Barbara Manning "Optimism Is Its Own Reward"

There's gold in them there CDs! From a few social media posts, it would seem that it was the wonderful Barbara Manning's birthday earlier this week. Coincidentally, Not Unloved has been going through something of a Barbara Manning obsessional phase in recent weeks following a Twitter post about a new Glands of External Secretion album (the project she's a part of with Seymour Glass) on the always intriguing Siltbreeze. Discovering and rediscovering her music has been such an uplifting experience. The "Barbara Manning Sings With The Original Artists"  CD (Normal Records, Germany) she released in 1993 has so many moments of real class on it but "Optimism Is It's Own Reward" is the real jewel for Not Unloved's money:

It's like a heavenly amalgam of some of the music I hold dearest, namely The Pastels, Jonathan Richman and Maher Shalal Hash Baz. Barbara's voice is hushed and intimate throughout but whenever she sings the word 'smiling' (e.g. "Look at the sky. See it smiling") it's so soft and positive sounding that it's almost unbearably beautiful. There's also real soul in the trumpet playing. I guess my New Year's Resolution for 2023 has to be to buy much more of Barbara's music on whatever format it was released.

The Jangles

One of the good/bad things about bandcamp is that you can dig around in trusted individuals' collections and tempt yourself into parting with yet more of that hard-earned cash. Last bandcamp Friday Not Unloved drew a blank on what to buy (after picking up the essential new Leaf Library singles and whatever comp, that is) until I stumbled on "Pioneer" by Lynchburg, Tennessee's identical twin brothers, The Jangles (thanks JM!). The Jangles are well acquainted with the best of The Monkees and are all the more lovable for it. The CD's artwork is delightfully naive in an illustration-doodled-on-the-cover-of-a-jotter way and the glorious black and white band photo could've graced the back cover of any number of semi-remembered private press lp's of the 70s:

The Jangles have good ears and sure know their way around a catchy melody and have the good sense to cherry-pick and adapt their faves from the past. Like their lite-pysch forebears, they have the requisite quota of whimsical songs about animals (monkeys, octopuses) but manage to pull them off with enough charm and restraint that the results are never too sickly sweet. After the first couple of listens, the romantic "Passing Glance" was the song that lingered longest:

 

A pleasing by-product of listening to The Jangles was being nudged to dig out those dazzling Bus Stop Label 45s by The Sneetches. Now there's a group that's ripe for a classy reissue campaign...

Glas-Goes Pop : an indiepop happening

It's been a wee while since Glasgow had a dedicated indiepop shindig. Probably the last one was the Pop South Weekender at The Glad Cafe in, ooh, 2016 (?). Creation Records royalty, Pete Astor, played that one - he was every bit as tremendous as I'd hoped; check the footage here - and he's also in the smashing-looking lineup for Glas-Goes Pop this coming August. The acts announced so far are:

Close Lobsters

The June Brides

David Christian (Comet Gain)

Pete Astor

The Catenary Wires

Davey Woodward & the Winter Orphans

Jetstream Pony

Swansea Sound

The Orchids

Rachel Love

Papernut Cambridge

+ DJs: Gerard Love, Chris 'Beans' Geddes & Andrew Williams

From what I hear, a couple more acts will probably be added to this already stuffed list. There's so much to look forward to but one name that leaps out is that of Rachel Love. She won a lot of hearts as a member of Dolly Mixture back in the early 80s but her full length from last year, "Picture In Mind", was among the very best albums of 2021 for Not Unloved's money. It'll be a real treat to see her perform songs from it live, that's for sure.

It'll be a blast, too, to see David from Comet Gain in Glasgow once again. It's been way too long since Comet Gain played a rollicking set as part of an all-dayer at Mono and even longer since they tore up the basement of The 13th Note with the incredible The Peechees - what a memorable night that was! It's also going to be tremendous to welcome Jetstream Pony to a Glasgow stage for the first time. Not Unloved made the pilgrimage to London's legendary 100 Club to see them play with the always brilliant The Orchids and the soaring St. Christopher in February 2020. That seems like forever ago now so roll on August!

The scoop:

When? Fri & Sat, August 5th & 6th 2022

Where? GUU Debates Chamber (Glasgow, Scotland)

Facebook? here

Instagram? here

Twitter? here

Tickets? On sale here NOW!

Also, be sure to tune in to Clyde Built Radio on Saturday, 19/03/2022 at 11am (UK time) to hear the organizers talk about the event! Don't worry if you can't tune in at that time as it'll be archived here in due course.

Soursob

In late 2019 Soursob were one of the most exciting groups in Glasgow. Their tape on Fuzzkill was a blast which showcased a group with a real spark and just the right blend of cockiness ("Gizmo"), irreverence (the take-down of a pompous music obsessive on "Shoegaze" will never not be funny) and catchy tunes. Around that time Not Unloved saw them play some great sets at Mono and Nice'n'Sleazy etc. and was all set to ask them to do a 7" for our wee label - I'd even started dropping hints to radio shows like Dynamite Hemorrage - but learning that one of the band members had to return to Australia meant that it didn't happen. The prospect of trying to sell out the pressing with no gigs to help spread the word and a general decline in enthusiasm from music buyers for the 7" format just seemed too difficult. Shortly afterwards, the pandemic-related postal system issues and the well documented vinyl pressing woes experienced by labels made the idea of continuing to release 45s seem like an even worse idea. It was with great delight and more than a little jealousy, therefore, that Not Unloved learned via a Facebook posting last March that HoZac would be be releasing a Soursob 12". Now that it's out. however, it's just great that a wider audience has already or will in the future get to hear Soursob and fall for their cheek and charm. Here's hoping that 2022 brings a buncha new songs and a slew of gigs!

Let's Get Shiny!

Shamefully, Not Unloved neglected its duty to share (the sole point of this thing!) for a large chunk of 2021. One of the records (it's actually a cd...no format snobbery here!) that deserved to be shared but wasn't was "Let's Get Shiny!" (Melotron Recordings) by Shiny Times. Shiny Times is the home recording project of Kim Weldin of Tape Waves (whose recent "Bright" album for Emotional Response is a dreamy pop smash) and on the evidence of "Let's Get Shiny!", Weldin's neighbours won't feel compelled to call the cops to report a noise nuisance any time soon. All 6 songs are beautifully sung in a hushed, comforting manner and even the fuzzier guitars are never abrasive or harsh. I tried and failed to decide upon a favourite track to post here but "So Alone" achieves Rose Melberg levels of prettiness and has Not Unloved yearning for the days of photocopied fanzines and mixtapes so it's a good ambassador for the cd. With "Let's Get Shiny!" Kim Weldin has added to the sum total of good things in the world and for that I thank her. Let's hope 2022 brings more Shiny Times!

Morningwhim "Maybe"

Javi of the mighty fine Spanish label Pretty Olivia Records caused a bit of a stir at Not Unloved headquarters recently. It's fairly safe to say that without his Twitter post, Japanese group Morningwhim's pretty but purposeful "Wandering"  would have passed me by completely. I'm so glad it didn't as it's one of the finest indiepop tunes of the post-Sarah Records variety to alight on these ears in recent times. It graces the b-side of their "Most of the Sun Shines" single (Fastcut Records, Japan). Buying records from Japan is always pricey but, happily, it was available for a decent price - unfortunately, its price has since gone up - from a UK distro. Cheers for the tip, Javi!

WUT "White Walls"

It's getting harder and harder to navigate the dizzying array of options on bandcamp Fridays so it's handy when trusted individuals shine a light on the good stuff that might otherwise have got lost in the deluge. Last Friday's much appreciated tip came from the crew behind the excellent Pop Songs Your New Boyfriend's Too Stupid To Know About radio show. Canada's WUT released their "Now" tape on Valentine's Day 2020 and on first listen it's packed with elemental indiepop/rock that clatters and rattles like yr K Records faves of yore. Pleasingly, WUT have something to say and on "White Walls" document an increasingly common phenomenon:

it was an artist centre, now its a coffee shop

it was a music venue, now its a coffee shop

Don't get me wrong, Not Unloved uses and endorses coffee shops (especially the independents!) but it would be nice if other businesses and organisations could flourish, too.

The Curlettes "Waiting Just For You" (Twang!)

A recent Twitter exchange got me thinking about cool records that are still available for buttons on discogs or ebay. One enjoyable, cheap-on-discogs 7" is "Waitin' Just For You" (Twang!, 1988) by German group The Curlettes. As with yesterday's 45 by The Photographs, it was the only record to bear their name which is a shame as it's a perky singalong which would've been Indiepop Tape Swap gold had I heard it at the time.

Cinéma Lumiėre "Love"

By all accounts Filipino newcomers Cinéma Lumiėre are huge fans of Sarah Records. Smart kids. On the evidence of their just-released single (digital-only...for the time being?), "Love", they also have an understandable fondness for the sophisticated charms of the prime Cherry Red/Él Records groups of the mid-80s. There's something of Tracey Thorn's downbeat classiness to the gorgeous vocals. Have you ever wrapped your cold ears in a warm towel lifted straight from the tumble dryer? That's the sensation I get from listening to "Love". If money were no object and if I were convinced that 300 people would buy a copy, I'd ask to release "Love" on 7" vinyl via Not Unloved in a heartbeat. With things the way they are politically right now, the world needs music (and visuals - check the adorable video) this beautiful.

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.

For sale for Carey Lander's chosen charity: Original 1997 Camera Obscura demo (all funds to Sarcoma UK)

Thanks to everyone who bid on a shared the link to this blog and to the auction itself.  Bidding closed at a fabulous 470.00 GBP.  Thanks, also, to the winning bidder for their tremendous generosity for a great cause.

A little over a week ago Carey Lander from Camera Obscura tragically succumbed to bone cancer at 33.  I didn't know her well - we only shared a laugh or two on a couple of occasions - but I loved her keyboard work with Camera Obscura and those I know who knew her always spoke of her with great affection.  She was a lovely presence round town and will be missed.  In the last few months Carey raised an amazing amount of money for the cancer charity Sarcoma UK.  In her honour, I'd like to make some sort of contribution so I'm selling an extremely rare 1997 homemade Camera Obscura demo tape via ebay.  This predates the group's beautiful first single, 'Park and Ride'.  100% of all funds raised will go to Sarcoma UK and postage is free to anywhere in the world.  Please take a look at the listing and it would be much appreciated if you would pass it on to anyone who might be interested.

Thanks for your help,

brogues

>> The 7 day listing is here <<

David Pollock's touching obituary for The Scotsman is here. 

Update @ 11:12pm:

Some interesting details about the tape/artwork from the official Camera Obscura Facebook page:

"An extremely rare item is being auctioned for Carey's Sarcoma UK campaign. An original 1997 demo tape from us. Not sure how many of these we made back in the day, realistically it was probably 10-20, I doubt any of us still have one lying about (I certainly don't). The sleeve was taken from an old photograph taken in Spain, and given a bit of a Peter Saville design-style tracing paper cover like New Order's Low Life album. Worth bidding on to help a great cause, and certainly an interesting and fairly unique piece of Obscura history."