Les Milous "Annie Hall"

Not Unloved took a shine to Swedish label Happiest Place when it released JJ Ulius's stellar debut 7" in 2018. When this was followed in February by the intriguingly unreachable Amateur Hour lp, sneaky affection blossomed into love. It's no surprise, therefore, that their latest 45 is another smash. "Annie Hall" by Les Milous successfully combines elements of Eddie Cochran, The Cannanes, Young Marble Giants and even 70s glam pop into a cohesive whole that rattles along thrillingly for a couple of minutes before checking out with a definite full stop. Adorable!


There are only 250 copies so get bandcamping before it's too late!
UK folks can secure their very own copy from the continually searching folks at Low Company.

Moon City Boys "Rockets"

Stockholm's Moon City Boys do a nice line in late-70s New York-style lip curling.  Their debut 7", "Rockets", is the first Swedish guitar pop record I've loved for a wee while (probably since Alpaca Sports released this) and has me wistfully looking back on the days when The Legends, The Radio Dept., Nixon etc. released dizzying records at a rate that decimated bank balances in no time flat.  

As is the way of things in 2014, only 250 copies of "Rockets" have been pressed-up so if primal beats and song structures that don't adhere to any verse-chorus-verse orthodoxy are your thing, better jump to it!

The Garlands' Christmas single

When they're done right, Christmas singles are unbeatable!  So far this winter, Swedish group The Garlands (Snowflakes Christmas Singles Club) has delivered the most luxurious, most wholesome, most heart-swelling Christmas song to find it's way into Not Unloved's seasonal record box.  It's as beautifully arranged and confidently played a slice of (winter) sunshine pop as I've heard all year.  That they've covered the heavenly Margo Guryan's "I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You" on the flip-side is simply the cranberry sauce on the top.  Their lp for Shelflife was a blast and their cover of Wham's "Freedom" from their Cosy Den cd-r a few years back was a mix-cd staple at the time so it's no surprise that they've produced such a divine Christmas record.   

While I'm on the subject of Christmas records, from the snippets available online, Norman Blake's other group, The New Mendicants, has a rather fine festive 7" on the way.  It's due for release on December the 23rd.  Hopefully, copies will find their way into Monorail in time for Christmas!