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.