Rocky Lorelei "He Said, She Said"

Last Wednesday, Not Unloved's good pal Tara Quinn played a recently uploaded Rocky Lorelei (of Hairband and Spinning Coin) song on her essential fortnightly radio show on LP Radio. "He Said, She Said" is a beautifully sung slice of post-Softies pop heaven with a skippy little guitar solo and some endearingly romantic lyrics e.g.

"Teeth stained with red wine
Honey, you are so divine"

If the hushed majesty of The Cat's Miaow or Galaxie 500 ever raised the hairs on the back of your neck and made the world feel like a more welcoming place, this song is for you.

October 8th - Amy Rigby "Girl To City: A Memoir"

This October Amy Rigby releases her memoir, "Girl To City" (Southern Domestic). On the evidence of her incredible songs and her self-effacing but winningly astute blog, it's sure to be an entertaining, sharply-written document of a fascinating life. Over the last few years, through some genuinely moving shows (yeah, there have been unexpected tears) and perceptive/touching records Not Unloved has come to regard Amy as one of the greatest songwriters, well, ever. There are very few writers whose songs are so emotionally direct without ever being awkwardly confessional. She's a real talent, that's for sure and I hope the book is real success - she deserves it. Here's the trailer (what a song!):

If amazon's your thing, it's available pre-order in kindle and paperback versions.

The Motions "For Another Man" (Havoc, 1965)

There's a tiny little guitar figure, just a few notes, that announces the end of each line in the verses of The Motions' heart-melting, "For Another Man", which is so perfect that I'd happily take it over the entire careers of most alleged axe heroes. Its economy, placement and sheer beauty make it worthy of admiration. It's so much more than the sum of its notes; pure alchemy. That it's allied to an almost perfect downer melody makes it all the more powerful. Luckily for me, "For Another Man" is available digitally so I can listen to those few notes over and over and over without trashing a beautiful 54 year old 7".

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.

NUSONIC003: Tight Knit - 'Too Hot' b/w 'Want You'

It took all of 30 seconds for Not Unloved to flip for Melbourne, Australia's Tight Knit. Looking to play some shows in Glasgow in summer 2018, they dropped-off a CD-R in Monorail Music and on hearing it, our friend Russell (thanks - we owe ya big time!) got in touch to say that he'd heard Not Unloved's new favourite band. Boy, was he right! Ange (guitar, bass and vocals), Caitie (guitar, bass and vocals) and Jamie (drums) craft the kind of endearingly romantic pop that reminds you what your heart is for. The two gems which grace NUSONIC003 highlight different aspects of Tight Knit's music. The catchy 'Too Hot' on the a-side amps up the insistent guitar scorch whereas 'Want You'  on the flip is more considered until the huge chorus kicks in at which point it becomes an anthem for the yearning. In a just world that chorus would be chanted, arms aloft by weary but happy punters on the final night of the next Indietracks. Tight Knit should be clutched to the chests of those who pored over the hallowed pages of Chickfactor eager to learn what was next on Slumberland or K Records. Tight Knit are something special. Prepare to fall in love!

Due February, 2019

320 copies
7" black vinyl (w/ bandcamp download code)
Risograph sleeve by Sundays Print Service (Glasgow)
Available from the Not Unloved Records bandcamp soon!

While Ange and Caitie were in Glasgow they filmed a coupla songs for The Artsy Vice show in the cool performance space of The Old Hairdressers. Their songs are from ~11mins 40secs onwards but be sure to watch the rest of the show as Rocky Lorelei et al are ace, too.

Tight Knit on Instagram

Tight Knit on Facebook

Mikah Wilson "Sunshine Grooves" 7"

"Sunshine Grooves" (You Are The Cosmos Records) came out last summer and takes the superior sunshine pop of the 1960s (The Beach Boys, The Yellow Balloon, Jan & Dean etc.) as its starting point and adds a generous dusting of icing sugar, a heaped teaspoonful of Creamola Foam and a handful of Rainbow Dust with predictably tooth-bothering results. Not Unloved, of course, has always craved the sweet stuff so fully endorses Mikah's recipe for making the world a brighter, gentler place. Whichever register (helium or counter-helium) he's singing in, Mikah's voice is a thing of wonder. Sometimes wholesome pop is the best pop!

Emilia Sisco and Cold Diamond & Mink "Don't Believe You Like That"

In 2019 it's not news that the presence of the words 'Timmion Records' on a record's label are as close to a guarantee of quality as the record industry can manage and, thankfully, their most recent 7" does nothing to dispel that. Emilia Sisco teams up with Timmion's regular backing group, Cold Diamond & Mink, for a haunting (check the ghostly waft of the backing vocals!) but sweet number that is so addictive in a dead of night Amy Winehouse way that Not Unloved is seriously contemplating the purchase of another copy for when our first copy wears through.