Enriquez (vocals/guitars) which is a hands down choice for the band.They are also included in "Dashboard Teddy Version 1.0" released by Dorothy Records in 2003 contributing a cool cover of "Portland,Oregon" by The Cat's Miaow but it was not ending there as they also done a very pretty cover of The Autocollants song "Candy Coated Kisses" which was on the "You're Still Young At Heart" compilation also released by Shelflife Records in 2003.

Still tensions on the band continue but it didn't stop them producing great song after another as a proof of this was they became part of the fine compilation titled "Guitar Sketch" released internationally by Quince Records of Japan which featured other great bands.An even growing tension resulted on Mike forcing himself out of the band & He was replaced by Joy to play the keyboards...The last time i've seen the band was @ the Girlboy Gig happened on Big Sky Mind a couple of years ago...I've miss them...from the time i've met Mike & Chai on LRT Blumentritt Station back in early 2004,Ryan on a Buzznite one Saturday night in 2004 up to seeing the whole gang one Girlboy gig also that same year...When can i hum those lines again...?

Feel free to visit their Myspace to hear/download some of their wonderful miss tunes!!!

You can also view a couple of their live videos Here

Buy their releases Here

"I Don't See You As A Dead Blog"

2006-04-26T18:50:00.000-07:00

Hello,

It's been a while since i posted & Glad to be back as im a bit busy on life lately but it's fun & lovely!Sorry for the e-mails i responded a bit late but you've got all the answers and It's a bit sunny and hot but thanks for the great news that arrived in my ears in this month,A bit of sunshine P!O!P!.First was a brand new release from lovelorn duo,The Haircuts (who i featured Here) which marked their LP debut titled "Sorrow Is The Way To Love" on Yellow Mica Recordings.It features 10 new songs recorded last year and you can buy the CD direct from Yellow Mica Recordings or if you are in the US,It is now distributed by Asaurus Records.Lovey dovey!

Now back on tip top shape but lately i've been having a hard time listening on most stuff that is new because time is not on my side but whenever im home i still manage to bring on some tunes to bop on my head...Just like the past days,Im very hook on this spunky yet bubbly girl group from Glasgow,Scotland called Tibi Lubin.

Formed by Katie Stewart (vocals/guitar) in 2002.Several line-up changes followed which at present was composed of Anji-Jane Kelly (bass/vocals) and Rowan Smith (drums).The band plays music that rings comparisons to The Shangri-Las,Marine Girls,Claudine Longet,Astrud Gilberto.They have released their debut LP "I Don't See You As A Dead Girl" on Rev-Ola label consecutively produced by Joe Foster.It includes the cool "Electric Blanket" & my personal fave "Miss Myopia".They are currently working on a new full length which hopefully be released soon!

Here are a couple of their bubblegum splash pop songs to stumble upon:

Tibi Lubin - "Assasination no. 96"
Tibi Lubin - "Miss Myopia"

You can also download the remix version of "Electric Blanket" (which is not included in the LP)done by Norman Blake & Joe Foster Here

You can buy their release Here or direct from Rev-Ola

"Turn To The Sky"

2006-03-28T15:26:00.000-08:00

Hello,

A bit furnishing some post that i should have posted in the past days but suddenly i didn't because of some problems regarding the time & schedule in school and in everyday life...Sorry if i had not posted a lot in this month due severely to the happenings around the country and now im back on track and bounce back to the world of P!O!P!dome.Do you remember the first time...?

A while back when i was searching (googling i mean),I had found about these great and charming kababayans up on their heels making catchy & fun pop songs on the other side of the globe,Hearing influences from a wide arrayed of great artists and recalling the cuteness of TWEE,The Skyflakes are more than just a band playing great indiepop tunes.Based in Northern California with a heart of a Filipino and consist of Tricia Saria Ramos (vocals),Ron Ramos (guitars),Jericho Saria (guitars),Oliver Saria (drums) and Jesse Gonzales (bass guitar).The band (who are truly living up to the term DIY) have self released their output on their own with their debut LP "Calling In Sick" being released in 2001.They also contributed to various compilations which resulted in gaining a cult following which includes appearances in "Casino & Fine Dining Vol.1" on F.U. Records in 2002,"Neighbourhood Watch" in 2003,"Underground Screams" also in 2003 on Asian Man Records and currently "7 Years Of APAture" and "The Bindlestiff Compilation".

The band is setting up their new recordings & a new member is expected to join the band this year & We're yearning for more crunchy & flakey tunes from this low profile group...

Here are a couple of their songs for you to taste:

The Skyflakes - "Bad Thoughts"
The Skyflakes - "Talk About Today"

For more on their sound/news/info and merchandise,Visit them Here

Thanks to Ron Ramos for the info and much needed help

"Everybeat Of The Heart"

2006-03-23T09:35:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Pretty back on hiatus after that stormy political destabilization at the start of the month and a great gig last Tuesday at 6 Underground in Makati.So many things had happened in the past days and I'm very happy that my life now has it's joy of living!Now going up on the direction of happiness and i wish it will push through as times (and tears?) goes by...

I kindly rekindled listening back to those tunes that i miss...Back in 1998 when i first encountered this band through the record collection of my cousin,Noel.He was playing a very upbeat song that i had to listen even for a glance just to hear those lovely melodies coming out of the stereo...Hurrah!At last,Ive heard The Railway Children.

Formed in Wigan,UK in 1984 and composed of Gary Newby,Brian Bateman,Guy Keegan & Stephen Hull.Playing with their brand of sweet & chimy guitarpop,The band found minimal success by signing to the influential indie label,Factory Records wherein they released their debut mini-LP "Reunion Wilderness" to much critical acclaim in 1987.This includes their debut single "A Gentle Sound" & the much lauded "Brighter"which later became hits.Their cult following began to uphold as they soon landed a major deal with Virgin Records resulting in their sophomore effort,"Recurrence" in 1988 featuring a much more guitar oriented tunes like "Over And Over" (my fave!) and "Monicas' Light".

In the fold of the late 80's where the music scene in the UK are widely based on dance music & the band soon incorporates dance beats on their sound releasing their third effort,"Native Place" was released in 1990.A very tight & interesting LP which includes "Everybeat Of The Heart","Collide","Because" and a lot more great tunes to unravished.A hiatus followed after the release of this LP...A Radio One Evening Sessions was released in 1993.Another blow was suffered when Bateman and Hull leave the band in 1994.In between this time,A compilation was released highlighting their best years on Virgin Records titled "Listen On" released in 1995 contains some b-sides & a different outtake on the title track.

A new hope was seen after a few years as the band (mainly composed of Newby) carried the torch as the should be 4th LP submerged in 1997 called "Dream Arcade" which includes the airy single "Skinship" on their own label Ether Records (after having a much dispute on March Records).A couple of years have followed before a compilation of acoustic & new songs were released titled "Gentle Sound" in 2003.A new stuff was set to released this year but still doesn't know if it will carry by name of The Railway Children or simply by Gary Newby...We'll never know so we better keep our fingers crossed...

Here are a couple of their songs to make you reminisce how good those ol' days are:

The Railway Children - "Like No Other" (demo 1989 unreleased)
The Railway Children - "Sunflower Room" (from the compilation tape "North Of England" 1988)

For more news/info,Visit them Here where you can also stream some of their videos

Buy TRC releases Here or at Amazon

"Charlotte Sometimes"

2006-03-01T06:15:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Just got back in...What a week that was!A great timing as it was raining outside after a very warm day last week,Truly summer is on it's way and a few minutes later on...BOM BOM BOM...An earthquake occur!Holy gosh...Shaking down my head!But thank God it was just in a lower scale and i don't know...But im OK and trekking down the flooded area of a nearby community is a must,I did it...Yeah,yeah,yeah!!!

So back on a higher note,I received an e-mail from Nick Fuller & another great news to fonder with!Nick was in a band called Almost Charlotte (remember those Leamington Spa Series?).The band was formed way back in 1987 in Brighton,UK featuring Ian Phillipson,Anthony Squires,Bill Russell and a drum machine!The band was soon to be joined by Matthew Griffin and later Nick.

1989 saw the band garnering some rave reviews both on local radio with their brand of guitar pop inline with the twangy C86 style of playing.A release of material followed with their single "Sleep" being already released on their own Moments Of Pleasure label.The released catapulted them with a following & a chance to play with other great acts like Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie & The Band Of Holy Joy...Sadly,things were not on their way...As the band progressed,Bill Russel left and a replacement followed in the form of Gwyn Carwardine and Bill Tolputt briefly came but the sound of the band at that time was at far different from the original one that when founder & chief songwriter Ian Phillipson left,The band was put on a hiatus in 1990.

The band had already had their share in the P!O!P! world but it is not gonna end there...Much interest was found when copies of their release "Sleep" landed on different parts of the globe!Firestation Records included them in the 5th series of "The Sound Of Leamington Spa" which includes their song "Frustration" (taken from the "Sleep" release) garnering not only old fans but also fans across the world (including me!).

After the demise of Almost Charlotte the band was soon to give birth to other lovely bands called Bluff and presently,Rogue Beauty.Check them out & another cool news is that they have rejuvanated their own label,Moments Of Pleasure back on track again & they have a new compilation released just last December of last year titled "I Think Of The Sea" which includes old songs from Almost Charlotte & the label.

You can stream a couple of the tracks from release Here

Visit them Here for news/info

Buy their releases Here

Thanks to Nick Fuller for the pic & info

"Just Like Honey"

2006-02-28T21:53:00.000-08:00

Hello,

After a bit of struggle on the forefronts of some rumours revolving around the state of the country the past weekend,I had already gone by pass those bad news about the political issue concerning the Philippine government & supremacy...Anyone was right isn't it?

But back on the regular basis,I had a very beautiful weekend night travelling along the coastal lanes of Cavite to Manila seeing citizens walking by,passing along without even noticing the problems of everyday life...Still with smile across those round faces...It was past 12 already when i got home & before i go to sleep i soundcheck a little bit with these refreshing band from (again and again...) Sweden,Where else do i expect for?Summer is on it's way already and it's a perfect blend to introduce the band called Like Honey.

Formed in late 2003 in Malmö,Like Honey are composed of Johanna Cromnow (vocals),Joakim Karlsson (guitars),Klas Sjöberg (bass, guitar,vocals),Sandra Svensson (organ,synthesizer) and Therese Åsberg (drums).Their music encompasses such Swedish bands like early The Cardigans but with more guitar oriented sound and Sonic Youth minus the angst but replaced it with girlinky voice of Johanna & the anthemic synths.After performing in their native homeland which gained them a loyal following not only in Malmö but with other parts of Sweden in which they are signed by independent label Hybris (home of other great Swedish pop stalwarts including El Perro Del Mar,Vapnet,Etc.).

They already achieved a cult following abroad with the release of their debut EP "So Silent" in 2004 which prove how capable the band are as a pop group.Late 2005 see's the release of the highly acclaimed EP "Airport" which blend pop with amalgalm guitars drowned in synthesizer beats.The title track (which is my fave song) proves how much the band evolve in recent years & im inloved with the Stereolab meets Sonic Youth track "Let It Pass" with bubbly chorus fading along,Great!!!

Im looking forward in seeing a full length from the group & as of now you can hear a couple of soaring sounds from the band to start your summer:

Like Honey - "November"
Like Honey - "Airport"

You can hear more Here plus you can download their video for "Airport"

Visit them Here for news/updates

Buy their releases at Hybris or Here

"Tell Me You Love Me"

2006-02-25T03:46:00.000-08:00

Hello,

How's everyone?A bit busy this month following some buzzing news occuring around the country...What's going on?Whew...It's those hazy days again...

Im just making fun inside the house while commotions in other places are happenin' at the same time...Just playing some playful tunes from these wonderful Swedes who hails from the west coast,In a town called Halmstad.They or He is called Eisenhower playing nice music with an anorak feel in a twee way!With guitars,drummachines mix with nice vocals it surely sums up the great music it produce which will remind you of sunshine & spring coming in the air...So lovely,Oh lovely...

Eisenhower is form through the brainchild of chief songwriter Henrik Påhle (who says this projects is just for fun).Playing songs full of fun & cuteness,There is no way for sadness in his music but it will be filled with songs of love & relationships in a very happy mood.Releasing his music on his own with 5 Cdr-s full of demos (including his renditions of classic hits from Joy Division,The Smiths,Nixon & Gordon Lightfoot),A compilation Cdr & An appearance on the compilation "Hit Music Only" on Heavenly Pop Hits label.Six live gigs are already accomplished eversince his formation of the band including "Mitt Bästa Liv" festival (where various members of Handsome Train & The Gentle Smiles back him up playing live tunes),Starke Adolf Popklubb (where in they are joined by another tweepop stalwarts,Pipas) and Delicious Goldfish Brunchpop.

Any labels from Sweden...are you listening?Or is it around the world?

Here are a couple of his tunes to dance with:

Eisenhower - "You Are My Number One"
Eisenhower - "Tell Me You Love Me"

More from Here

For news/info on the band you can pay a visit on Eisenhower Estate Here

Buy his stuff Here or at Delicious Goldfish Records

"You Can't Hide Your Love Forever"

2006-02-02T09:44:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Whoa!!!I've been surfing the net listening along the lovely chimes of "Lachrymose" (is it a coincidence?) when i received a very wonderful mail from Ryan of Apple Orchard announcing a good news that the "7 "A Hiding Smile" is already released & can be purchased from Humblebee Recordings.Great lovely tunes reminiscent of Brighter,Bouquet,Harper Lee,Pinkie,Sarah Records,Etc.More info Here.

I've been so much happy in the past few days on what has been happenin' on the music scene (in local or around the globe) as for the past couple of years has been a declaration of good things to come...It's already the 2nd month of the year & it see's another series of great releases as started by my post on the new release by Apple Orchard.Next was another fine gem from the past (again & again) and this time it will be from The Servants.

Feburary sees the Cherry Red label release an album called "Reserved" by The Servants (CDMRED 297).The Servants were formed in London in 1985 and were based around the carefully crafted guitar work of David Westlake.Phil King who went onto play with Felt and Biff Bang Pow,Lush,Etc was also in the band.Their first two singles,"She's Always Hiding" and "The Sun, A Small Star" both on the Head Records label attracted good press interest and both made the independent singles chart.Westlake then went on to a solo deal with Creation Records while The Servants reformed around future The Auteurs and Black Box Recorder man,Luke

Haines.Also involved in the new line up was Hugh Whitaker who had previously been with The Housemartins wherein they released an LP,"Disinterest" in 1990 on the Fire Records subsidiary,Paperhouse.Luke Haines wrote the sleeve notes for this release which is quite a good one specially for fans of early Go-Betweens,Postcard Records,C-86 in general.

Here's the tracklisting:

The Sun, A Small Star?A Fleeting Visit/You'd Do Me Good/Afterglow/She Whom Once I Dreamt Of/It Takes No Gentleman/It's My Turn/Rings On Her Fingers/Meredith/ She's Always Hiding?Do Or Be Done /Transparent/Faithful To 3 Lovers/Funny Business/Loggerheads/Search Under Stones/Water Baby Blonde/Who's Calling You Baby Now?/Hey, Mrs John/I Just Wasn't Made For These Times

Pre-order/Buy these release on Cherry Red

Also a round of re-releases are gonna be released this month by Dislocation Dance (see my post on them September of last year) which are set to be released by LTM this month.Their first LP,"Music Music Music" accompanied by the mini-LP,"Slip That Disc" on 1 CD!

Here's the tracklisting:

Stand Me Up, Don't Knock Me Down, YOPS Course, Meeting Mum & Dad, Friendship, Take a Chance (On Romance), ...Have a Dance, Roof is Leaking, With a Smile on Your Face & A Frown in Your Heart, Vendetta (Theme), Narrow Laughs, Footloose, Can't Race Time... and the Mad Killer (Coda), Wonder What I'll Do Tomorrow, Rosemary, Shake, Can't Race Time... and the Mad Killer (Version), You'll Never Know, You Can Tell, Spare Concern, I'll See It, It's All True... Panic!, We Can Work It Out, So Much Fault, This Problem, Clarinet Source, Under One & Over

Also their sophomore released will be issued by LTM,"Midnight Shift" which was originally released by the Rough Trade label in 1983.The new digital remastered CD includes the 1983 Rough Trade album "Midnight Shift" with 5 bonus tracks from the satellite singles "Show Me" and "Violette" as well as the original version of "St Michelle" originally released on the Hours/Heures Sans Soleil compilation.New artwork composed of 17 tracks in 74 minutes of music.

Here's the tracklisting:

Show Me, I'm Doing Fine, Here Comes Love, Remind Me, Tyrannies of Fun, Open Cages, Baby Blue, With a Reason, Mr Zak, Bottle of Red Wine, Midnight Shift, San Michelle, Violette (7") , Remind Me (instrumental), Show Me (12" version), Show Me (Dennis Bovell dub mix), (The Next Year I Returned to) San Michelle (But Marie Had Gone & With Her My Childhood)

Lastly to summed it up was a released from the binocular jangly in a psychedelic feel Liverpudlians,Benny Profane.Formed by Dave Jackson and Becky Stringer from the ashes of lauded Liverpool indie-popsters The Room,Benny Profane went on to explore darker musical territory over the two albums released in 1989 and 1990 both of which are included on this expanded CD.They became Dead Cowboys after they had split up.Carefully remastered by drummer/guitarist Joe McKechnie (who also played in The Passage) the set also features two tracks from the first BP demo in 1985 featuring guest Will Sergeant of Echo and the Bunnymen on guitar.Enhanced artwork with band images and text by Dave Jackson worth of 22 tracks in 75 minutes of music.

Here's the tracklisting:

Man on the Sauce, Skateboard to Oblivion, Pink Snow, Quickdraw McGraw Meets Deadeye Dick, A Handful of Nothing, Rob a Bank, Tear the Web, Wall to Wall, Stitch That, Here Comes the Floor, Time Bomb, Hey Waste of Space, Maureen, Beam Me Up, Devil Laughing, Walk Away Macbeth, Ghoul Friend, Perfect Girl, SHC, Everything, Vain Profane, Credulous as Hell

Whew...so many great releases!So pick your wants to enjoy the coming Heart's Day!

Buy these releases on LTM or Here

"The Days Of Wine And Roses"

2006-01-27T03:53:00.000-08:00

Hello,

It's been a rainy weekend and tomorrow will be a busy day,A special day for me i must say...Im gonna be turning a year older (It's my B-day!) & also im going to the Terno Au Go Go gig happening at the Marikina Shoe Expo in Araneta Center Cubao with some of my friends & i want to catch Soul Connection there along with Juan Pablo Dream!But now im listening to the lovely melodies of "Sunshine Smile" by these adorable bunch of dreamy lads who are playing great music eversince i heard them,Populardays.

The band is composed of Charles Manjares (see:Soft Pillow Kisses/Superminty) (vocals/lead guitars),Erick Lucas (vocals/rhythm guitars),Ian Gacutan (bass guitars) and Jan Paul Tatad (see:Soft Pillow Kisses) (drums).They have been playing music which is comparable to the music of Adorable,Popsicle,Slowdive,The Ocean Blue & other dreamy acts.Regulars of the Buzznights production and still unearthing their lovely demos to their cult following and i really must say that they are on their track as they win the In The Raw award given by radio station NU 107 back in 2002.

As of now they are still playing regularly & creating new songs of passion and some call it "indiepop" but other's says "it was shoegaze?"... but in my own it was just a splendid and great music...

You can listen to them Here or download their songs Here

I will enclosed the day with a smile in my face as i just learned that the debut LP of Freeheat will finally see the light of the day...The debut LP "Back On The Water" is scheduled to be released on March 28 and for more news & info on the release you can check the full info Here

See/Buy some of their releases Here

"The Best Is Yet To Come"

2006-01-24T06:14:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Whew!I've been caught up by the sudden flush of rain along with my friend Joey when we met our other friend,Kaloy near the ABS-CBN compound...Im totally freakin wet!But it's ok as i got home already & Im happy to hear some great music...In a way that i was like in the early part of the 90's UK scene (i miss that!) & hearing these great band is a dream come true which i felt how come that those new bands does not sound like these instead of...Ahhh!!!

I was quickly jumping up and down again,feeling old again and hearing those great songs again...blue skies...come down on me?Well,i was impressed on how these band has been playin' those dreamy guitar lines & i just said to myself that i want more!All these shamblingness is caused by a band named Cerulean.

Yup,it sounds familiar (as it was also a titled of an LP of another great band,The Ocean Blue) but hey they really are great!Formed by Rick Bolander (vox/guitar),Noel Kelly (guitar) & Dave Cerwonka (drums) in Los Angeles.They are joined by studio bassist Will Bongianni in making those etherial pop gems.Often compared to post-punk graduates The Chameleons,The Comsat Angels,Echo & The Bunnymen,The House Of Love up to early 90's dreampop makers Ride,Swervedriver,Adorable,early Catherine Wheel,Pale Saints,Etc. which is a willing testament to their defining sound.Add to that,Their current new & lovely LP "No Sense In Waiting" was produced by the great & former Mighty Lemon Drop kid,Dave Newton.

They have released their debut LP "Skylight" back in 1999 then followed shortly by their sophomore,"Brighter/Still" in 2002.A couple of years followed before their groundbreaking EP,"Fractions" shows up in 2004 which received a lot of praise from their followings along with music critics worldwide.

"No Sense In Waiting" was released last year in the much lauded music press & followed by a massive tour.It features the band at it's finest which i really loved from the busting & ringing guitar of opening track "Quiet Release" which was actually a louder song match with Bolander's antic lyrics.I also loved "Like Fading Stars" with it's very dreamy keyboards swerving along the rhythmic guitars then followed by my fave track "Here Is Hoping" with it's drum beating to my heart!This 3rd LP of them is one of the highlight of these US based band with UK leanings on their mighty sound,lovely & entertaining i must say!.More!More!More!.

So sit down & relax...

Cerulean - "Rings Of Light"
Cerulean - "Very Happy With"
Cerulean - "Quiet Release"
Cerulean - "Here Is Hoping"

Buy their music/products Here

Also i just known that the coming new LP (as said in the current newsletter) by these great pop stalwarts,The Charade will be released this year with a tentatively titled "A Real Life Drama".Here's the tracklisting:

A Tough Decision
My Song To You
Music Makes Me Sick (sometimes)
September
Dressed In Yellow And Blue (unofficial Germany 2006 Swedish World Cup Soccer song)
Faith
Love Always Happens So Fast (Real Life Drama)
Sunny Winter Afternoon
Impatience Blank
Love Trap
Stockholm July 2005
Rain On Your Parade

Looking forward in hearing & seeing these great release & more info Here

"You'll Never Be That Young Again"

2006-01-22T04:50:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Been back after a busy week & a hectic one though...In a week im gonna turn a year older (ah!!!those were the days...im getting old...) while the whole nation is rejoicing!Thanks to Manny Pacquiao who just went away with the boxing crown,You can read the whole story Here.

Also, Im surprised to hear that David Byrne had came to pay a visit (or he has a project going on?) in the country last month.You can read the adventures & escapades he encountered in the Philippines Here.By the way...I am busy uploading some links & I'll be adding some stuff in the coming month's plus a preview of some bands & brand new faves!.In the past days i am serving my taste on a lot of Swedish pop & acts (some are already mentioned on other sites & blogs) which really got me tinkling to my brain..."In every minute of every day,They are (Swedes) producing some of the best nor brightest ideas ever made in an art called music".A lot of acts have been sprouting on their native P!O!P! land which is quite impressive!.

I want to list down some new Swedish acts which caught my attention & im gonna start up the hit list with the band who hails from Gothenburg,My Enemy.Formed during the peak hours of 2004 with it's guilty parties consisting of Helena, Samira and Leonel.They play groovy laptop based pop with a twist of lo-fi mentality,A bit of Saint Etienne on tweezers.As of press time...They have just released a music video for "Khreis" which is also released as a single.Check them out if you had a slow time wishing that your day would be on a hilltop...Maybe you want to go with the flow of chiming synths & laptops?Check them out:

My Enemy - "Khreis"
My Enemy - "My Time Coming"

How many times can you be on a portal?I wish that portal can go directly to my own fave band or interest...or maybe i just need Thirdimension.They were formed way back 1995 but still kicking great guitar pop mix with melancholic vocals reminiscent of Ian McCulloch,Chris Martin (i need to say this...at some point they are monotomous) at present.Composed of BJÖRN STEGMANN (songwriter/lead vocals/acoustic guitar/conjurer of hi-fi),MARKUS SLIVKA (electric guitar/backing vox/keyboards/misc instruments),MARTIN ROSENGREN (electric bass/backing vox) & BJÖRN WICKENBERG (drums/backing vox/percussion).Signed to Hidden Agenda/Parasol & with 2 LP's on their belt back it up with a wide arrayed appearances on various compilations,Thirdimension is on their way to another future...bright i might guess.

Thirdimension - "Between Us"
Thirdimension - "Hundred Miles An Hour"

Setting up the climax was a band led by Isak Klasson,The dissonant but charming Speedmarket Avenue.It all started when i heard "He's A Rebel" which strike me like a neon ball that bump to my head.With it's jangly guitars and upbeat chorus (no wonder as the producer of the LP,Fredrik Norberg is a member of jangle popsters,Popsicle).Their debut LP,"I'm Going To Let My New Swiss Army Knife Answer To That" is one of those records which buggles with pure pop mannerism filled with songs that happens in every day life like "Leave.Now." & "Here To Folow" which i find myself quite relating to the subtle lyrics it provides...An LP full of surprises & if you want a balance sound then go reflenished your ears along Speedmarket Avenue!

Speedmarket Avenue - "He's A Rebel"
Speedmarket Avenue - "I Can Tell By Her Eyes"

In the meantime,I'll take a nap...Maybe...a sleep...

Buy Swedish releases/records @ Popkonst/Labrador/Poppolar/Hello! Surprise!

"A Hundred Words"

2006-01-13T08:27:00.000-08:00

Hello,

A busy weekend is at face as fiesta in our town is underway...Inviting old friends & high school sweethearts is a must but im sure music is the main concern and im planning on what songs am i gonna play on that coming special day,Wooosh!!!

Getting back on the normal high note of putting up those stuff & I wanna say thanks to all the guys who write to me on the article "Filipino Blood,English Heart" and for letting me know some of the forgotten bands & i will update it in a couple of days.I may have stressed myself a bit cause i was suffering from a stomache ache a couple of days ago & thank God i was OK now as i listen to these madly missed band,The Beloved.

Originally a quartet whose sound drew inspiration from psychedelia & guitar pop and at some point,C86.Throughout its fluid existence,The guiding force behind the group remained vocalist Jon Marsh who formed the band The Journey Through (which was very New Order'ish) at Cambridge University with Steve Waddington and Tim Havard with the addition of Guy Gausden in November 1984 after which the group renamed itself The Beloved and gradually evolved into a moody dance outfit not dissimilar to New Order.

In 1986 the band issued their first single,The guitar inflicted gem,"A Hundred Words".After the single was released a series of releases followed including the EP "Happy Now" and the double A-sided single "Surprise Me"/"Forever Dancing" and the 1987 compliation "Where It Is" on the Flim Flam label but none garnered any significant critical or commercial success.Consequently, Gousden and Havard exited in 1987 at much the same time Marsh and Waddington were falling under the sway of London's burgeoning rave community which was sweeping England back then.After first re-emerging with the ambient-styled single "The Sun Rising" the band then scored an international hit with "Hello",A bubbling techno exercise which name-checked many of the group's influences.In 1990 the duo issued a pair of albums,"Happiness" and "Blissed Out" (a remix of its sister release) which achieved significant success both in and out of clubs. A long layoff followed...

And when the Beloved returned in 1993 with the energetic LP,"Conscience",Waddington had been ousted in favor of Marsh's wife Helena resulting in a more pop-oriented flavor.After another three-year absence they released "X",A foray back into club culture.In 1997 they released "Single File" which was a compilation album and a bunch of new remixes of "The Sun Rising".

Here are a some of their tunes back on those heydays:

The Journey Through - "A Search" (demo December 1983)
The Beloved - "A Hundred Words" (Peel Session January 1985)
The Beloved - "Jennifer Smiles" (demo late 1988)
The Beloved - "Franny" (from the unreleased LP on Flim Flam)
The Beloved - "A Happy Man" (from the unreleased LP on Flim Flam)

More on Here including some remixes/demos/Peel Sessions and the unreleased LP on Flim Flam label (which is very GOOD!!!)

For more info check them out Here

Buy their releases Here

"Silent Sigh City"

2006-01-07T04:32:00.000-08:00

Hello,

It's another sunny day as me & my friend were walking down the stretch of a shopping mall and another fine day to watch a movie but my time would not permit me as i still have to rushed to my friend's place to bring him some rough Cd-r's & a lay-out of compilation that we are planning to release in the middle of the year (hopefully...).

When i dropped already to his crib,I put some music on the stereo by this very cinematic but quite ambivalent band which brought to mind some music from those classic musicals of the 40's up to the 60's,With it's pop leanings mix with cabaret & film scores...A band named Heist.

Formed in 1998 by Mike Targett (vocals/guitar),Allison Thomson (vocals/trumpet) (she also plays in The Actionettes),Hannah Sless (vocals/violins),Tony Oudot (drums) and Tricia Reid (bass) in London at the dawn of Britpop's downfall.With it's swinging 60's psychedelic sound,The band debuted with the 4 track EP,"Defectors" on Super 8 Recordings.It was followed by their proper LP,"Friday Night At The Trabi Races" which garnered excellent reviews in the UK & across Europe.Their latest release was "A Shopkeeper Will Not Appear" which is a bit poppier than their previous effort to date with it's melancholic vocals mix with harmonic violins & guitar drama.Here are a couple of their songs to chill on:

Heist - "If"
Heist - "Weekend"

More info/news on them Here

Buy their releases on Amazon or direct Here

Remember the jangly days of Postcard Records,Creation,C86,Sarah & whole lot more?Just mix it with the new world order of indie-pop and you'll get these great but hard to see band called The Silent Boys (remember them?).They have been playing cool music in the past decades & have been on various compilations ("Seven Summers" on Tweenet Communications/Kindercore,"Will There Be Time For Tea?" on Morgan Leah and "You Thought It Was The End Of The World When The Rain Ruined Your Hair" on Firestation Records) and they have released their highly acclaimed debut,"Beauty Tips" back in 2004 to the janglepop hungry fans all over the globe.

If you loved Felt,McCarthy,Mighty Mighty,Brideshead,Den Baron,The Go-Betweens,Adorable,New Order,Echo & The Bunnymen and other fine acts,You'll loved them!But hey wait!It's not endin' there as the long wait is over,The band has just released a new LP!Yes,not a single song nor a best of but a NEW LP full of jangly P!O!P! tunes titled "Wishing Well Eyes" still on Walrus Records.With it's founder and leader Wallace Dietz leading the way & the two other permanent members of the band still on board (bassist and lead guitarist) John Suchocki and (drummer) John Morand,The Silent Boys will be ringing our heads with their guitar oriented pop songs!

For more info & To hear some snippets of their works,Visit them Here

Buy their releases at Tweekitten or Tonevendor mailorder or Direct from Here

"Completely And Utterly"

2006-01-06T08:09:00.000-08:00

Hello,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!It's been a busy year & I am hoping these time it will be a fruitful one...And my hopes were heard...In celebration of the great C86 tape (whoa!It's been 20 years!) Cherry Red is releasing a compy by one of the great and sadly missed band of that music scene,The Chesterfields titled "Electric Guitars In Their Hearts" which will be released this month & a great stuff to kick the year off...

Formed in Yeovil,Somerset,England back in 1984 & signed to the legendary Subway Organisation label.This 27 track compilation is the first to cover the whole of the band's career.After having 4 Independent chart hit singles, including the highly rated "Ask Johnny Dee",Their debut album "Kettle" was released in 1987 and reached No 5 in the Indie Charts - two more albums,"Westward Ho!" and "Crocodile Tears" followed over the next two years."Flood",their 2nd LP appeared in 1994 on the Viny Japan label."Electric Guitars In Their Hearts" also features a previously unreleased version of "Glad For You",with Rob Ellis (PJ Harvey),Clare Mactaggart (Portishead) and Andy Strickland (The Loft).Here's the tracklisting:

Shame About The Rain / Completely And Utterly / Ask Johnny Dee / Sweet Revenge / Best Of Friends / Two Girls And A Treehouse / Nose Out Of Joint / Love Mountain / Oh Mr Wilson / What's Your Perversion / Pop Anarchy / Sob Sob Story / Everything A Boy Could Ever Need / Goodbye Goodbye / Last Train To Yeovil / Let It Go / Lunchtime For The Wild Youth / Alison Wait / Blame / Male Bimbo / Fool Is A Man / Down By The Wishing Pool / Glad For You / Fountain Of Youth / Hangover Eve / Something Happening /The Berlin Walk

More info on them Here

It seems that a lot of interest has been garnered on the whole C86 scene as the previous re-issues of The Loft,The Dentists,The June Brides,The Flatmates,Etc and now The Charlottes.Cherry Red is having a full blasts as it brings one of the classic pioneers of long gone era,Another compilation titled "Liar:The Best Of" will also be released this month.The
Charlottes were formed in Huntington in Cambridgeshire in 1988 and were usually tagged alongside the likes of The Primitives and The Darling Buds of the post C86 era but sonically were more attuned to the fx driven wall of sound pioneered by My Bloody Valentine.Their debut single "Are You Happy Now?" received much support from the fanzines of the time (House of Dolls,Pop Eats Apathy) and was said to be a twee classic by Dave Simpson of Melody Maker.

They were signed to Subway Organisation label in February 1989 and this resulted in the mini album "Lovehappy".Steve Lamacq of the NME gave the album 9 out 10 and declared The Charlottes to be "altogether more sexy than Kylie".Just as impressed John Peel interviewed the band for his Cambridgeshire show and they later recorded a 4 track session for him at Radio 1 which was repeated.The band split from Subway and signed a deal with Cherry Red their first release being the EP "Liar".This was promoted by a short tour and the making of a video which received exposure from MTV’s more alternative shows.In December 1990 Simon Scott left the band to join Slowdive who were on the Creation label.Cherry Red then released the existing tracks the band had recorded under the title "Things Come Apart" in 1991.The Charlottes left behind a small but impressive legacy... This release includes all their studio recordings.Here are the tracklisting:

Are You Happy Now / Cold / Stubborn / See The Danger Shine / Everything To Me / In My Hair / Love Happy / Love In The Emptiness / Be My Release / Could There Ever Be / Liar / Prayer Song / See Me Feel / By My Side / Mad Girls Love Song / Beautify / Love In The Emptiness (alt version) / Were Going Wrong / Blue / Venus

More info on them Here

Im looking forward in many re-releases this year & bring back those shambling days again!!!

Buy those releases Here

"Filipino Blood,English Heart"

2005-12-14T06:47:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Im in a bit of hurry but still manage to shove my ears some beautiful and lovely homegrown music this early morning.Reading through the liner notes of a compilation release 4 years ago was quite a nostalgia...Refreshing to the minds along with the subtle music it plays in the stereo with those sadly missed bands which carry the relenting prowess of uniqueness through the years..."Where are they now?" i gently asked to myself after finishing reading the papercut like stories on the inlay of "Mutual Admiration Society" CD.

With dreams focused on the future and the Philippines on the binged of economic problem,political stability and some massive bandwagonesque...I missed those days,i missed the old faces and the music that binds each other on one happy family and one healthy music scene amidst from mass consumption and commercialism.

It harkens back in the early 90's when the whole Metro was swinging to the music of the mainstream and bands go jumping along but some will turn their back against the flow..."The Awakenings" revealed a whole new drama on the solely independent scene & on it sprout the seedlings of "No Zone" held on the much missed Club Dredd.It featured a much less attention bands but with more heart and taste!Dishing out with the likes of Sonnet LVIII,Aspirin,Melody Wrench,Shoemart,Archaster,Blinded By Love,The Aga Muchlach Experience,Mono Workshop,Pillowuzzi,Go Figure?,Fingernail Cocktail,Theresa's Hi-Fi,Sodajerk,Wadaiko and many more that i myself still want to see & hear...

CHANGE is the only thing that i must say is...standard which is also the same case on the scene & the bands i loved,Some drifted away and other's survive the collapsed of the scene...But before the dawn of the new millenium,A new breed was set to be uncaged from the demised of the old...This came "Buzznight" which serve as a continuation featuring bands like Candyaudioline from the brainchild of Allan Montero which in a few years will also give birth to the tweepop combo Soft Pillow Kisses,Apple Orchard,Colour Contest,Dorian Of Juniper Bells,Skies Of Ember,Spring Boutique,Populardays,Superminty,The Fantasy Lights,The Lubitels,Carnival Park and still many more...

Days and nights go by and the scene seems to be futile as some bands go on to produced and released their own recordings and other's played on the new productions.I for an instance loved to see how much effort these bands have shown and whenever these bands have a gig i always try to attend as i know how scarce i may have seen them play live!Some may just last only for a gig but other's stay for years...New productions emerged but still carrying the same aura & intentions...To make good music & shared it with others.We may not see the impact of these bands or the fame they deserved but the other part's of the globe are listening...Just listen OK?

I have listed a list of homegrown bands (others i have heard & own records but some i still do not heard or even see!If ever anyone know's how to contact them feel free to e-mail me) which to myself deserves to be heard not only by me but US...

Artist - Their music & my description on them:

Apple Orchard - (if you like Bouquet and Sarah Records this is your pick)
Archaster - (if you're down & the world seems so far away...Serge Gainsbourg is the man!)
Aspirin - (if you like The Charlatans & The Stone Roses with a dash of shoegaze)
Balloon Derby - (feeling like you were on a carousel filled with happy tunes,60's is back!)
Blinded By Love - (dreamy but sometimes eerie,psychedelic)
The Bloomfields - (throw on your dancing shoes to the tunes of surf & the 60's!)
Candyaudioline - (if you like MBV,shoegaze and a not so twee band but more of buzz guitars)
Carnival Park - (if you like a sunny day ride with a toy keyboard roaring...listen to them)
The Choking Brownies - (pro shoegaze)
Colour Contest - (C-86 proto types with indiepop tunes)
Daydream Cycle - (dreampop on tubes?synth but distorted mix with femme voice)
Days Like Postcards - (very heartwarming)
Dorian Of Juniper Bells - (slowly but surely you'll loved,Young Marble Giants & Dislocation Dance was a major influence)
Erratics - (a great sadly missed band,OPM should be played this way!)
The Fantasy Lights - (a drumbeats full of goodies,one man band set up sounding like a full band)
Fingernail Cocktail - (shoegaze with an indian spell)
The Happy Showers - (reminds me of Shoestings,sweet & charming!)
The Haircuts - (a tweepop duo,Pipas is a soundalike)
The It Boy - (one man band toying with his keyboards)
Kid Auto Races @ Venice - (jangly guitar pop!!!)
Kings & Pawns - (very promising & do i hear the best on them?indierock in your face!)
The Lubitels - (a mix of New Order jamming with The Field Mice)
Love Sattelites - (dreamy 80's influenced band,can i hear more of their JAMC tunes cracking up my head?)
Melody Wrench - (etherial sounding like Slowdive)
Mono Workshop - (keyboards beat as one!)
My Science Project - (catchy up tempo indiepop band from the ashes of Judith)
The Pin-Up Girls - (a jangly guitar driven pop band,a bit indiepop on some tunes)
Populardays - (shoegaze but a bit dreamy & jangly,Popsicle & Adorable is the hint)
She Came To Stay - (one man band with an ambient background)
Sheila & The Insects - (80's influenced quartet based in Cebu)
Shoemart - (Slowdive is their main influence & ask for more?)
Skies Of Ember - (etherial and dreamy like sonic dreams lushing in your deep minds)
Sleepyheads - (garage is the name & Jonathan Richman is part of the menu)
Sodajerk - (a guitar oriented band recalling Teenage Fanclub & other fine Scottish acts)
Soft Pillow Kisses - (twee...lovely,nuff said...)
Sonnet LVIII - (shoegaze,feeling like it was early 90's again?)
Soul Connection - (mod on a 60's feel,motown & northern soul)
So What? - (how about slowcore?cool mix of harmonica too!)
Spring Boutique - (a jangly pop group,twee mix with ringing guitars)
Sugar Hiccup - (dreampop,Cocteau Twins is vivid choice!)
Superminty - (indierock was the first idea but lately going on the shoegaze coup)
TV Guide - (indierock with DIY feel)
Under Shooting Stars - (electronic synthpop with a boy & girl voice)
Up Periscope - (it's krautrock but hey they are great)
Virginia Aeroplane - (sugary pop which is sadly i missed!)
Wadaiko - (tweepop with Rocketship influence)

I have missed so many bands so in case you know any which you think is included in the list feel free to inform me & im looking forward in hearing them:)

Buy some Filipino releases Here or at IndieCulture

"Buzz Buzz Buzz"

2005-12-13T05:13:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Just got back home after a tiring & rainy day...Holidays are just around the corner and i still doesn't have a quick choice what gift will i buy to my loved ones,Whew!People are in a rush these days shopping & Im wonderin' why?...Last saturday i was able to watch Buzznight in Mayrics where a set of great bands were playing that night.Populardays take the first move and played their brand of dreamy but creamy kind of pop,a bit shoegazey on some tracks & i really loved that "Pop Days" song with it's Popsicle'ish guitar lines & They closed their set with a tune that sound like it was an Adorable track!Sadly,they didn't play "December Song" that night.

Next band which also crack some eardrum buzz that night was The Cactus Garden which did some lo-fi tunes mixed with distorted guitar feedbacks reminiscent of Beat Happening.They even take a turn on Coastal's "Her Reflection In Chrome".After their set,Kings And Pawns followed with their Strokes meets Arcade Fire style of playing.Starting it off with "Destroy The Heart" which was a crowd favorite and this band is great!!!They also did "Shadowplay" by Joy Division in replace of the original setlist of "24 Hours" as the drummer forgot the beats on it...

My Science Project followed and also played a great set that night with their ba-da-ba's & pa-pa-ra-rah kind of indiepop,Toying around their keyboard with their jangly guitars brought to mind comparison to early Acid House Kings,Starlet,Afraid Of Stairs and many swedish jangly bands.I leave when Candyaudioline was setting up as my companion wanted to go home that night & i wasn't able to catch them perform & my fave Soft Pillow Kisses...There must be next time...

Just glance to this loveable band early in the morning which match the rainy weather with it's bubblegum voice mix with jingle it keyboards and jangle that guitars,Shumai is a great pop group from Boston which was fronted by Don Shumai (guitars/vocals).Feeling like it was early 90's again with it's sound recalling bands like Velocity Girl,Heavenly,Tiger Trap.Check out their lovely debut LP,"Tastes Like Summer" on Total Gaylord Records specially "Tijuana Picnic" which was a personal fave! and hear those sugary tunes filled with charming keyboards that really brings the sound of summer and those sunny days again in our lives!

Here are a couple of their sunny tunes to make you smile:

Shumai - "The Lonely Passion Of Joey Heatherton"
Shumai - "Prescription Sleep"

More on Here

Buy their records Here

"A Forest"

2005-12-01T05:46:00.000-08:00

Hello,

It's been the time of the year when we celebrate the love's and longings...Why is it always December?It's been a windy afternoon & i just wake up to the buzz of cold winds and some afternoon lullabye's...Where's my meryenda?Well it's gonna be a busy month as i have been packing up some packages to be sent off to the other side's of the world & I just listen to these charismatic & artistic band from Bristol,UK called Forest Giants.

Formed by Bristol music scene veterans Tim Rippington (vocals/guitars/other instruments) (see:The Five Year Plan/The Flatmates/Beatnik Filmstars),Paula Knight (violin/other instruments)(see:Girlboy Girl) & Tom Adams (drums) (see:Beatnik Filmstars).The band which quickly loved by much missed DJ John Peel has been playing for some years & gained a cult following with their signature noisepop meets DIY aesthetics which reminds me of Pavement,Flying Saucer Attack with a touch of The Delgados & "Beezer" era of the Beatniks (who have just released a new LP after a 7 year hiatus!check it out on the Track & Field Organization).

Still relenting those crack noises above our heads,The band has released their lovingly crafted debut "In Sequence" in 2004 on Invisble Hands Music surprising a lot of music critics around the underground UK scene & includes one of my fave song "Postcards" with it's rhythmic guitar lines match with Tim's muscular vocal styling.It brings back the essence of good ol' indie rock back where it was meant to be...

A year after they bring back their volume to another level as they released their new EP,"UFO Stories" which i really really loved!!!With it's haunting and spacey tunes mix with ambient and distorted noise,Tim & co. are bringing back the Bristol sound with such song's like "Beards" which is my all time fave song of theirs.This EP deserved a much more listen & can be on the same line as those records of Mogwai,Flying Saucer Attack,early Pixies...

The band just released a DVD featuring clips,rare videos & live footage of their outings & they are set also to release a new record in the coming year,Watch out for it!

Visit them Here

Buy their records Here

"November Spawned A Monster"

2005-11-30T07:05:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Hmmmnnn...I've been with the clouds as i am writing these as i just watched a gig last nite in ZEN in the middle of the Makati skyline along with some friends & a bunch of gig hungry fanatics!!!When we came,There is already a band playing which to my nerves,I don't care much (sorry...) so let's go to the actual gig which opened by a very cute & tasty quartet known as The Dorques.They remind me of Stereo Total,Yeah Yeah Yeahs with a mix of Talulah Gosh in their raw & bugging sound at the same time they are also fronted by a very cool girl!!! (i really love that finale song with it's rambling drumbeat which reminds me very much of Talulah Gosh's "Testcard Girl"!) & they opened the night with a staggering french song then followed it up with a groovy version of The Jesus & Mary Chain's "Just Like Honey" which took the surprise in myself as i was carried away singing the song...Great vibe and i want more & more on them...

A beer drinking contest followed which at the height of excitement included me! (nope,im not a hardcore drinker...) which got me tumbling down but a big thanks to my friend,Noel who replaced me in the competition & he placed 2nd on the said outing.The Smiths'esque/Morrissey driven tribute band,Dead Pop Stars soon followed and brought the house down with their Smiths's & Morrissey tunes as Pogz (vocals) stand up to much of the crowd's enthusiasm for them to play more even if he has trouble in his voice as he was suffering from sore throat last night.This band was at the peak of their career's (even spending a write-up on Spin magazine!) & i was a fan even before i see the band as i hear all the buzz recounting them as The Smiths/Morrissey of the Philippines & yeah!I was right when i finally see them on a dozen gigs on their full form,Can i ask for more?!!!

Another contest followed & it was the turn of synthpop duo,Watari's Machine.Made up of Nono (see:Names Are For Tombstones/Isolation Ward) and Boy.They play synthpop tunes reminiscent of early 80's & they cover that night a wide arrayed of 80's hit's like New Order's "Don't Do It",The Blue Nile's "Stay",Depeche Mode's "But Not Tonight",Etc.Armed with their bristling keyboards & high tech computers match with electronic drum kits,I expect to hear and see more from these dynamic duo...Actually i never finished their set as i was also about to go to Malate to see my other friends & im hoping to go to anoher happy & soaring gig's like these...In the weekend maybe?

"Already Yesterday"

2005-11-24T05:15:00.000-08:00

Hello,

It's been a very warm day today...Catching up some sleep after a streak of sleepless nights & it's been a stressful week (excluding visits to the girl next door!!!) as i am still finishing some thesis as well as interview's via mail but still i find time to listen to these great fine music & bands...First up is the charming teamed up with bubbling synthpop tunes of Kanda.Armed with casio beat keyboards similar with the looks of toys,Arland(voice/guitar/synth/pianica/programming/toy xylophone/glockenspiel) & Akina (voice/guitar/synth/programming/violin/pianica/toy xylophone/glockenspiel) made dance music adorable again!Mixing it with chirpy robotic vocals (made by Arland) or a Tweepop inspired number (made by Akina) melted with blistering synth tunes reminiscent of Figurine,Ladytron,Pizzicato Five,Freezepop & other electronic pop blend bands.

They have released their debut LP,"It's A Good Name For You" on the 555 label (which have my fave "Turtle" with their lovely duet) & followed later by "All The Good Meetings Are Taken" early this year on Bop Tart Records.They even appeared on the Soft Cell tribute album called "Soft Love:A Tribute To Soft Cell" also released by 555 label which includes other synthpop acts like Figurine,New Waver,Kyoko,Huon,Other People's Children,Etc.

Here is bouncing synthpop track from them:

Kanda - "Arctic"

They also have a MySpace page wherein you can hear more from them

Buy their releases Here

Also im been very busy surfin the net as i read a wonderful sidenote made by Martijn of T hink Small for noticing the underrated pop scene here in our country (Thanks mate!) & I just noticed that a website has finally surfaced for these long forgotten but great short lived band,The Nivens (not the Norwich based band with the same chronological name!!!).

The band's origin begins in 1987 at the Institute at Ashington, England.They were 4th on the bill to some local punks and a heavy metal band.Fast forward to January 1989.Number 10 in the indie charts with their first release.“Yesterday”/”I Hope You'll Always Be My Friend” on Woosh Records.In the middle they played all over the north-east and occasionally ventured down south.The band supported such stars as The La's,My Bloody Valentine,Cud,Primal Scream,Brilliant Corners,Family Cat and Any indie band who bothered to visit the north.By 1990 they called it a day having been on the verge of lawsuit with another band with the same name.Their second release “The Dialect Drug” EP was withdrawn due to the case they were involved...

After a sparring years of obscurity,Firestation Records released the compilation "The Sound Of Leamington Spa Vol. 4" in 2004 which includes the single "Yesterday" & draw new interest in the band & new audience as well...They are set to release a compilation of demo's,singles & other hidden tracks in the coming year to be released also by Firestation Records which is absolutely well worth looking forward to...

Feel free to visit Them for news & info

They have a Tee for sale & You can buy it direct Here

"Cut Your Hair"

2005-11-17T05:19:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Im back from my long & weary hiatus from a vacation trip from Iloilo & How's everyone?My inbox is in full throttle & sorry if i miss a reply to anyone but i will & many great moments have passed by as before i leave i have watched a series of live production acts (I really loved that take by The Flying Adaptors on "Abandon Ship",LOVELY!) & Kings And Pawns (which is having a great time as they really melt my ears to their wonderful tunes...).Now,back in my crib laying down some stuff & Im quite abusive listening to these pop duo,The Haircuts.

Formed by their loved of P!O!P! music & incidentally...tape hiss!!!Ryan Marquez (see:Apple Orchard/Sodajerk/Carnival Park) and Teresa Daniele (see:Sarah,Plain & Tall/Paint Your Wagon Red) met on the web & instantly opened up on the idea of long distance collaboration (using 4 track cassette recorder) with each other resulting to the beautifully crafted songs which reminds me of Pipas & other twee oriented artists.

They have releases on the Best Kept Secret label entitled "Up Up And Away With Haircuts" which includes my fave Haircut track,"It's Summer When I'm With You" & currently on the fledging Swedish label,Yellow Mica Recordings which released their "It's Always Better When We're Together" CDrEP.They are also included in the compy "Our Heart's Beat Out Of Tune" also released by Yellow Mica Recordings.Looking forward on more poppin' and boppin' tunes from these duo & Here's a couple of their perfect bedroom ridden pop song's:

The Haircuts - "It's Summer When I'm With You"
The Haircuts - "Summer"

Check them out Here for news/mp3's

Buy their releases Here

While checking out my box,A band from Sweden emailed me & whew!Hastily,I was blown with their hazy & drowning sound which brought back memories of the past decade.Im talking about Samuraj Cities.Taking a hint of shoegaze with lush textures of guitars mix with electronic drumbeats,The band is taking their time & you can download their free songs Here including my fave "All Along The Shoreline".

I do not have any info on them but more on them to follow & as of now,Here's a couple of their dreamythronica stuff:

Samuraj Cities - "All Along The Shoreline"
Samuraj Cities - "The Empty Stage"

Now im in full load & gonna back on track & Im gonna feature a couple of interviews in the coming days & Hopefully an upcoming compilation CD in the coming year & I'll give an info on that & as for now...Keep on listening & cheers for the year's!!!

"Just For A Day"

2005-10-14T00:31:00.000-07:00

Hello,

A bit weary after spending a night in full-throttle.I just went to a gig last night in Makati with some friends and spend the night a bit drunk and haze...Ehmm...I talked with my friend,Sherwin (who surprised me as he also know my other friend whom i was with!) about the bit's & bob's,music,collections,lokal music scene,etc.After taking 2 bottles of San Mig Light,He waved goodbye and went home and i go along with my other friend's to continue watching the gig.After that i google all the way as i arrived home 6:30 in the morning...!!!I was ok now & im a bit lazy as my head is a bit empty! but still i was able to finish some term papers & now listening to this loveable band which own's a big space in my heart & ears (i loved them so much) after year's of missing them as one of the frontrunners of the shoegazing scene,Slowdive.

The band formed in late 1989 in Reading and consist of Neil Halstead (vocals/guitar),Nick Chaplin (bass),Adrian Sell (drums),Christian Savill (guitar) (see:Eternal) & the charming Rachel Goswell (vocals/guitar).Before initially recording their output,Adrian Sell left the band to pursue his studies,They found a subbed drummer in the form of Neil Carter who plays with them for about a year before Simon Scott (of the great but forgotten band,The Charlottes).They were signed on the influential Creation label who released their material.

Debut LP "Just For A Day" was released in 1991 ("Celia's Dream" was my fave!) on the wake of the scene who was sweeping UK back then.It features the band at it's peak of their luscious dreams echoing in their music as they were dubbed by the hard to please purists & music critics as "The Scene That Celebrates Itself" alongside a bunch of bands who has a nod to their shoelaces.After 2 years saw the emergence of their strong follow up "Souvlaki" in 1993 (initail copies saw a special double release including "Blue Day"(a compilation of their early EP's) as a 2nd disc).It includes some of their gems such as "Alison","40 Days" (i miss this one!!!),"When The Sun Hits",Etc.This LP was delayed stateside as problems with US label SBK surfaced but interestingly when it was already released in 1994,It included almost half of the "Blue Day" compilation as bonus tracks.

After some problems on touring & promoting the LP,Simon Scott had parted ways with the band and Ian McCutcheon replaced him on the kit but the press are already tired on the shoegazing scene at that time as the Nirvana led grunge year's have overtaken the planet (even Alan McGee thought that MBV would changed his life but it was the other way around when he was interviewed in a glaring music mag...).Problems seems to continue on the opening of the year of 1995 as their 3rd LP,"Pygmalion" has been ignored & described by many as an ambient of sorts with it's dark leanings cause basically it was done solo by Neil Halstead although a hint of contributions from bandmates Rachel and Ian can be traced on some songs.They were dropped from the Creation roster in similar with their US label.

Unhappy with the results,Nick Chaplin & Christian Savill left the group while recording & the band dissolve slowly resurfacing later on with a new project called Mojave 3 which consists of Neil,Rachel and Ian and released a string of LP's on 4AD with Neil & Rachel also putting out solo outings also on 4AD with the recent release of Rachel's debut "Waves Are Universal".Simon Scott went on to play with other bands such as Inner Sleeve,Lowgold and is currently on Televise. A retrospective double CD was issued including rare B-sides & Peel sessions titled "Catch The Breeze" last year.

Here are a some echoing in silence tunes from the band:

Slowdive - "Slowdive"
Slowdive - "She Calls"
Slowdive - "Albatross"
Slowdive - "Beach Song"
Slowdive - "Catch The Breeze" (live in Oslo)

More on Here

Download their live in Oslo Here

Visit their fansite Here for new's/updates/full discography

Buy their releases Here

"Revolutionary Spirit"

2005-10-12T16:26:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I've been listening to this band eversince the week started,Harry Hunks.Formed in the late 90's in Finland & composed of Matti Eräsaari (vocals/guitar),Olli Moilanen (percussion/backing vocals),Antti Ahokas (keyboards) & Jaakko Laine (bass) who quit the band in 1999.Later on they are joined by Pekka Kastari & Petri Nakari (guitars) (who is also in a band called Red Carpet).

They play happy songs that can make you smile even at the low times of your life and guitar pop reminiscent of The Trash Can Sinatras.They have already released some of the cruncy tunes you'll ever hear such as "With Summer Wine" which is included in the compilation "Meet The Scene:An Introduction To Finnish Underground Guitar Pop" released by Rhythm Barrel Records in 2001.They have already released a string of "7 Singles,"Romancing (Out Of Season)" in 2001 on Marsu on paras then "20 Miles An Hour" also on Marsu on paras co-released by Rhythm Barrel Records in 2003.

After a year of touring & spending some time recording new songs,Harry Hunks returned with their brand new CDEP "Revolutions From Pink To Pale" which was released last year,It saw them at their peak with songs of melancholy and cheeriness echoing in "Snooze Alarm" (my choice!) then swithing to a bit warmer tune of "Slow Air" then closing it with a bash on "Let's Not Go To Vienna".

I am looking forward in hearing more on them but as of now,Here are a couple of their song's:

Harry Hunks - "With Summer Wine"
Harry Hunks - "Snooze Alarm"

More on Here

Feel free to visit the band for news/updates

Buy their releases Here

"Crash"

2005-10-05T07:13:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Been crashing up & down lately & a bit tired because of my studies and at the same time...Listening to some old but still great stuff.I missed this band which i think has one of the prettiest faces in the emerging "Blonde Scene" in the mid up to late 80's UK indie music scene,Talking bout The Primitives.

The band which was formed in 1985 in Coventry,England and composed of Kieron (vocals),Paul Court (vocals/guitars),Steve Dullaghan (bass),Pete Tweedie (drums).Kieron was later replaced by Tracy Tracy (Tracy Cattell is her real name) (vocals).At the peak of the bludgeoning UK indie scene,The band showcased their loved of 60's pop blend with buzzsaw guitar's but with charm & aura as saw in the release of their first single,"Thru The Flowers" which appeared on their own label,Lazy Recordings (home also of early My Bloody Valentine,See See Rider,Birdland) in 1986.

Being lumped as the new Blondie with their melodic approach in their music but with the angst of The Ramones,The band soon create a big buzz in the warm but hard to please media enthusiast who will soon crown them as their new pop darlings right after they release their debut LP,"Lovely" on major label RCA in 1988 which scored them the major hit "Crash".Prior to the release of the LP,Tweedie has been replaced by Tig Williams (drums) who appeared on their debut.

After completing their American tour,Dullaghan exited the group and a new bassist was recruited in the form of Andy Hobson (who will later became a member of The Pretenders) who will later be replaced by Paul Sampson who stepped on for their sophomore effort,"Pure" in 1989 who failed to match the success of it's predecessor as it failed to sell as well as it's singles.The band recorded it's last LP,"Galore" which was produced by Ian Broudie (Big In Japan/Original Mirrors/Care/The Lightning Seeds) in 1991 which sadly,Also met the same fate as it was not even released in the US.Last year a retrospective & a rarities collection was released which was named after their debut single,"Thru The Flowers:The Anthology".

Here are a couple of the band's songs to reminisce those hazy days & crash those parties again:

The Primitives - "As Tears Go By"
The Primitives - "Crash" (demo)

More on Here

You can visit them Here for more info/news/updates/downloads

Buy their releases Here or Direct from Here

"Violent Love"

2005-10-04T01:16:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Time is so quick & were already approaching the middle end of the year...So timely to hear this underrated but ooozing band which create a bit dreamy sound but will left you craving for more!Im talking about My Violent Ego.The band which fuses melting guitars with it's dreamy vocals where formed when Paolo Miceli (who was based in Italy) (guitars/drum loops) met Christy Brewster (from Scotland) (vocals) on Mp3.com back in 2001 sharing the same passion in music.

Being away with each other is not a reason for them so they started recording their music by way of sending files through each other through the internet.Hearing traces of My Bloody Valentine,Curve,Slowdive or a band which has a tie up on the shoegaze feel of the early 90's in their music,The band has already released a string of EP's & their LP,"Carried Along By Fate" was a stormer with it's melodic but dreamy guitar lines shattered along the songs like "Thrill Of Light" layering their wall of sound music on it's feet.

My Violent Ego had toured Italy in March/April of last year & After 2 years of not seeing each other,They met in France in July also last year to record a new EP but sadly things don't go well as Christy just dropped out.Still,Paolo carry on & just this year saw the release of a new EP,"Clicks & Hisses" which was a collection of unreleased demos & rarities which was released only through the internet.Here are a couple of songs from the new EP:

My Violent Ego - "Plam"
My Violent Ego - "Pesky Fly"

More on them Here

Visit the band for news/updates Here

Buy their releases Here or Direct from Here

"Shine On"

2005-09-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

Hello,

How's everyone?Im having some chilling tunes down to my nerve for the first time that i have heard these great Norwegian duo,Kawaii.Before Kawaii they are in a project called Now, voyager.Mainly composed by Mats Jorgensen & Hedda Fredly who both create the music that reminds me that the Factory label is still up.Hailing from Norway,The duo began recording songs even in their own kitchen but it pays off as they bring us their own brand of synthpop with a dark touch of post punk.

They have contributed 2 songs on the compilation "This Is The Cafe Superstar Beat Vol. # 2" & then so many labels wanted to release their work but after some delays & hang on's with internal problems,Their bright & moody debut was released by Shelflife Records titled "If It Shines, We Have It" late last year.It inlcludes some of their breezy tunes like "Happy People, Scary Planet" (upbeat start to their synth world) then swings to "Even Lineup" breaking it in the lo-fi tune "Friends Who Make You Lonely" then closing it down to the experimental form but still in poptop shape is "Hard To Get Sleep" which the title suggest is true sadness.

Here are a couple of the band's songs to make you warmth & bobble:

Kawaii - "Happy People, Scary Planet"
Kawaii - "Friends Who Make You Lonely"

The band is currently on tour of the US at the moment opening for pop icons,Trembling Blue Stars & here are some of the dates:

Sept.27 Mill Creek Tavern, Philadelphia. TBS + The Snow Fairies + Kawaii
Sept.28 DC9, Washington DC. TBS + Sprites + The Antigues + Kawaii
Sept.29 Magnetic Field, NY. TBS + The Sharp Things + Annie Hayden + Kawaii
Sept.30 Rothko, NY. TBS + Pas/cal + Sprites + Kawaii

Catch them while you can...

For more info/news check them out Here

Buy their releases Here

"You'll Never Never Know"

2005-09-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Glad to be back on track & just listening to the new LP by this influential & great band which tend to cross every musical boundaries each album they make...Dislocation Dance.The band which was composed of Ian Runacres (guitar/keyboards/vocals),Richard Harrison (drums),Kathryn Way (vocals),Paul Emmerson (bass) & Andy Diagram (trumpet/vocals) (see:The Diagram Bros./The Pale Fountains/Spaceheads).
The band which was formed in the early 80's & released their debut LP,"Music,Music,Music" on the Buzzcock's label,New Hormones back in '81 followed by their sophomore but delightingly beautiful LP,"Midnight Shift" which saw it's released on the Rough Trade label in 1984.It shows some of the band's best songs like "Show Me","Tyrannies Of Fun" & a cute cover of The Beatles "We Can Work It Out" (which can be found on the CD version released by Vinyl Japan).
Nearing it's peak,The band soon disentegrated after the release of "Midnight Shift"...Andy Diagram concentrated on The Pale Fountains then later joined James & formed Spaceheads while Ian Runacres started the BOP Records in 1986.In 1999,the Vinyl Japan label issued their back catalogue as well as sessions compiled on the BBC.
But after so many year's on hiatus,The band later found themselves on a reunion tour of Japan along with another indie legends,The Jazz Butcher in 2000.It includes some of their new friends/members who stick out to the band's diverse & cool music.Phil Lukes (who plays bass on the tour & a good friend of the band) (see:Brightside/The Mancinis/Dutch Uncle) became a member & In 2002,Dislocation Dance & Brightside released a crossover LP inspired by the tour titled "Shinjuku Junction" which saw a remix of "You'll Never Never Know". The band is also included in the 4th installment of the great series "The Sound Of Leamington Spa" which includes an unreleased song "He's The Man".

After so many years,Many of the band's followers are looking for another LP from them & Thank God our prayers we're heard as the band just launched it's new LP in recent year's,"Cromer" which saw the light of the day this year which was co-released by the band's own label,Cake Engine with Vinyl Japan.It includes 14 classic slices of smooth jazz inflected pop songs (being "Short Honeymoon" an instant fave!) which was attributed by the band to it's roots & influences.

So cheer up & bring those dancing shoes on as we celebrate their comeback!Here are some snippets of the band & Other Side Projects:

Dislocation Dance - "You'll Never Never Know" (remix)Brightside - "I Will Set You Free"
Dutch Uncle - "Senseless"
The Mancinis - "That's About All"

Visit their site for more news/info & listening pleasure.

Buy their releases on Vinyl Japan or Direct from Here

"Sunny Sundae Soul"

2005-09-20T04:22:00.000-07:00

Hello,

How's everyone?Im still relieving those echoes done by this great new Swedish band,Caroline Soul.Don't judge the name cause they have truly a music soul that they play great music on a sunny matter!.They play music comparable to 80's UK guitar pop with a dash of surf & jangly pop reminiscent of early Swedish bands like Happydeadmen.The band which released a string of songs/EP's on various labels & featured on various compilations are set to release their debut LP on Japan's Quince label sometime this month or late autumn.

I have found no info on Caroline Soul & their band members as only the singer,Henrik Kyhlberg is the only one i found out as there are no listings found on their site but i'll update as soon as i can & Their credentials includes appearances on "The Sound Of Young Sweden Vol.4" on the Labrador label,On the lovely compilation from Quince Records titled "Guitar Sketch",Another wonderful pop exploration "Records Make Great Pets - Vol.1" on newly established Stereo Test Kit Records in UK & "Have I Changed Or Am I New - Ten Songs From The Independent Pop Music Scene Of Malmö, Summer of 2004" which was released by homegrown Swedish label,Revolution #9.

They have just released their new EP,"I Made A Promise I Would Shape Up" which accordingly is a taster of what adorable pop under the sun can be...Sweet & Shiny!

You can listen/download some of the band's songs Here

Be sure to check out their site for news/info

Buy their releases Here or at Popkonst mailorder

"Let's Kick & Make Up"

2005-09-18T04:34:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Just got back from a tiring vacation in the province & It's been quite busy as i have been finishing up some projects & I just loved that new music that i heard from a band that is not new in making beautiful music,Kicker.The band (which was already featured in other music blog/s & numerous webpages) was composed of ex-members of Comet Gain,Hood & Velocette.The current line-up are Jill Drew (Vocals/Violin/Keyboards/Percussion),Phil Sutton (Drums/Vocals/Percussion),Andy Jones (Guitar/Bass) & Ben Phillipson (Guitar).Based in London,They are formed back in 1998 & In the summer of '99 recorded a 2 song demo which caught the ears of Rough Trade shop which agreed to release it in their own label,For Us.

"Get Rid Of Him"/"Turning Left" became their 1st single released in 1999 & They also make their live debut & ended the year with a performance in Rough Trade christmas party.Having received many radio support after all their single releases & in 2002,The Track & Field Organization label released a compilation of their first 5 seven-inch singles titled "FiveFortyFives" where it reminds me of their formative years where their sound remind me of their Comet Gain connection/a slab of "Peng" era of Stereolab meets 60's pop thrown in one hell of a catchy ride in Popdome(being "Tomorrow Always Comes" a pick of mine).For beginners,This is a fine start as most of their singles are out of print.

After years of playing,Kicker returned with their debut LP,"Our Wild Mercury Years" also on The Track & Field Organisation label.Almost 2 years in the making & armed with a new delightful sound which at times can be mistaken sounding like The Go-Betweens (just listen to "Madelaine",my fave!) where Phil croon in his lovelorn glory,This debut LP extracts all their musical comparisons to their ex-bands marking their own name & sound.It starts off with the refreshing opener "One Summer" (which features the drumming skills of Laura Bridge (see:Harper Lee) then to the subtle melody of "Blue" switching again to the jangly beat of "Doris Dear" accompanied by the charming keyboards.Another fine gem in here is their cover of "Since You Left" by 60's soulsters The Inciters (also featured on "More Soul Than Wigan Casino" on Fortuna Pop! label) & closing it with the very lovely "Madelaine" where Phil sings "Madelaine,Where Are You Now...Where Are You Hiding?" like he is searching for a long lost girl.

I am looking for more & this is pop when it pops! & I loved this band & i am surely hearing one of the year's best & can we have a poll now?I have a couple of their songs & hear them now & sing them forever:

Kicker - "Paraguay"
Kicker - "Blue"

Feel free to visit their site for more news/info & to hear more from them.

Buy their releases Here or direct from The Track & Field Organisation

"So Twee"

2005-08-17T03:41:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Just finished reviewing some stuff on my own & I just uploaded some things on the blog.Today is a bit lovely,Lovely in a sense that it must be patterned with a lovely nor cute band which makes good & very cute music,Im gonna feature another local band which is very fluffy in terms of music they create,Spring Boutique.

Originally named Creamy Bicycle back in early 2000,The band which is composed of Anthony Agarpao (guitars) (see also:Fairy Dust),Precious Agarpao (guitars),Basil James Silva (drums),Caleb Domingo (bass) & Lorelie Landavora (vox) (see also:Under Shooting Stars).The band which plays pop at it's coolness & finest,bubblegum songs & anything soft but can knock your head off because of it's coolness (i always think that summer is just around the corner).They play indiepop tunes reminiscent of the likes of early The Cardigans,Club 8,Pipas & Swedish pop.

Creamy Bicycle changed their monicker to Spring Boutique in the middle of 2003 & has been on countless gigs around the city.The band has been since caught up with local indie label,Dorothy Records where they released their debut,"Sunny Day Pop Tuesday" in early 2003 which includes a mix of 60's pop,bossanova & indiepop,It also includes "I Thank You" & "Happy Song" (my fave!).Still enjoying success in local indie scene,The band found themselves releasing a CD-r series on Shelflife Records titled "It's A Sweet Thing!" which has now been sold out.

Luck was really on their way as their debut "Sunny Day Pop Tuesday" has been picked up by Japanese indie label,Quince Records to be distributed worlwide.They also did contribute a track on the compilation "Dashboard Teddy Version 1.0" released by Dorothy Records.The band has just got back gigging & maybe writing new songs to their future releases.Hoping to hear more on them in the coming month's...Here are a couple of their songs:

Spring Boutique - "Afternoon Lullabye"
Spring Boutique - "Summer Valentine"

More On Here

Visit Lorelie/Spring Boutique site Here for news/updates

Buy their releases Here

"Spellbound"

2005-08-13T01:06:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Rainy days are just starting to get over but im still on a sleep mode...A bit lazy & just love listening to the online player when i came up with this cool band.They say in their webpage that if you enjoy cheesy keyboards, sub-par singing, computer-made drums, hand claps, tambourines, toy xylopones, and anpanman...And you're an indie rock fan,You'll love
The Bad Spellers!

The Bad Spellers played happy songs layered with casiotone,toy keyboards,clean guitars,fake drums & everything they can get their hands on.The duo of Tony (who mostly sings) & Yasuko (backing up on vox) make very sunny & shimmery pop songs reminiscent of Shoestrings (listen to the "In The Event That We Are Rescued"),Stephen Merritt project's & many bands we much missed on Sunday Records.They have just made pop tunes that will keep you smile & cherish those days...

They are included in the EP Club # 5 alongside other bands released by Asaurus Records in June/July of 2004 on a limited edition CD-r that was already sold out.They are also included in another compy "For Whom The Casio Tolls" released also by Asaurus last year.After travelling to Canada late last year to record with their friend,Justin Langlois which resulted in a split with Justin's band,The London Apartments.

The "Fall In Love" split EP with The London Apartments was released on their own until Chris of Post*Records offered to re-release it & a new artwork has been made as well as a CD was pressed to become Post*Records first ever release.Here are a couple of their songs:

The Bad Spellers - "Girls Say Moshii"
The Bad Spellers - "In The Event That We Are Rescued"

More on Here

Visit them for news & updates Here

Buy their releases Here & other cool stuff like their Tees!

"Oceans And Seashells"

2005-08-11T00:47:00.000-07:00

Hello,

It's been a busy month & a lot of surprises coming along the way...I'm happy although the rain doesn't quite to stop for almost a week already..."Melodic but potent","Jangly,catchy but never offensive powerpop","Soulful","Shimmering..." & "Lyrical" are just words that best described this band I've currently listening to in my stereo.They were a band named Remember The Ocean.

Gaining the phrases that have best described their sound,The band who hails from South Florida composed basically of Kristin Larkin (vox/guitars),Earl Coralluzzo (guitars) & Thom Hammond (bass).The band (which has a hint of The Sundays,The Innocence Mission,Low,Cowboy Junkies) has played along with some notable acts such as Will Hoge,Lisa Loeb,Ani Di Franco,Etc.

The band has already released their debut LP,"Ruth" in 2000 on their own label,The Honeycomb which includes "Summer" (which is a handpicked choice of mine).This LP was voted best recording debut in South Florida by New Times.After 2 years they have released their sophomore LP,"Tomorrow After Dark" which have gained them a new following & a tour in support of the album's release.Here are a couple of their songs:

Remember The Ocean - "Summer"
Remember The Ocean - "Natchez Trace"

More on Here

You can visit the band for news & updates Here

Buy their releases Here

"They're On Their Way"

2005-08-02T00:37:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Glad to be back again...How's everyone out there?Im just listening to a band which is a kinda quirky,fronted by cartoon pop images which plays good music called indie-pop,The Close-Ups.It was a North East England based songwriter/musician named Carl Green who mastermind the idea of forming the band (set-up of cartoon band).

The band members were Abby Kirkella (vox/bass),Rake (guitar),Zack McKenzie (backing vox/keyboards) & Newton Aycliffe (backing vox/drums) which were all created in design to Carl's pop experiments.They play cool pop tunes meets the music of modern day B-52's & reminiscent of Dressy Bessy with a touch of Petula Clark,Doris Day & other 60's artists.Through record releases & some videos,specially "I'm On My Way" which is a personal fave on their releases,They reminded me of Dressy Bessy meets The B-52's.Brilliant!The Close-Ups are another fine secret from the UK that should be heard by music enthusiast.

Expect to here more from them as they are set to release a debut album & some new tracks are gonna be posted on their site on September so watch out!

You can visit the band for news & buy their releases Here which also has some downloadable tracks & other reviews.

"Moon Like A Pearl"

2005-07-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Being away for a while is such a hard thing...I miss so much & Im just glad to hear some of the coolest tunes ever graced this planet from another exciting band named,Pia Fraus.

It all started in 1998 in Tallinn,Estonia when six art school students namely Kärt Ojavee (synthesizers),Kristel Loide (vocals 1998-2001),Rein Fuks (guitars/vocals),Tõnis Kenkmaa (guitars),Reijo Tagapere (bass) and Joosep Volk (drums 1998-2003) came together.1999 came their first gig & after some concerts they started recording their first album "Wonder What It's Like" which was released in spring 2001 by themselves.

Armed with their haunting influences of My Bloody Valentine mixed with a poppy Rocketship minus the ambient leaning sound,They sent some jet streaming demos to different labels and their next full length album "In Solarium" was released under Clairecords in summer 2002.Kristel left the band and Eve Komp replaced her.In autumn of 2003 Clairecords released "Plastilina EP" which included tracks from "Wonder What It's Like".Before that Margus Voolpriit replaced Joosep.

At the beginning of 2004 Vinyl-Junkie Recordings released "In Solarium" with bonus tracks in Japan.In September later that year "Mooie Island EP" was released under their own label SekSound.Then in spring 2005 Vinyl-Junkie Recordings released compilation CD "Sailing On A Grapefruit Lake" in Japan which also includes two videos.I posted a couple of their songs:

Pia Fraus - "Moon Like A Pearl"
Pia Fraus - "400 & 57"

More on Here to discover how it feel's like between planets!

Buy their releases Here

"New Affections & Old Standards"

2005-07-21T23:29:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Glad to be back from a tiring vacation a couple of days & last night chit chat talk til' morning with Allan Montero (Candyaudioline/Soft Pillow Kisses/Aspirin/Superminty) & Joey Santos (ex-Superminty/Candyaudioline/Judith).
I was also a bit tired after finishing my prelim examination's,Now back on track & i just love it when i heard a band which can i truly say "Indie",I want to hand it down to another great band,The Silly Pillows.

From their 60's pop leanings combined with twee oriented feel in their songs,The band which started to be a home recording project of Jonathan Caws-Elwitt (singer/songwriter/instruments) & wife Hilary Caws-Elwitt (vox/instruments) back in 1986.They released their demos/songs on their own Pillow Image Ltd. via cassettes who gained them a following,including Dj's,fanzine writers,listeners.Hilary left in 1992 just as they are on the verge of releasing an EP on the German label,Hoppel di Hoy Records.

After a year,The band was now joined by Jonathan's brother,Sam Elwitt.They now switch to full studio recordings & which now see's them releasing old home recordings & making records on different labels.They have released their debut LP "Strangest Of The Strange" (i love this one!) in '94."Up In The Air" released in '95 was also a great LP which compiled some of their earlier recordings & in 1996 saw the band reaching the japanese pop charts at #3 with their split single with the band Citrus.This year also saw them rehearse & perform as a live act & what a cool way to start with a big PILLOW on stage.

A retrospective was released by a major label in Japan in 1997 & the band still continue to tour & completing the new LP with the current line-up of Jonathan Caws-Elwitt & Belinda Miller on lead vocals,Sam Elwitt on guitar,Charlie Zayleskie on keyboards,Michael E. Fiato on bass & Dave Joachim on drums.A year after,"New Affections" was released to a wider audience in spite of an Import only release & charting on various college radio stations & even MTV.A series of gigs followed accompanied by a quirky video done by the band.

The band is on hiatus & not active as of now but head pillow Jonathan Caws-Elwitt has some new recordings done on his own which you could find Here & you can also download his "Black & White Bathroom" EP Here

I've also done an interview with Jonathan Caws-Elwitt last summer through e-mail:

Jun Eric:Hi Jonathan,Can i ask who are the influences of the band whether in writing or making music?

Jonathan Caws-Elwitt:My biggest influences were mid-60's pop/rock/psych bands like the Beatles,Kinks, Byrds, Hollies, Zombies, Who,Beach Boys, Turtles, early Jefferson Airplane,Chad & Jeremy and lots of obscure singles and albums by lessfamous 60's bands. Punk-pop sounds (especially the Buzzcocks) were alsoan important influence, and from what I was hearing in the '80s I was inspired by bands like the Three O'Clock and the Rain Parade.You might be interested in a web page I wrote that chronicles the historyof the Silly Pillows in more detail:http://www.salticid.com/sillypillows/sphistory.html

Jun Eric:Wow,What a slew of lists it was:) I love some of them,Im more of a Beach Boys/Byrds fan than The Fab Four but still like them though & in the 60's,Which my father can relate to cause he is the one who intoduced me to this kind of music,I loved The Shang-rilas,The Ronettes,The United States Of America,The Orchids,Etc.

Jun Eric:Can i count The Faces (way before Rod entered the relic)?I think The Small Faces (Steve Marriott era) had a great sound!?Should Syd Barrett era of Floyd counted or it was more of Roger Waters?

Jonathan Caws-Elwitt:Personally, I like the Barrett-era stuff.

Jun Eric:Wow,Buzzcocks is cooler in what i think than the hype that's been going out in todays music:)Though im more of an Echo,Wild Swans,Liverpool thing i still loved em...

Jonathan Caws-Elwitt:Hilary likes Echo and the Bunnymen a lot!

Jun Eric:Those two paisley bands are known here,specially Three O'Clock cause back in the day,their single "On Paper" became a hit & i love their "Jet Fighter","Arrived Without Travelling" days & i also liked Dave & Co.,I loved "What She's Done To Your Mind",a classic!How about Green On Red or Dumptruck,are they in?:)

Jonathan Caws-Elwitt:I never really got into those or knew a lot of their music, though I know we played some Green on Red on our radio show way back when and we had friends who knew the people in Dumptruck.

Jun Eric:I just finished reading the whole story/article of the band & i was astonished of how the story goes...you have worked with Dean Wareham on a radio show?

Jonathan Caws-Elwitt:Well . . . I have to tell you that we didn't exactly work with him. It was more like Dean had the radio show on Sunday nights and Hilary had it on Monday nights, or something. (:v>

Jun Eric:Can i still ask if your wife Hilary still sing/co-operate on your solo outing?

Jonathan Caws-Elwitt:Hilary decided in 1992 that she didn't want to sing anymore.But since then she's done a lot to support the music -Website help, Accounting . . . And most importantly, Enthusiasm!

Jun Eric: I just found out that it was her brother who is a member of Nada Surf,Thanks & You guys have been friends with so many people & how can u define music now & then?Do you miss the days of 4-track?

Jonathan Caws-Elwitt:I'll answer the last question first,I don't miss the 4-track because though it was at the time a precious key to being able to record multi-track music affordably at home, it was very unreliable and frustrating. I'm currently using a digital home-recording machine - which causes fewer problems and has fewer limitations, though it's not perfect - but my favorite way to record is in a professional studio with an expert engineer solving all my technical troubles. (:v> I really don't have a taste or a gift for engineering, and I'd rather be free to focus on the artistic/performance considerations and not get bogged down in technical messes.As for defining music now and then . . . I think now I have more perspective on where I fit in. In our home-cassette days, I was trying to make 60's-ish music or trying to make punk-pop music and not realizing that I was really part of a newer genre (lo-fi tweepop?) that was heavily influenced by but somewhat distinct from both those things. I more or less knew what I was doing artistically, song to song, but I didn't know that I was part of a trend. I loved the Television Personalities but, believe it or not, it never occurred to me at that time that my music was like theirs! I was too busy thinking about the Zombies and the Byrds to hear how what I was doing was unintentionally following in the footsteps of the TVP's. But by the mid '90s, once I was exposed to a lot of the bands that were liked by the same people who liked us, I had more of a sense of being part of a "scene".

Jun Eric:Wow,I mean you are practically one of those bands that achieve a cult following in recent years that maintain that profile yet still playing/making songs that most in the "scene" are not aware of,I really see in you guys the true essence of a musician rather than a pop star,I admit that sometimes i feel also that i belong to a certain community which never appreciate the efforts u contibute to others.Btw,Did u ever released a single in your new solo stuff Jonathan?

Jonathan Caws-Elwitt:A 7-inch almost came out a couple of years ago, but it never happened. So it's just been the downloads/CD-R's.

Jun Eric:How are u these days?Do you record new songs & any projects?

Jonathan Caws-Elwitt:Things are groovy at the Caws-Elwitt's house.I'm not doing any music at the moment,though I've been making some notes regarding song ideas.I'm guessing I might get back into it later this year (fall/winter?).Meanwhile, aside from being busy at my dayjob (at a textbook store), I've been doing some humor writing, and I'm also currently acting in a play (which I do from time to time with local community-theater groups).

Jun Eric:Btw,Today is Sunday & where do you usually stay or what do you do in a weekend,Any routines?

Jonathan Caws-Elwitt:Well,Sometimes Hilary and I go out of town to visit family and friends on weekends, and occasionally one or the other of us have to work on a Saturday or Sunday; sometimes we'll meet friends in town for dinner or go to see a play, or sometimes we're in a play ourselves . . . but a "normal" weekend just involves us staying at home together and working on our various personal projects -in my case that could be writing, recording music, working on my web pages, or doing publicity for the theater group I publicize. We also love to just relax together -read, watch old comedies, play a board game once in a while, sometimes dance to house music in our kitchen. (:v> We really like being at home -we've set up and decorated the house just the way we like it, we love to plan and cook interesting vegetarian meals, have a pale ale or a glass of some complex red wine in the evening, etc.We don't spend as much time on the phone with our friends as we did before the email age, but we still do some of that; we have two phones hooked up so we can both be on the phone at the same time.

Jun Eric:Your band (The Pillows) are one of the bands i inquired with & i found out as one of the twee/poppy sounding,In this case do you listen to a lot of Indiepop acts/records in the past?

Jonathan Caws-Elwitt:When I was in my teens and my twenties, I listened to tons of sixties pop/rock and a bunch of new music/punk-pop/postpunk etc. By the late 80's, though, I had stopped keeping up with new music, for the most part. So though I was recording new pop myself, my listening was largely limited to the same old sixties stuff I loved, plus more old sixties stuff I was discovering. And by the early 90's, I had begun listening mostly to modern jazz (late 40's to early 60's), and hardly even listened to sixties pop that much anymore. Jazz is still what I listen to more than anything else. But once I got wind of the other indiepop groups that were active in the mid-90's, I started listening to contemporary pop again - the bands and labels I was friendly with would send me their stuff, and I would find new favorite songs to enjoy. I don't hear as much indiepop now that I'm no longer as active in the music scene; on the other hand, we have a satellite radio and I've begun to listen to some kinds of music I didn't pay much attention to before -- chillout, bossa-lounge-electronica, house, bass & drums, etc.

Jun Eric:Thanks for all the answers & keep up!

Jonathan Caws-Elwitt:Thanks & Feel free to send more questions anytime!

More on the band to follow & some interviews also so stay tuned:)

You can hear & visit the band Here with some cool tunes you can download.

Buy their stuff Here

Thanks to Jonathan Caws-Elwitt for all the info bout the band & their respective music.

"My Perfect Dream"

2005-07-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Hearing a good band from the early 80's & still playing good music at present is quite rare,This was the case of Exit 13.Headed by multi-instrumentalist Steve Mann,Carlton Hunt (drums) & Paul Hunt (guitar/mandolin) & other sessioned musicians,Exit 13 started as Emergency Exit from early gigs in their native town of Ipswich (East Anglia,UK).The band soon moved to London when they attracted some recording companies with their early demos which hints a Syd Barrett influenced sound.

After arriving in London,They met Nick Head who will become their producer & he is the one who suggest that the band should release a "7 so in the summer of '85,"Fields Of Joy" was recorded & released later in the year where it picked up good radio & press reviews.Over the next few years,The band releases 2 more singles in the same psychedelic folk pop/C86 vein,a "7 "Over The Bridge",a "12 "Perfect Dream" (see:"The Sound Of Leamington Spa Vol.3") & an LP titled "Celia's Last Wednesday" (this one is a rare stuff so it was sold out) which received a lot of interest to their following & resulted to a 10 date German tour back in '89.

Singer/songwriter Steve Mann later on head back to Ipswich & has carried on with the band & it's music,Still doing gigs around town occasionally & has released a"7 single "Soldiers & Sailors" in '93.The band also released "The Return Of Captain Friday" (a cool LP,a sound for summer!) in 2002 followed by the newly released "Three" last year which saw Steve play all of the instruments in the LP.Steve also runs Backwater Records which released Exit 13 materials & other local Ipswich bands.You can check/buy Exit 13 releases & other stuff Here

You can view Exit 13 site Here for some info & the latest news on the re-release of "Celia's Last Wednesday" plus older singles on CD.

Thanks to Steve Mann for the info about the band & it's music.

"Where'd You Learn To Kiss That Way?"

2005-07-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

Hello,

To start of a good day,I want to feature one of my favorite local indie band here in the Philippines,Soft Pillow Kisses.The band which includes the current line-up of Allan Montero (guitar/vox) (see:Candyaudioline/Aspirin/Superminty),Charles Manjares (guitar) (see:Populardays/Superminty),Lara Agulto (bass) (see:Death By Tampon/Fairy Dust),Eloha Laurel (vox) & Gilbert Magat (drums) (see:Superminty).Heavily influenced by a bunch of indiepop bands with a style of their own & crafting their music on perfect pop sensibilities.

Being one of the surviving acts in the indie movement here,The band had already released a wide arrayed of singles on various compilations both here & abroad.They were included in the indie compilation "Mutual Admiration Society" on Definition Records (includes "This Gentle Feeling" & "It Will Never Last (Forever)").Another is "Uno Documento Compilo" on Documento Records (includes a live version of "Harsh Words").In 2003,They were included in the compilation "I'd Spend My Day With You" (includes "Stolen Flowers") along with other indie acts both here & around the globe released by Universal Records Philippines.Also in 2003 that they were included in Dorothy Records compilation "Dashboard Teddy Ver.1.0" (which includes the Rocketship'ish tune, "Candybar") along with local & foreign bands contributing in it.

They were supposed to released an 8 song mini-LP on Shelflife Records (tentatively titled "Waiting For Your Words") but they decided not to push through due to numerous line-up changes.They are included in the Shelflife release,"You're Still Young At Heart" (which saw them take a dreamy cover of The Crooner song "Over The Rainbow"). Here are a couple of the band's lovely songs:

Soft Pillow Kisses - "Harsh Words"
Soft Pillow Kisses - "Stolen Flowers"

If you want a pop-py day,You can listen more on them Here & see what they can do!

You can view an interview done with the band Here & more on the band to follow.

Buy their releases Here

"Between Something & Nothing"

2005-07-15T08:26:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Just back after seeing Orange & Lemons performed in Tower Records in Mandaluyong City (a bit tired but a great set from the band:)).Anyway,Back on track & my feature is another fave band of mine (this time from the USA),The Ocean Blue (whom i think has one of the coolest guitar sound).

The Ocean Blue was formed by the core of teenage friends,David Schelzel (vocals/guitar),Steve Lau (keyboards/saxophone/backing vocals) & Bobby Mitan (bass) in the late 80's in Hershey,Pennsylvania.Their love for New Wave music & College Radio programs are the keys that inspire them to form a band.

They practiced in their own (including basements) armed with their own demos & compositions until one time,Steve sent some demos (cassettes back then) to local management companies until they met Peter Freedman (who became their manager in years).Shortly,Rob Minnig (drums) joined the band as a double package (he is also a recording engineer!).They played in various gigs & colleges as part of their new found success as playing in live for the first time.

After a year,The band landed a deal to shop demos to major labels (they were published by EMI/SBK) until they landed on Sire (they're fave cause some of their influence are on it's roster).The band released it's selt titled LP in late '89 (a lot of good releases this year has produced!) which was produced by John Porter (The Smiths,Roxy Music,The Room,Etc.) & Mark Opitz (INXS,Divinyls) & recorded in London.It contains most of their strong pop tunes & best tracks like "Between Something & Nothing","Drifting, Falling" & "Ask Me Jon".1989 saw them toured alongside label mates,The Mighty Lemon Drops (another fave!).

A couple of years past,They returned with a breezy but moody effort titled "Cerulean" in '91.It spawned them another 3 hit singles,"Mercury","Ballerina Out Of Control" & the title track.A tour of America followed & a support slot for The Psychedelic Furs.They also support My Bloody Valentine & The Go-Go's on separate occasions.

"Beneath The Rhythm & Sound" was recorded in late '92 & released in fall of '93.This record bring them closer to public & mainstream media (did i say MTV?).It includes "Sublime" (which was shot in Iceland & their biggest single to date) (also my fave track).After a year,They released the EP "Peace & Light" which has a very fine live cover of The Smiths classic "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" (a rarity to own).Steve left after the release to focus on his label,Kinetic Records (label of Riverside,another great guitar band!) & Oed Ronne (keyboards/sax/vocals)replaced him.

1995 was a bit dull & they signed to new label,Mercury Records (a division of Polygram Records) which release the guitar driven "See" which includes their hit back then "Slide" but Polygram folded out & they found their way out to be independent...again.They returned after a 3 year hiatus with "Davy Jones Locker" in late '99 through the band's mailing list & in 2000 on March Records.They did a some little shows in support of the release.

Now returning for another great set of cool tunes,The band releases their new EP "Waterworks" (with a little help from Allen Clapp of The Orange Peels) & this was just an opener to the band's next full length effort due to be released this year!You can check out their newly launch site Here & you can also buy some of their merchandise there.

"Under The April Skies"

2005-07-14T00:46:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Thanks to all those who comments bout the Blog & been busy listening to the new EP "Three Minute Singles" of a band from Norway (i cannot understand the language written on their site but i loved their music!) called The April Skies (accidentally,there is also another band who called themselves The April Skies from Hershey,Pennsylvania,USA) but we will concentrate on the Europe based band.

Consisting of Anders Kaasen who plays the guitar,Lars Jakob Stava on bass,Alexander Unhjem sings & a girl on drums (cool!) named Ragnhild Hogstad Jordahl.The band who formed just last year 2004,Already make a name for themselves by making music that is pure guitar pop & just good music.Taking a wide range of influences (as seen on the cover of the EP) from The Monkees,Lou Reed,The Walker Brothers,The Smiths,The Jesus & Mary Chain,The Stone Roses,Etc.

The EP which consists of 4 tracks full of surprises from the start of the opening title track "Three Minute Singles" to the anorak pop of "Rise & Rise Again" (my fave,i played it till midnight!) then turns into a somber "Heaven Knows It's Not Too Bad" & to the northern soul tinged closing of "Not Your Baby" (this one is a demo).These are the songs that inspires them & so they culled it together to be a 3 minute pop songs.I expect to see much more on the cool guitar band & You can hear some of their songs or view the band in their site Here

"My Favourite Wet Wednesday Afternoon"

2005-07-13T07:53:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Quite busy but still keeping it up & next to my feature is a forgotten but memorable band from London,A band called Jamie Wednesday.The band which was known back then as The Ballpoints & then they changed it to Dead Clergy until they sticked to Jamie Wednesday.

Formed way back in early '85 by James Robert Morrison (lead vox/acoustic guitar),The band is composed of Leslie Carter (backing vox/bass guitar),Lindsay Lowe (Trumpet),Simon Henry (Saxophone) & Dean Leggett (drums/percussion).

The story of the band formation started when James,Simon,Dean & Henry were in a studio rehearsing/recording some songs but there is a prob,They needed a bass player when accidentally James saw Leslie Carter,who was also in the studio playing with another band.James & Leslie known each other before & they even performed together bacvk then so when James ask Leslie to play bass in their band so was Jamie Wednesday was born.

Consistent playing in various clubs landed them a deal & to be signed on the then fledging indie label,Pink Records.They recorded 2 EP's (both released in 7 " & 12 "),"Vote For Love" (my fave choice) (released in 1985) & "We Three Kings Of Orien't Aren't" (released in 1986) respectively.They did contribute also to 2 compilations of the label,"It Sells Or It Smells" & "Beauty".Still,The band never reached that mark that they wanted to as they sold not well to the dismay of the label.

In an interesting side,Jamie Wednesday was the one responsible for the name of another great band,Pop Will Eat Itself.The Poppies (as what their fans call them) claim their name through a write-up by David Quantick about the band in NME.After playing as a band in a couple of years (1985-87),Jamie Wednesday split before a gig in Astoria in London in 1987.James & Leslie Carter still filled in that gig (along with a backing tape!) & so Carter USM was formed.James became Jim Bob & Leslie was Fruitbat.

Dean Leggett went on to play drums for another forgotten band,Bob (which played extensively along with Carter USM).Lindsay & Simon became couple & Fruitbat says up to now (How Soon Is Now?) they still were.They were said to be playing in a jazz band at present time. Carter USM enjoyed a little success in the '90's (Ehmm,who says no to Grebo?).You can check out some of news on the Jim Bob/Carter USM Here

You can hear/download some of the band's sadly missed classic songs Here

"Count With Your Fingers"

2005-07-12T00:37:00.000-07:00

Hello,

How's everyone?As you may see,i didn't post yesterday cause Monday is quite a busy day for me (start of my class day for instance) & i resume posting today,I just got off from school after a hectic class (still,Thanks to some of my mates for doin some of the job).Racking up today is another local band from Cebu named Sheila & The Insects.You may wonder because of the band name,Why?because there is no band member that is named Sheila & secondly,There is no girl/woman in the band & Why Sheila & The Insects?(even i doesn't know).

The band traces it's roots from a band called The End.Ian Zafra (gutiars/harmonica/vox) formed The End back in December of '91 along with some friends,The band started playing some covers of their favorite artists (mostly consists of 80's/New Wave artists/bands) being The Smiths,The Church,The Wild Swans,The Cure,Etc. & at the same time,writing stuff of their own.Through the years,the band encountered some line-up changes & in '95,They eventually settled on Orven Enoveso as their vocalist.With a very little attention & some small clubs to play in,The band still survives & still writes & record new songs.

Still carrying on that independent surge on their back,They earned a weekly spot playing in the now defunct club,Artist Dais.But still fate was not on their side,Just when they were beginning to receive media attention,2 band members left leaving only Zafra & Enoveso.The End became Sheila & The Insects in 1996 with the acquisition of 2 new members,Anthony Aseniero (bass) & Blair Kabahar (drums/percussion).Aseniero was eventually replaced by Benjie Fernandez (bass/backing vox) when the band migrated to Manila in '99 & also that year,They released independently their debut "Tangible Rhymes" to a not wider audience but still manages to sold it out in time when Record labels show no support to the band.

The band got their much needed recognition when they released their 2nd LP "Plastic Eyes, Static Minds" in N/A label in 2000,It brought in 2 singles that gave them their biggest break,the ringing guitars of "Everyday Drive" (my fave) reminds me of The Railway Children & "Your Comedy" both reaching the radio charts & bringing home Best New Artists as well in the yearly NU 107 music awards.

After a fruitful stint in Manila they returned to their hometown of Cebu,Still being active in the local music scene.The band went on to release their 3rd effort titled "Manipulator" (this was sold out but thanks it was re-issued this year) to an audience hungry in their music (Including me!) back in 2002,It spawned the single "Idle Hands",Gaining their status as one of the country's premier Indie acts to watch for but after the release of the album,The band split up due to musical differences.

Ian & Orven then reformed the band & recruited a new set of members,Boobob (bass) (ex-Glitch) & Jerros Dolino (drums) (ex-Urbandub) & now charged up to release their 4th material planned to be released this month,A new batch of songs that will bring us back again in those times where we dance til' the dewdrops fall,a cross of 80's pop & 90's alternative ambiance.Let's hear again Sheila & The Insects rock & pop the house down!

You can hear some of their stuff/songs Here
Buy their releases Here

"If Only Words"

2005-07-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Back again & i do hope everything is fine & been very busy listening to some new/old records that my friend Danny gave me this past weekend & been studying at the same time is...Uhmm,hard.Im currently listening to one of my favorite (among a list of many other artist's/bands) band from Sheffield,One Thousand Violins.

Composed of Colin Gregory (guitar),Dave Walmsley (guitar/keyboard),Darren Swindells (bass),Peter Day (drums) & John Wood (vocals).The band formed back in '85 & executed their brand of 60's influenced pop all over Europe (specially in Germany,where they are well known).At the same year,They released their debut single "Halcyon Days" on Dreamworld label & later,"Like One Thousand Violins" to a wider audience,Including legendary DJ John Peel (having it included in his yearly Festive-Fifty outing).

1986 saw the band released a mini-LP titled "Please Don't Sandblast My House!" on Constrictor Records (This has a CD which also include their other mini-LP "Locked Out Of The Love-In",Combined in a CD & was also released by Constrictor Records in '87) (If you find one,Go grab it!I think Germany has most of it,Constrictor was based in Germany) & After a year,Peter Day was replaced by Ian Addey on drums.

1988 was a promising year for the band (which was starting to build a cult following) but John Wood departed (later to front The Chrysalids) & was replaced by a young Vince Keenan,Having previously played in some local bands & just in time after splitting with his former band,
The Hays Office.The year also saw the band released a proper LP,"Hey Man That's Beautiful" (anyone care to re-issue?) on Immaculate Records,which includes some of their best song's to date,includes "If Only Words","If I Were A Bullet (Then For Sure I'd Find A Way To Your Heart)" & "Start Digging My Grave Sugar" (see: "The Sound Of Leamington Spa Vol.3") & was named best album of Sheffield Star Tabloid in 1988.

It was also in '88 that they toured & headline a successful 2 week German tour,having supported by These Immortal Souls & Pop Will Eat Itself on the tour.January 1989 saw the Violins do one of the first ever UK BBC Live Radio Sessions & the sessions was for BBC North & 6 songs were broadcast from Hull (These were taped & has now been mastered to CD).Although having success in their hometown & Germany,(apart excellent reviews of being a good band not only in studio but also being in live) One Thousand Violins split in May 1989 ,Colin Gregory formed The Dylans (aside from guesting/playing in James Dean Driving Experience),Vince Keenan was asked to formed a band with Dave (sadly,he died of Cancer in '92) & There was a suggestion from Colin to Vince & Ian to try The Dylans but Vince formed
The Splendid Fellows ( see:"The Sound Of Leamington Spa Vol.2") & later on SPIGGOT.Darren Swindells has moved to London & little is known.Ian Addey still plays drums in a band called Orange Fall. Where are the 2 ex-members you asked?Well,Peter Day has moved to kent & became a Photographer while John Wood fronted The Chrysalids & now plays with Yves Altana in a project called Recognized.In 2001,Vinyl Japan issued a career spanning collection + some B-sides titled "Like One Thousand Violins". For more news/info bout the band,You can pay a visit to their site Here

Buy One Thousand Violins CD Here
Buy The Sound Of Leamington Spa Vol. 3 CD Here

"Dreams Never End"

2005-07-09T05:07:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Just back after a backbreaking walk from our house to a mall nearby,Passing along brick laden roads brought back memories...Along with the sudden pour of the rain,I quickly go back home & listened to another blossoming band named Daydream Cycle.

Daydream Cycle is a unique fusion of samples, drum loops, raw ambient guitars, a bassline with a life of its own, And an ethereal voice that sends your soul into mystic abstraction. The band is formed way back in 2000 & composed of Japs Sergio (Guitars),Bogs Jugo (Electro Gear/Beat Programmer/Drums) & Kathy Meneses (Vocals).They were joined on their live set/outings by 2 former members of local band,Teeth,Jerome Velasco (also on Guitars) & Andrew Sergio (Yup,He is Japs bro) (Bass) who will soon become permanent members of the band.

The band have already released their self-titled debut (released on their own Metronome Musik label) album which includes their hit "My Luscious Star",a track that put them on the radio map & gave them a cult following (Including Me!).A blend of electronica mixed with psychedelic beats & a shoegaze'y feel,A trippy,indiepoppy voice add a different aura to the band.They plays regularly on "Buzznite",a monthly production gig headed by Allan Montero (of Soft Pillow Kisses/Candyaudioline/Aspirin fame) alongside many local indie bands.It was at this time that a friend of the band,Dale Marquez (of Sonnet LVIII/Apple Orchard) sent some demo's to US label,Shelflife Records & the label heard their cool sound so much that they are signed by Shelflife Records.

The band which are now riding success not only here but constantly abroad,At the same time their debut self-titled LP was released & having it well received by many music fans & critics which includes Laura Watling ( ex-The Autocollants) ,She wrote from an e-mail:"...Speaking of good shoegaze bands,Anyone who loves that late-80's/early-90's shoegaze sound should check out the band Daydream Cycle from the Philippines..."

The band recorded a very trippy version of The Shermans song "Lousy Judge Of Character" which was included in "You're Still Young At Heart" compilation on Shelflife Records & after a short hiatus have now released their sophomore effort titled "Underwater Kite" (also released independently on their Metronome Musik label).It includes "Roses & Cadillacs" (My fave!) & "Lousy Judge Of Character" (which was previously only available on the Shelflife Records compilation).
Now let's go & hear them again & if you want to hear some Daydream song's,Click Here

You can buy the "Underwater Kite" CD Here

"Commonplace"

2005-07-08T00:18:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I remember when i was still a kid,circa '88 or '89 i think,My mom used to take me out early morning to have me beamed by the sun (Thanks a lot i've got no sunburns?) & now after 13 years i missed that thing & i missed being a kid in a long time just like last night,Im a bit dull & moody but still i plug the stereo on & play that CDr my friend gave to me,It was from a band from Dublin,Ireland named Hey Paulette!

I got interested quickly cause the name is quite lovely in a sense that it was also quirky,
Hey Paulette! was Eamonn Davis (vocals/guitar),Derrick Dalton (guitar/sometimes he sings) & Colm Fitzpatrick (bass).You ask where is the drummer though it was their main problem & still they got a "Temporary" permanent drummer in Darren Nolan.

Being lumped in the C86 scene without either them knowing it,The band recorded their debut 7"
"Commonplace" on the Mickey Rourke's Fridge label.This single was sent by the band to legendary DJ John Peel on Radio 1 back in '88 with a handwritten note.After,they recorded an EP titled "Mickey Rourkes Fridge Presents".After releasing the EP they do a Peel Session on BBC & did a tour in London.

They recorded another EP,a 12" titled "I Really Do Love Penelope"(This song was later included in the compilation "The Sound Of Leamington Spa Vol.1" released by
Firestation Records/Tweenet Communications).This was produced by Stan Erraught of Stars Of Heaven (remember them?).Stan later helped & joined the band & played on the final recordings of their last 2 songs "Inconsequential"(Also released on a compilation titled
"Seven Summers International Pop Vol.2" by Tweenet Communications/Kindercore Records) & "Pebbledash".

They've split in '91 due to musical differences.Eamonn,Colm & Stan went on to form The Sewing Room.Derrick went on to play in several bands(Including a Blondie tribute band!) before he rejoined Eamonn to form Crumb .They are now currently playing with Eileen Gogan (ex-The Would Be's) in a band called Melba.

You can visit Hey Paulette! for some MP3's/News & Updates Here

Buy the "I Really do Love Penelope" 12" Here

Thanks to Derrick Dalton for the info about the band.

"A Beginning Of Something Wonderful"

2005-07-07T09:06:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Been busy uploading the blog but still up & Im listening to a local band called Orange & Lemons,taking their cue with 60's meets 80's tinged pop,the band which was composed of McCoy Fundales on vocals/acoustic guitar,Clem Castro also on vocals/lead guitar,brothers Ace & JM Del Mundo on drums & bass respectively...

Originally hailing from Bulacan but sounding like they were from Liverpool,Heavily influenced by The Beatles,The Smiths,The Wild Swans,Etc.The band which was still starting to have a cult following back then,Stormed every gig given to them & It was there on one gig that they caught the attention of Toti Dalmacion,a music honcho & enthusiast & quickly given a chance to be signed on his now fledging label,Terno Recordings.Terno released their wonderful debut LP "Love In The Land Of Rubber Shoes & Dirty Ice Cream" in the end of 2003,It was then included in many of the Year's Best Albums & after a year,They achieved the NU 107's "Best New Artists" for 2004.

Now back after a much au-go-go,The band have a new release under new label,Universal Records Philippines titled "Strike Whilst The Iron Is Hot",Still jangling the scene & it includes some of their finest songs like "Heaven Knows (This Angel Has Flown)","Cycle Of Love" & many more,They have a hint of The Chesterfields,The Smiths,The Beatles,Etc.If you want,You can check out the bands songs Here to hear them & for news/updates.

Buy Orange & Lemons CD Here

"Wide Awake"

2005-07-06T06:25:00.000-07:00

Hmmmhm...Hello,

It's been a cold & busy week here,Because it's raining.Im just listening (along with the cold winds) from a band called Apple Orchard.Apple Orchard is composed of Ryan Marquez (see also:Sodajerk/The Haircuts/Carnival Park) & Dale Marquez (see:Sonnet LVIII),both residing now in California & yup they are brooding brothers not only in blood but also in honest & pure pop musik.Listening to them reminds me of Sarah Records bands in it's peak,a hint of Sweet William,Trembling Blue Stars,Bouquet,anything that sounds soft & sparkling but simple & catchy music that came from heart.

It started as a solo offset project by Ryan from his previous work with his other band,Sodajerk.Just writing songs & spending a summer back in '99 & hearing first the lovelorn sweet melodies of "Apple Orchard" by Bouquet & wow,how sweet that it blossomed to a cool band and when rehearsing from a studio session,Dale sessioned in bass & the outcome is as complexed as before.Up to date,they are now playing as a duo & released a handful of singles through various labels & compilations both here & overseas.

I love the band & i like their shimmering cover of The Groovy Little Numbers classic,"You Make My Head Explode".Personal faves include "Wadaiko" & "Wide Awake",These are the songs we always never hear (or will never hear) in a regular day or a crappy radio station/s (Go nuts,you Wankers!!!) but will surely have a place in our hearts.

You can pay them a visit Here or i have link them to my link section.They have some songs/mp3's awaiting to be heard!

Also check out some of his bands/side-projects:

Sodajerk Website
Carnival Park Website
The Haircuts Website

You can buy some of the bands releases Here

"This Gentle Feeling"

2005-06-26T09:02:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Welcome to my new blog & i do hope it will last!:)
Well,To start things off,i will feature some stuff & artists that i like & i hope you also like...Im planning some interviews & im keeping my fingers cross & im still uploading the blog so be sure to check it out often:)

By the way,Im just listening to some songs that i think show how i (& many others for sure) miss.Here's the setting:

The Jesus & Mary Chain - "Between Planets"
The Hummingbirds - "Barbarian"
The Field Mice - "Willow"
Soft Pillow Kisses - "Harsh Words"
The Jeremiahs - "The Reason"
Camera Obscura - "Before You Say Goodbye"
Close Lobsters - "From This Day On"
Uncletoe Portasound - "Elephant Stone"
The Happy Couple - "Another Sunny Day"
One Thousand Violins - "If Only Words"

How bout you?Let me know what you think & maybe now...Popstar's can dance!

cheers!