Some quiet, elegant songs

Winter 2019 has been almost comically manic so the time to listen to music has been in short supply. Maybe for that reason the songs that have hit the hardest and sunk in the deepest have largely had comparatively sparse arrangements and clear, emotionally direct vocals that leave space for contemplation. Gavin Laird (formerly of Telstar Ponies among others) teamed up with various friends on the Cup And Ring project (Glass Miniature). His former bandmate Rachel Devine contributed a heart-stopping vocal to "#1":



I love it and feel it in the same way that I loved and felt All About Eve's "Martha's Harbour" when I was a schoolkid or This Mortal Coil's sublime reading of Tim Buckley's "Song To The Siren" when I was a student. Whole hours have passed with nothing but "#1" playing. Laird's guitar line was made to be looped and Devine's elegantly un-histrionic vocal only gets better and more emotionally resonant with repeated listens. Truly stunning. Equally stunning is Richard Youngs and Raul Refree's "All Hands Around The Moment" (Soft Abuse). Each of its four songs clock in at around the 8 minute mark and each of them could happily go on for hours as far as Not Unloved is concerned. Again, the arrangements are un-fussy and beautifully judged to showcase Richard's heartfelt, world weary but nevertheless romantic words to great effect. There's a line on "Nil By Mind" that is amongst the most memorable of 2019:

"I've been watching webcams of the Arctic Circle

To see your freckles come out in the sun"

If this lp had been released earlier in the year it would surely have found itself near the top of many a year end list. My guess is that Youngs and Refree don't really care about such things and are more than happy to just produce great art.

Another of Glasgow's true musical heroes, Bill Wells, recently released the "Winter Dreams" cdep (7ep Records). Its 12 songs may only add up to around 12 minutes but it makes its mark in the gorgeousness stakes. Bill's characteristically crisp and moving piano and keyboard parts are given even more emotional weight through Audrey Bizouerne's (Gift Horse/Rev Magnetic/Alex Rex etc.) gorgeous singing. Swarovski themselves haven't produced anything so crystalline and perfect as the 12 little pieces on "Winter Dreams".

Molly Linen's debut 10" on Lost Map is yet another quiet wonder by a Glasgow-based group. Comparisons to much-missed Bristol group Movietone by friends quicker on the uptake than me suggested that Not Unloved was more likely than not going to love them and so it proved. "Away" is an appropriately subtle celebration of shyness. Here's hoping that there's a whole lp of Molly Linen songs coming in 2020.

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.

Brown Paper Bag "Something Tells Me"

"Something Tells Me" by Texan garage rockers Brown Paper Bag ranks as one of the finest 60s b-sides - 1967 according to the internationalnetwork - to soothe Not Unloved's ringing ears. All the elements necessary for obsession are there: the gentle voice, the moody/haunting sound, the downer lyrics, the tremendous drumming etc.. When you add to all of that some stupendous swirling keyboards and a Shangri-la's-style talky interlude, well, I could EXLODE.

Sarah Bethe Nelson "Too Rich"

There's been something of a deluge of lovely, countrified pop songs in 2019 and one of the dreamiest is, in Not Unloved's opinion, the swooning "Too Rich" from Sarah Bethe Nelson's tremendous third lp, "Weird Glow" (Burger). Sarah Bethe's vocals are so endearingly sweet and the melody so moreish that whole hours have passed recently without another song nudging it from the top of Not Unloved's playlist. From experience, it makes an ideal soundtrack to staring out the window watching late autumn breezes take the leaves from the trees.

A Certain Smile "Cherry Bomb"

2017's "Fits and Stars" by A Certain Smile was a huge hit chez Not Unloved (this song from it still sounds like a bona fide classic) and their new single, "Bae E.P." (Koclicko), has already cheerfully barged its way into our affections big time. The lead track, "Cherry Bomb" (no, not that "Cherry Bomb"!), is a sparky number propelled by a superbly bouncy bassline and the kind of abrasive guitar that can exfoliate at 100 yards leaving everyone in the vicinity rosy-cheeked and beaming. Were someone to play "Cherry Bomb" at an indie disco where I was lurking sullenly in the shadows, I'd be knocking over drinks-laden tables in my haste to get to dancefloor to bounce around like a loon. There are only 100 copies for Europe so don't dilly dally...

Failed Flowers "Faces"

Slumberland Records is 30. Apart from that being a ridiculous fact, it is cause for POP fans the world over to a) thank their lucky stars that Mike Schulman was put on this planet to do good works and that he ain't no quitter and b) to celebrate wildly. At any celebration, of course, you need music and, helpfully, Slumberland always has us covered: "Faces" , the new single (released as part of Slumberland's 30th anniversary singles club - get subbin' if ya haven't already!) by Ann Arbor, Michigan's Failed Flowers, should have any POP party bouncing in seconds. Anna Burch, Fred Thomas and pals have crafted one of the most clear-eyed, instantly lovable fuzzy pop songs of recent years. It would have melted Not Unloved's frosted-up heart at any point in the last 30 years. Way to go Slumberland!

Fleur "Mon Ami Martien"

Not Unloved loves a cheery Francophone pop song and even more so if it starts and ends with a few blasts of Martian-speak. Fleurs's irresistible "Mon Ami Martien" (Bickerton) is Sixties catchy and has more hooks than yr average 2019 album not mention a superb Joe Meek-style keyboard solo that'll have you reaching for your copy of "Skyman".  The flip's no slouch, either, with its wild guitar and frantic keys. In short, this 7" is a mandatory purchase!

Spain's Bickerton Records has a great ear for a melody. In a fair world Not Unloved would, in summer 2017, have crawled over broken glass to evangelise about The Safes' certified perfect "Hometown" single, the video for which (take a bow Partick Oleksy) was an uncommon treat: