BACK AND SOME WORDS ON OUR FORTHCOMING RELEASES

This evening i took a break from listening records on discogs for the first time since more than a week. Instead of it i thought that it would be nice to write again some words on the blog which we didn't update since nearly 18 months. What a shame! To be honest, i became tired of writing and also lost insterest in Indiepop over the last two years. There are various reasons for it, first of all there are no current bands from that scene which i like and i don't think that there will be new faces around soon which i will fall in love with. I mostly listening to different music these days or spend my time to listen to re-issues-cds from my favourite bands. It's the biggest thrill for me to buy deluxe-boxes from Everything But The Girl, Swing Out Sister or Beautiful South. And there is so much to come out within the next weeks in the likes of editions from Aztec Camera, Kirsty MacColl, Blow Monkeys or The Servants. I cant wait!! I wanted to escape from all this indiepop-nonsens, labels which are releasing cd-r compilations by bands they have only found out a month before on the internet or labels which are selling cd-r copies for high prices of their sold out cd-r releases on places as discogs or ebay. I also noticed about “fans“ posting on facebbok to let their friends known that they sold cds which are still available from the label for a lot of on ebay. Congratulation to those sellers and to all those fools which even click the “like“-button on facebook for it. No doubt, it will be the same in other scenes as well, but i dont care about it. I grew up with Indiepop, it became the most important thing in my life for a very, very long time. It was life! I still love all those wonderful bands which were around in the 80s and 90s and it still kicks me to find out about an “new“ obscure band. The last month i bought a large collection of demo-tapes from an british indiepoplabel which was around in the 80s. The lot contains some great stuff. Besides tapes from well known bands it contains demos from bands i never heard before of. I will write about these in the “Something To Look Out For“-column the next month. I am sure you will enjoy, apart you are already familiar with bands as A BOY & A PRAYER, STREAMLINES, SCARED OF HEIGHT or NORVAL.Watch out for it! Over the last weekend i worked hard to put together the tracklist for our forthcoming retrospective-release by RESERVE. Most of you will remember their fantastic 12“ which was released back in 1988 on Sombreo Records or their shared flexi-disc with The Siddeleys which came out an year earlier. We are still working on the artwork and linernotes for it but as it looks the album will contain 24 songs. We are more than happy to release the album finally!!Thanks to Torquil for the great cooperation on it!! Still to come in 2012 will be the first 7“ vinyl by Northampton-based THE ELECTROSCOPES. I fell in love with them the first time i heard their song “Made A Mistake“. It brings back memories of fave bands as Sensation or Orlando. Amazing stuff!!! we will release the 7“ again as a limited run of 200 copies, handwritten numbers – of course!! i am really looking forward to it very much!!! Thanks to Paul for the great music and for getting contact again!! We are also working on an reissue of the BELFAST COWBOYS sole album “Relief“. For those who dont know, this superb short-lived band feat. the wonderful voice of Hugh Harkin, singer with MIGHTY MIGHTY and great guitars by Pete Byrchmore (ex Rumblefish, The Capitols, Nightingales etc.). There are more plans on reissues, so look out for news on it soon! What we will NOT put out anymore is the long planed retrospective by a band we can find on the sound of leamington spa vol. 1. We get the ok from the singer for it first more than 12 years ago, but never received the material to put together the album. We discussed things with him again and again and again. A while ago i found out on the internet that the album will be finally out on another label. I wrote the singer to find out what happens, i never received an reply from him. His band was in my alltime favourite list. Now the band means nothing to me anymore , and i don't care if the album will be out someday or not. I will never ever listen again to these great songs. FACT!

SOMETHING TO LOOK OUT FOR (PART 4)

Tired as me of todays indiepop but still in love with jangle guitars?
Check out these, some more obscure british bands from the past. as always, any futher infos about them are more than welcome. enjoy!


3 BOYS & A GIRL


Hailed from Northumberland, this very obscure four-piece played wonderful girl/boy-vocal summerpop in the style of bands as The Siddeleys, Great Scott or Girl Of My Best Friend. Once had two tracks on a compilation LP with the strange name “Zscheisch“. It also contains two early songs by The Nivens. No sure if 3 BOYS & A GIRL ever released more material but if so, i would love to hear these songs!

RECRUITS

I once found their 7“ single at Utrecht Record Fair. Recorded at Ha! Bloody Ha! Studios and released on band's own label in 1989. “See My Face“ is superb male vocal indiepop which let me think on bands as Rumblefish, The Jeremiahs or This Final Frame. Cataloguenumber was RE 2, so what was RE1?

BLAM! BLAM! Y.C.

Not so much my cup of tea but everyone who is into bands like Motorcycle Boy, Fat Tulips or The Rosehips should check out their sole 12“ single which called “Rollercoasting Barbie and the Dumb Angels“, released 1988 on Middlesex-based “Pussy Records“.

BOP SH BAM

Short-lived band put together by John Robinson, once songwriter and guitarist of mighty Respond Records-act THE QUESTIONS, in 1987. Band recorded songs as “How Can I Tell You“ or “Painful World“, but as it seems never released any records. Anyone out there who can play me those tunes?

THE AUCTIONEERS

Classic male vocal guitarpop somewhere between Hurrah! and Onionhead. Around the late 80's.


LIBERTY VALANCE

Once shared the stage with such great bands as Bradford or Raintree County.

THE FLEX

To be honest, this band was unknown for me until the last year. No idea why i never heard their single, “You Lose“, before. This song is one of those tracks which you fall in love with from the start. Think about the moment you first heard songs by Hey Paulette (“Penelope“), 35 Summers (“Really Down“) or Ala Pana Fuzo (“Friend) and you will get an idea about it's greatness. Not to be confused with another band called Flex which was on the road around the same time and which put's out the fine “Whatever Happend To Small Talk“ EP.

RED MONEY

WOW, WOW, WOW, that's what i thought when i first heard the band's 7“ single, “My Erstwhile Companion“. I have to think of early Aztec Camera, The Man Upstairs, The Trash Can Sinatras or The Man From Delmonte while listening to their songs. Band hailed from Croydon and played their first gig in the early days of 1990. Not much more is known about them.

THE FLAT STANLEYS

Oxford-based and once friends with bands as The Anyways, Razorcuts and Heavenly. No further description needed!

CARY GRANT'S WEDDING

It's said that they were one of the original jangle pop darlings of Norwich. While listening to their song “Skid Chicane“ it's easy to see why. Fast jangly indiepop, somewhere between Talulah Gosh and early Wedding Present. Fun Fun Fun!!

LONG WEEKEND

Amazing blue-eyed soul indiepop. Once had a track on the Abstract Compilation-LP, released back in 1984. Somewhere between The Rage, Reflection A.O.B. And Friday Club.

LIBRA

Appeared on the same compilation and nearly as great as Long Weekend. “Only You“ is a fine song which will let you think on Orange Juice during their “Rip It Up“-phase.

THE ASTRIDS

Early 90's outfit which had some fun while playing some kind of Lloyd Cole-style indiepop.

BOOTLESS

Ex MEN OF WESTENESSE! One 7“ single,“The Nineteen Eighty-Hero From The Bikeshead“, released on own label back in the early 90's. Don't look out for it, it's impossible to locate these days!

THE MONK BOUGHT LUNCH

One 7“ single, private release back in 1991. Just two bandmembers, a boy and a girl, three cool songs, a great sleeve, that's all i know about them!

NEW RELEASE

Finally out January 31th:

FST 089 THE SOULBOY COLLECTIVE – Clique Tragedy

"DIE große Pophoffnung aus Deutschland" (soundmag.de)

PRE- ORDER your copy at www.firestation-records.de NOW!

Tracklist:
It’s All Because Of You
Let’s Stay Undecided
It Will Never Be Over For Me
I’m Glad She’s Not My Girlfriend
You Can Do Magic
I Wish She’d Asked Me Out
It Must Be You
I’m Not In Love But I Could Be
Casino Action
What’s The Point To Start Anew
Don’t Worry About Me

New CDs from THE CHERRY ORCHARD and PLAYING FOR TIME out in February! More infos soon...

SOMETHING TO LOOK OUT FOR (PART 3)

Last weekend's record fair went well and i had good sales which gave me some room for having a day without recordshopping or e-mail correspondence. Instead i took some beer and had a look at my tape and 7“ boxes which i haven't been through since more than a year both.
Here is what i found:


THE LATE BOYS
Hailed from Sheffield and around the early 90's. Unfortunately i have no further infos about them. “Got This Feelings“ let my popdreams come true! Soulful male vocal indiepop with great chorus let me hope for more, but no surprise, nothing happend (as far as i know).

WHERE'S JULES
One self-released 7“ single in 1987. On “Nothing At All“ they mixed the soul of Fruits Of Passion, the guitars of Aztec Camera and vocals ala Andy Pawlak. A lost classic!!!

ANOTHER TWIN
Not much is known about this very obscure band. Released one fine album, “The Dying Bloom“, in the mid 80's.
Songs as “Simple Chin“ or “Retracing Steps“ will make fans of Felt, Orange Juice or Josef K very happy.

REBECCA FISHPOND
Does this band really existed or was it just a dream? Can't remember where i get their track from, but tell you what, this (for me) untitled song is one of the best 20 indiepoptunes ever written and even more it comes with some of the best lyrics i've ever heard. The line “You thought it was the end of the world when the rain ruined your head“ was stolen from it to name FST 016 after it. Never told that to anyone before, but now it's time to share. If you ask me this song should have become Sarah 001.

AND SO TO BED
Amazing London-based band which was around the late 80's. One 7“ single, released on Timebox Records, simply named “The EP“. Four tracks, four hits, full of jangly guitars somewhere between the first two singles by Laugh and The Close Lobsters.

MAGNIFICO
Some songs from the band's 7 track demotape let me think on Jazz Butcher. Should be hailed from Reading. No further infos.

THAT STRANGE DESIRE
It took me 10 years or so to find a copy of the band's sole 7“ single, “By My Side“, finally in 2002. Both songs are great fun with wonderful female vocals and jazzy guitars.


THE FAMOUS FIVE CLUB
No idea about them. Released a tape on Leeds-based Swell cassette recordings back in the late 80's. It came with a nice poster but without any infos on tracklist or credits. Very minimal indiepop somewhere between early Pastels, Grab Grab The Haddock and Trixie's Big Red Motorbike.

THE PLEASURE MEN
Based in Sheffield. Cool jangly indiepop which let me think on bands as The Love Buttons or Girl Of My Best Friend.

THE GALLEY SLAVES
I was never into their 7“ single that much, but some years ago i received an very nice rehearsal demo-tape by them recorded in 1991 which i think contains some superb songs. I have to think on the Clamheads or Carpenter Joe while listening to such tunes as “Don't Hold A Torch For Me“ or “Sarah Smith“. Cool!!

CANDID BENCH
Wow! Once heard a track by them called “How Embarassing For You“. I was blown away 'cos this tune sounded sooo much like The Brilliant Corners at their best! Would love to hear more!! Band was around the late 80's, no further infos.

TELL HIM HE'S PELE
I once wrote them just because of the great bandname. Didn't listening to their demo-tape since years, but now i've spent the last hour with their tune “Too Much Jesus“, singing all along the chorus and the ba-ba-ba's at the end. Without a doubt, this song would have make an perfect Sha-La-La-release, just next to the Poppyheads!
Band later turned into another group. Shame on me for forgetting about it's name.

SUMMIT UP
One 7“ release. Both tracks from it let me think on bands as The Man Upstairs, Aztec Camera or Raintree County. Another lost classic! “All Right In The End“ was released on band's own label in 1990,

MICHAEL SOMETIMES
ex JOHNNY SAYS YEAH. One sleeve-less 7“ single and lots of demotracks. Nearly as brilliant as their former's band!

POPFEST BERLIN 2010

more inormations here

THE PAINTED WORD – UNIVERSAL “LOST SECOND ALBUM“

Alan McCusker-Thompson's THE PAINTED WORD released the perfect piece of pop in 1986. This jewel was called “Independence Day“ and saw the day of light as 7“ and 12“ on Mother Records. Around the same time the band appeared on legendary tape-only compilation “Honey At The Core“ with an early take of the amazing “Worldwide“. It took three years before signed up to RCA and put out two ep's and the mighty longplayer “Lovelife“. This album became one of my alltime faves from the start, it's scottish pop in it's perfection, somewhere between “High Land, Hard Rain“, “Trapped And Unwrapped“, “Swimmer“ and Fruits Of Passion sole album. Not so sure what happend after “Lovelife“, i was looking out for them year after year. Nearly sure that they called it the day. Gladly i found out about the band's second album “Universal“ back in the late 90's. Released in the year 1995 i was wondering why the hell i never heard about it before. “Universal“ was released on EMI but seems to be withdrawn before copies made it into the shops. I really would love to find out about the reasons for it. After all those years i only saw this cd a couple of times on ebay where it went for 200+. Gladly a good friend from Japan once passed me a cd-r copy of it years ago. “Universal“ starts where “Lovelife“ has ended six years before. Another perfect album done by Alan and i still wonder today why the band never made it onto the top. “My Song“ made my day today, i really think that it's time now for an retrospective by one of the most finest band's ever!!! I don't have the original issue of “Universal“, so i can't include the sleeve of it. Sorry for that!
Anyone out there who can help me out on this?


Universal - Tracklist

Somewhere In The World Tonight
I Dream
Universal
Breathless
The Blues In Your Eyes
Night After Night
Smile
Starlight
Life
This Is My Song

FST 088 THE CHERRY ORCHARD

The next release on our small label will be a collection of the first three records of the wonderful CHERRY ORCHARD, plus eight previously unreleased exta-tracks. The working title is "These Restless Days". The 21-track CD will be out at the POPFEST BERLIN in late july. More infos to come...

TRACKLIST:

So Blind

Build It Up

This Big Love

These Times We Cried

Pennies Made Of Gold

Heartbreak Town

Baby Don't Cry

Lay Your Hands On Me

This Could Be Love

Healing Faith Like Fire

Heaven In Blue Eyes

Build It Up

The Right Train

Deep In The Heart Of Me
All Of This Pain
HighRise
The East Parade
Love Comes To Town
Love Parade
These Times We Cried (demo version)
The Bell

TRAMWAY Interview 1991

I found these sheets at my parents place yesterday. The interview was planned to release in SMUF-fanzine no.2. in summer 1991. I also found some unreleased articles, photos and live- and record reviews.

DEL AMITRI – “LOST“ SECOND ALBUM

DEL AMITRI'S first longplayer saved my life for a some months when i first found out about it in the early days of the year 1990. This selftitled piece of vinyl was released first in 1985 and received it's re-release in 1990 when the boys reached highest places in the charts with such singles as “Nothing Ever Happens“ or “Kiss This Thing Goodbye“. Although i have to say honest, that i enjoy the band's later work, it's a thousand miles away from their early recordings. How much i love their debut-album! Songs as “Heard Through A Wheel“ or “Deveice Yourself“ are still sooo important to me, they sound as great as the first time i was listening to them. Over the years i was wondering often what happend to the band during the “lost“ year's between 1986 – 1989. I finally found out about it when i received the recordings for their unreleased second album some years ago from a very nice person. Shame on me, but i can't remember what was the connection between him and the band back then.
Without a doubt this collection of songs would have made the perfect second album for the band. No idea why it was never released. Maybe they were without an label during those years? Maybe they were not happy with the recordings? As it seems the band recorded those songs soon after their debut album was released. Only one of those tracks ever saw the day of light officialy. “Out Of The Wind“ appeared on an 12“ EP released by the long gone Record Mirror Magazine in 1986. In the early days this record went for high on ebay, to my surprise i noticed that it's available from various places for cheap money now. Some of the “lost“ songs made it on a demo-tape which was compiled in 1987 and which once sold on ebay for 300+. The unreleased album show's Del Amitri on their highest, “Tall People“ and “The Wind In The Wheels“ became my favourite tracks from it. While listening again to all those songs i noticed how important this band is still to me. Maybe i should ask Justin Currie to release them finally? There should be no chance for it, but who knows? It would be a dream come true for me!

Tracklist:

Tears And Trickery
Tall People
The Way I Live Now
Unfinished
The Wind In The Wheels
Love Gone Too Far
Life Going Backwards
Nothing Goes According To Plan
Seven Days
Out In The Wind

FST Youtube-Channel on start

welcome to the wonderful world of HQ videos from lots of firestation bands. yes - even famous bands like RUMBLE STRIPS, THE PIPETTES or THE WOMBATS released songs on our small label. the list will grow...
take a look to the first bunch of videos here