Dreamin's For Free

With 7"s being released in ever smaller pressings and becoming pricier by the year, it's impossible to be on top of every good label, or cherished (micro)genre so, inevitably, a lot of gems slip between the cracks and when they do, it's always a downer to see just how expensive they've become. After Did Not Chart shone a light on The Flying Stars of Brooklyn NY's sublime "My God Has A Telephone", I followed a bunch of sidebar links and found myself smitten with Benjamin and The Right Direction's ultra-romantic "Dreamin's For Free" (Palmetto St. Recording Co.):

Sure enough, a quick check on discogs revealed that it is now a £100+ record. Not for the likes of me, then. Ah well, at least YouTube-in's (almost) for free.  Benjamin and co.'s 7" was released on Palmetto St. Recording Co., which seems to be a sub-label of the mighty Daptone Records whose garage imprint, Wick, just unleashed the zesty new Mark Sultan single. "Let Me Out":

It's sure to have people in highly flammable clothing frugging wildly at retro-themed dance parties the world over. Mark Sultan is scheduled to play both Edinburgh and Glasgow in March, 2018. Let me in!

Best of 2017 lists for Monorail Music

Most years, there's nothing I like better than to be asked what my favourite records have been. This year, however, it was a little tricky as, although I bought a lot of (okay, way too many) records, I didn't always find the time to listen and absorb them so a lot of what I listened to was whatever made it onto my phone which is a bit silly when virtually everything I bought was on vinyl. Enough excuses, though; here are the lists I submitted when Monorail Music kindly asked for my thoughts a few weeks ago. There are some shameful local omissions e.g. AMOR's two 12"s for Night School or Golden Teacher's self-released lp. That's what happens when you use the first thought=best thought approach to compiling these lists, I guess.

LPs:

1. The Clientele "Music For the Age of Miracles" (Tapete)
2. Kelly Lee Owens "s/t" (Smalltown Supersound)
3. The Luxembourg Signal "Blue Field" (Shelflife/Kleine Untergrund Schallplatten)
4. A Certain Smile "Fits and Starts" (My Lil Underground)
5. Mope Grooves "Joy" (See My Friends)
6. Sacred Paws "Strike A Match" (Rock Action)
7. Spinning Coin "Permo" (Geographic)
8. Rat Columns "Candle Power" (Upset The Rhythm)
9. The BVs "Speaking From A Distance" (Kleine Untergrund Schallplatten)
10. Ekin Fil "Ghosts Inside" (Helen Scarsdale Agency)

Singles:

1. Spinning Coin "Raining On Hope Street" (Geographic)
2. Corner Boys "Just Don't Care" (Drunken Sailor)
3. The Luxembourg Signal "Laura Palmer" (Shelflife)
4. Wallflower "Nowhere" (Fastcut)
5. The Flying Stars of Brooklyn NY "My God Has A Telephone" (Colemine)
6. UV-TV "Go Away e.p." (Emotional Response)
7. Mick Trouble "It's The Mick Trouble e.p." (Emotional Response)
8. The Love-Birds "Filled With Hate" (Empty Cellar)
9. Omar S feat. Nite Jewel "I Confess To U" (FXHE)
10. Davy Kehoe "Short Passing Game" (Wah Wah Wino)

Reissues:

1. Dion "Kickin' Child: The Lost Album 1965" (Norton)
2. Look Blue Go Purple "Still Bewitched" (Captured Tracks)
3. William C Beeley "Gallivantin'" (Tompkins Square)
4. Jackie Shane "Any Other Way" (Numero Group)
5. 14 Iced Bears "s/t" (Optic Nerve)

Compilation:

"I Won't Have To Think About You: Compiled by Bayu and Moopie" (A Colourful Storm)

^^^ BUY THIS NOW.

The Trend "Band Aid"

Don't you love studio chat on records? Thinking back, I'm pretty sure the reason why I love it so much can be attributed to Paulie Chastain's endearing "Hey, Mr. Engineer man" at the start of  his adorable "Raining All Day". There's a fine example of studio chat on the astounding "Band Aid" by The Trend where the young guitarist starts playing the wrong song. Something about his response to being corrected doesn't ring true, suggesting it might be scripted. Whatever the truth, it's a fine way to start a track. "Band Aid" is a knockout punch of a song, full of bite and lovable ineptitude (the brief guitar solo shambles along like a shopping trolley missing a wheel). "Band Aid" was a YouTube recommendation and I fully expected to pay 20 quid for it on discogs. A quick search, however, revealed that it was a $1000+ single. It just goes to show how little Not Unloved knows about punk! Thankfully, Rome's Hate Records reissued it in 2016. Turning up a copy proved to be tricky, Hate having long since sold out of it, but Slovenly's online store eventually came up trumps. Now to play the a-side...

Don and Bobby (and The Pooches!)

At a Darren Hanlon gig what seems like aeons ago, a couple of friends* recommended Don Lennon's music to me. I made the usual mental note which was promptly misfiled in my brain so I never found my fingers typing his name into a search engine. Wind on a few years and another friend recommended Lennon's first group, The Umpteens, to me. This time I took the hint and discovered just what a fool I'd been for not listening to his music sooner:

"Party All The Time" is somnambulant soul pop for the Chickfactor generation. A heavenly, late-night studio match-up of Jens Lekman at his peak with the Timmion Records house band at their most suavely recumbent. Unbeatable, really.

On the subject of Finland's cherished Timmion label, have you heard Bobby Oroza's "This Love" on its Stylart offshoot? If at any point in the last couple of months you had bumped into me on Argyle Street, there's a fair chance that I would have bored you senseless with my unquantifiable love for its warm, gently impassioned charms. If Bobby never makes another great record, he will forever be a giant in Not Unloved's eyes for "This Love" alone.

The picture sleeve version appears to be long gone and, as expected, is already getting pricey on discogs but the repress in the generic sleeve is still available for a sensible price if you look hard enough (I got mine from Jazzman). Get on it!

* - these friends now make up half of The Pooches who recorded a lovely version of Don Lennon's "Songs" for a charity tape:

Mope Grooves, The Fireworks & Omar S feat. Nite Jewel

Mope Grooves "Z" (from "Joy", See My Friends)



Portland, Oregon (USA) has a produced a bewildering list of dandy groups over the years. To that list I'd cheerfully add Mope Grooves. Their recent "Joy" LP boasts a whole heap of things that would've turned my head at any point in the last 25 years: scrappy songs beamed from lost Television Personalities rehearsal tapes, jangling guitars that duck and dive as if play fighting and the odd crayon scribble of noise. This is music made by the kids who drew cheeky cartoons in the margins of their science books. Maximum possible joy!

The Fireworks "Dream About You All Day" (Shelflife, USA/Opposite Number, UK)

Not Unloved has always felt big love for The Fireworks, going back to their first 7".

Not Unloved has always felt big love for Beth Arzy, going back to her first 7" with Aberdeen in those fondly remembered Sarah Records days.

Not Unloved feels big love for Beth Arzy fronting The Fireworks.

Not Unloved couldn't love "Dream All Day" any more if it tried.

Omar S feat. Nite Jewel "Confess To U" (FXHE)

In October 2016 Not Unloved danced self-consciously even when no-one was looking to Omar S and Nite Jewel's first collaboration, "Nite Train". The assumption at the time was that this was a one-off deal. There was much rejoicing, therefore, when news of a second release from the pair appeared in February. "Confess To U" is the most annoying record to play being a one-sided 12" affair with 2 concentric grooves - a vocal mix and a Hamtramck remix - on the playing side which play from the inside out. Argh! All of that's forgotten, however, when the summertime vocal hooks kick-in. It's the sound of summer 1989 and should, by rights, be booming obnoxiously from the tape decks of Ford Escort cabriolets the nation over.

Gentle music: Strawberry Generation and Hand Habits

Alan Godsell, the man behind Alan's Midweek Madhouse on Radio Saltire, is a true believer; a total enthusiast and evangelist for new music. On a recent show he played "Bathed In Blue" by new Providence (USA) group Strawberry Generation. Its dreaming beauty stopped me in my tracks:



My friend cried 'Blueboy!' on hearing it and it's a good comparison. That voice serves as a little reminder of what we lost when Blueboy's Keith Girdler so sadly passed away. There's not a second of "Bathed In Blue" that I don't look forward to but somehow the perky, Felt-like coda always takes me by surprise. Elsewhere on the (download only, for now) e.p., "Some Story" comes on like an ambient Scritti Politti. It's a real heart-sweller. Strawberry Generation is without doubt Not Unloved's favourite new group.



Similarly pretty and equally gentle is the debut lp from Meg Duffy's Hand Habits. A trusted friend recommended another group Meg plays with, Mega Bog, a year or two ago but I couldn't get beyond the dreadful name so made no effort whatsoever to hear their music - more fool me! There is so much to admire on "Wildly Idle (Hunble Before The Void)" (Woodsist) and it has taken its place in my affections alongside the best bits of Houndstooth's "Ride Out The Dark" lp and Soda Shop's lovely "Farewell e.p.". I'm now kicking myself repeatedly for not seeing Mega Bog at Rough Trade when I had the chance a few weeks ago.

Rat Columns "Someone Else's Dream"

2016 proved something of a David West bonanza for Not Unloved. As well as picking up a bunch of superfine records by his various projects (Liberation, solo, Rat Columns and Rank/Xerox), I was able (thanks to the tireless efforts of Michael Kasparis from Night School Records) to catch a couple of life-affirming Liberation gigs (think Pet Shop Boys dreaming of their Mediterranean holidays) and a smashing solo show. Not a man to rest on his laurels, David's back with a new Rat Columns record in early March, this time on the increasingly excellent Upset The Rhythm. If  the adorable"Someone Else's Dream" is any guide, it's set to be bursting with effervescent hooks, topped-off, as ever, with one of the softest, warmest voices around. March 2nd can't come quickly enough.

The Spookies on Goodbye Boozy

Annoyingly, my secondary school's playing fields were on the edge of town around a mile from the main school buildings so, whenever we had football, hockey, athletics etc., we had 15 minutes or so to get ourselves out there. The PE teachers drove there (so negligent!) so we were unsupervised on our jog (ok - distracted dawdle). On our route there was a Spiritualist church. We called the Spiritualists 'The Spookies' and, if the door was ajar, people would be dared to run in for a peek. That was quite a dare as we were all a bit scared that them crazy Spiriualists were in there performing mad, demonic rituals (as one does on a Tuesday morning in March). I never plucked up the courage to venture in, that's for sure. These long forgotten memories came flooding back thanks to a new 7" by The Spookies on Italy's trash punk powerhouse, Goodbye Boozy. "(Sorry Baby) I Fell Asleep" is possibly the gentlest thing I've heard on GB. That doesn't mean to say, however, that it doesn't pack a right good, if lazy, fuzzy thump. There are echoes of "She Cracked" era Jonathan Richman, Iggy Pop and even Tom Verlaine in the singer's (it seems the whole band takes turns in the vocal booth so I don't got no idea who sang this particular song) wonderfully dunderheaded drawl. Top marks for the majestic, jangling intro and the frat boy loser first line: "I'm not a champion at getting gurls".

Brits can order it from Drunken Sailor Records' fine online distro.

16 remaining (of 150) - Heart Beach "Counting" (Rough Skies)

On Tuesday between 16:05 and 17:15(ish) I listened to only one song. It is 2 minutes and 29 seconds long and I listened to it for around 70 minutes because, your Honour, I would contend that "Counting" by Hobart, Tasmania's Heart Beach is nigh on perfect:

"Counting" was released on 7" by Rough Skies in an edition of 150 in March, 2016. Unbelievably, there are still 16 copies left. There were 18 but then me and some other soul of sound mind ordered one apiece. I have Doug Mosurock and Kris Record Turnover to thank for ensuring that I was aware of  it at all. Doug played it on his Still Single radio show near to Vital Idles on New Year's Day which (I suspect) prompted Kris to include it (at #5) in his Top 25 singles of 2016. Its vocal melody and guitar line are so succinct and perfectly captured that they could only have been cut from a particularly flawless diamond. I particularly love that the guitar only comes in after you're already smitten by the bass, drums and vocals and that when it does it's one of the best singalong guitar lines you've heard in years. Get it before 16 becomes 0, Here ends the evangelism for today.

Community Radio "Look Now You're Cursed" (Tenorio Cotobade)

According to the Tenorio Cotobade bandcamp page, "Look Now You're Cursed" was released in July 2016. I have no idea what was monopolising the Not Unloved stereo back then but it can't have been more enjoyable than Community Radio's classy second lp. The singles that preceded the lp - "Sick In The Car" and"Real Transformation" (below) - were both excellent, understated guitar pop records, similar in mood and execution to, say, The Clean's "Getaway" lp. "Real Transformation" really should have been lapped up by admirers of Ultimate Painting's brand of subdued art-rock. Maybe they did and nobody told me.

Repeated listens reveal so much to admire on "Look Now You're Cursed".  There are some lovely details such as the unexpectedly groovy piano on "Oasis" or the iridescent intro to "Crystal Ball" (not a Felt cover, although its intro wouldn't have sounded out of place on one of their records).



Possibly, the highlight of the album is the gently spinning chorus of the otherwise languid "Travel Endlessly". It's by no means a grand gesture, more a small gift to cherish. There have been a lot of great Australian lps in recent years (The Goon Sax, Twerps, The Icypoles etc. etc.) and this up there with the very best of them. Australian DJ Josh Meadows, formerly of brilliant Sarah Records group The Sugargliders (and later of  the also excellent The Steinbecks), nominated the album's opener, "One Book A Treasure", as the best song of 2016 on his It's A Jangle Out There show. High praise, indeed. If they're good enough for Josh Meadows, they're certainly good enough for me.

2 fairly new tunes of Scottish origin

"Bosnia" is the first Le Thug recording I've been aware of since their 12" on Song By Toad - "Paints" in particular - sent me into something of a spin in December 2014. It's a sparing, low key return but equally memorable. Gone is the hazy One Dove danceability, replaced with sepulchral ambience. After a day spent working to Grouper and Lightning In A Twilight Hour, it really makes sense.

Tomorrow Syndicate may have been a going concern for around 5 years and call Glasgow's Southside home, but they were new to Not Unloved when in late 2016 Polytechnic Youth announced the details of their 7". "Into The Void" is a fine debut. There's a welter of this Ghost Box-y, Krautrocking stuff around at the moment (most of it good, I'd contend) but "Into The Void" is succinct, dramatic and melodic enough that it holds its own among the likes of Cavern of Anti-Matter and Josefin Öhrn + The Liberation. Polytechnic Youth only pressed 250 copies so it may already be scarce. Get on it!

Not Unloved's (belated!) faves of 2016

In 2016 I bought a fair number of records but due to the amount of brilliant shows in Glasgow (Anxiety, Vital Idles, Mordwaffe, Sacred Paws, Happy Meals, Spinning Coin etc. etc.), watching football and being busy with life stuff, I didn't actually spend enough time with them. I've promised myself that this won't happen in 2017. We'll see! I've also scolded myself for not getting round to buying the lps by Chook Race and The Yearning as they're both worthy of any Not Unloved albums of the years list.

Albums

1. Ela Orleans "The Circles of Upper and Lower Hell" (Night School)
2. The Goon Sax "Up To Anything" (Chapter Music)
3. Anxiety "s/t" (La Vida Es Un Mus)
4. Whyte Horses "Pop Or Not" (CPC)
5. Lightning In A Twilight Hour "And All The Ships At Sea" (Elefant)
6. Real Numbers "Wordless Wonder" (Slumberland)
7. Helena Celle "If I Can't Handle Me At My Best, You Don't Deserve You At Your Worst" (Night School)
8. Vanishing Twin "Choose Your Own Adventure" (Soundway)
9. Pete Astor "Spilt Milk" (Fortuna Pop/Slumberland)
10. The Pooches "s/t" (Lame-O)
11. Carla dal Forno "You Know What It's Like" (Blackest Ever Black)

Singles (excludes Vital Idles!)

1. Spinning Coin "Albany" (Geographic)
2. Sacred Paws "Everyday" (Rock Action)
3. Primetime "Going Places" (La Vida Es Un Mus)
4. CC Dust "Shinkansen No. 1" (Night School) - "New Ways" on the flip was the song I played most in 2016!
5. Patience "The Church" (Night School)
6. Carla dal Forno "Fast Moving Cars" (Blackest Ever Black)
7. Lady Wray "Do It Again" (Big Crown)
8. El Michel's Affair feat. The Shacks "Strange Boy" (Big Crown)
9. Mercury Girls "Ariana" (Slumberland)
10. Boys Forever "Poisonous" (Amour Foo)
11. Shark Toys/UV-TV "split" (Emotional Response)
12. Omar S feat. Nite Jewel "Sidetrakx Vol. 5: Nite Train" (FXHE)
13. Peter Gordon & David Van Tieghem feat. Kathy Acker "Winter/Summer" (Foom) - possibly more of an archival issue but it sure earned a stack of turntable time at the end of the year!

Reissue

Gas "BOX" (Kompakt)

Also, the Bizarre "Cafe de Flor" (Seksound) reissue - first issued in Estonia in the mid-90s - was really intriguing and contained one of the very few songs that sounds without precedent to these ears:

Gigs

1. The Goon Sax, Boys Forever and Spinning Coin at Mono
2. Amor at Platform (I'll remember this for the rest of my days - truly stunning Arthur Russell meets English folk melancholia from Richard Youngs, Paul Thomson (Franz Ferdinand), Luke Fowler and Michael Duchs)
3. The Pastels, Cavern of Anti-Matter etc. at Pop Revo, Aarhus
4. Anxiety at The Old Hairdressers (supporting Guttersnipe)
5. Royal Headache and The #1s at Broadcast
6. The Raincoats and Sacred Paws at CCA