Firestation Records Night

FST 084 - DER ENGLISCHE GARTEN

Finally – after two singles we will release the debut CD of Munichs finest at Firestation Records. Since their 7” “Eine neue Welt” we love the sound of the nine Munich lads. By the way was it the fastest selling single at our catalogue. We have only left a few copies of the “Junge Leute” 7”, too. Time for their self- titled CD- album .
The album will be opened with a new version of “Junge Leute”, followed by ten new tracks who let you think and dream of new Jim Jiminee or Dexys songs. The disco-like “2 Minuten 45”, the early Merricks sound-a-like “Heizdecke Am Strand” or the groovy “Bitte Bleib Mal” – forced by the horn section these are HITS. And the lyrics from singer Axel Koch ( C.l.a.r.k.) about resistance and revolution – class struggle can be fun!
And what a sensational live- band they are…glorious!
“Der Englische Garten” will be out in November.

TRACKLIST:

Junge Leute
Der Geist Der Straße
2 Minuten 45
Baden gehen
Eiffelturm
Unter Dem Wasserfall,
Regentag
Heizdecke Am Strand
Dein Taschenmesser
Irgendwoanders Hin
Bitte Bleib Mal

OUT NOW

THE OGDENS - HELLISH MAD RUSH

The Ogdens were formed in 1986 by Jon Fagg, Andrew Milton, John Phillips and Vince Woodward. Vince left Britain to live in the US and John Devenney (JD) joined in 1987. Karen Andrews was with the band for a year or so on trumpet.

The band released three singles, the first of which was Single of the Week in the NME in 1988. John Peel regularly played the band’s songs on his show and his special selection for the BBC World Service. Their third single “She Made Everything Groovy” was produced by Pete Overend Watts of Mott the Hoople. Over the years, the band played tours across the country in venues such as the ICA (on the same bill as the Stone Roses), the Marquee and The Mean Fiddler.

The group have never formally disbanded and their records and memorabilia still turn up regularly on ebay.

After almost 20 years here finally comes their debut-album on Firestation Records with 22 great songs, including all singles, never released tracks, some demos and live recordings. You can buy HELLISH MAD RUSH direct on our website, on ebay and other onlineshops or at your local record dealer (distribution in Germany/ Austria/ Switzerland by ALIVE).

FST 086 THE DESERT WOLVES – PONTIFICATION PLUS

We first released "Pontification" in the summer of the year 2000. Can't remember exactly what keep's the ball rolling back then. Maybe it was Peter who was going in contact with Martin King of the band a couple of years earlier. What i remember is that i met with Guy Lovelady of Ugly Man Records on an rather cold spring day in the year 2000. We had some great conversations in a bar nearby the Kurfürstendamm. Beside the master CD he passed me over the first recordings by the Vermont Sugar House. What a lovely day it was !
“Pontification“ became a big fan-favourite, 1500 copies of the album were pressed, another 500 vinyl copies were done exclusively for Vinyl Japan. Most of the cds were sold abroad. In the early days of Firestation Records we worked shortime with an german distribution company which name i have forgotten a long time ago. We passed them over 200 copies of the album with the result that we never ever received any payment from them. The company broke down a year later, so somewhere in germany there still should be some boxes of the original “Pontification“ release, as we never received the cds back from them. We run out of copies of the album in 2001. Over the years many new fans came by and asked for it. Gladly a couple of years ago Martin and his mates found some unreleased songs. So what to do which such brilliant material ? On the first there was the plan to release a two track 7“ single with both unreleased songs. After a longtime discussion at Firestation head quarter we decided to make some kind of “Deluxe Edition“ of an long out of stock album. Without a doubt, it's more than worth to do !
Now we have “Pontification Plus“ an new edition of this classic album with an brand new artwork and four bonustracks, three of them unreleased elsewhere !
“Skin Deep“ would have made a classic third single for the band, so we're more than proud to present it to you here on this special release !

Thanks to Guy, Martin and Kevin for great cooperation over all these years !!!!


tracklist:

Skin deep
Mexico
Love scattered lives
Stopped in my tracks
Desolation sunday morning
Passion in the afternoon
Speak to me, rochelle
Besotted
November
The gunmetal jaguar
La Petite Rochelle
She wore my sweater
Passion in the afternoon (version)

ZAZ TURNED BLUE

As promised before here we have some more obscure stuff from the demo-tape collection i bought a while ago. I have to say honest that i never heard about ZAZ TURNED BLUE before but this 6 track tape makes me very curious about them. I checked google for them but the only thing i could found out was that there once was a song by Was (Not Was) recorded in 1983 named that. Not sure if our ZAZ TURNED BLUE named themself after this song but i will make sure to give this number a listen in the near future. Unfortunately the tape's sleeve did not contain any infos apart from the bandname and the songtitles. The first four songs were recorded live while the last two tracks were recorded at home. The home-demos are very rough and rather keyboard-based, what really kicks me are those four live-cuts. “Speak Your Mind“ brings back memories of early Aztec Camera live-recordings and i have to think on “Just Like Gold“ while listening to this number. Maybe it's the singer's voice or those wonderful jazzy guitars. I'm not sure but can let you know that this number became very special to me over the last couple of months. Next up we have “The Night Is As Loud As Thunder“, another fine tune. “Observations“ is pure North Of Cornwallis, believe it or not ! How great ! I can't stop listening to it. They close with “If I Choose“ which contains more jangly guitars and an great refrain. I really wonder if someone out has any infos about them. So many questions to ask. When were they around ? Did they released any records ? Where they came from ? The list seems to be endless. Come on, don't let me spend another month keep searching in the dark !

FST 087 THE OGDENS – HELLISH MAD RUSH

After a break we will return in october with three new releases. We will kick off with an retrospective by alltime-faves The Ogdens. “Hellish Mad Rush“ will contain no less than 22 tracks ! Formed in 1986 the band released three wonderful singles, all of them are still in the hearts of indiepop-lovers all around the world. I bought “It's A Beautiful Day“, the band's debut 7“ single, sometimes back in 1990 only to found out soon after that there were two other records by them already out. It took me a while to locate them both finally in 1991.
Full of jangly guitars and some of the finest melodies ever heard, songs as “Patricia“, “Train To London Bridge“ or “Rachel Put Your Arms About Me“ makes my day for many many years. Still friends today the band never called it the day but went separate ways back in the early 90's. I played their records on regular basis over the years and looked out for them on google twice the month. Time went by and i nearly gave up. I became an lucky man earlier this year when i found out that they finally appeared on myspace. Now we have “Hellish Mad Rush“ an compilation CD full of hits which contains all tracks from the band's regular releases plus lot's of unreleased recordings. As a bonus there will be even some 4 track demos plus a couple of live tracks !
As yet unreleased songs as “Yeah Yeah Yeah“ or “From One Extreme To A Broken Dream“ will make your day, more than sure ! So let them into your heart !!!
Thanks a lot to Andrew for the great conversation over the last couple of months !!!

the tracklist will look as follows:




Yeah Yeah Yeah
Sticky Licky Apples
From One Extreme To A Broken Dream
It's A Beautiful Day
Shades Of Green
Bad State Of Mind
Rachel Put Your Arms About Me
Train To London Bridge
The Prettiest Girl In Carmarthenshire
Deep
I Want To Know Everything
She Made Everything Groovy
Walk In The Country
Patricia
All About Steve
Bring Me The Head Of The National Theatre
Dizziness
Boeing Boeing Bomb!
Slip Of A Lad
Funny What A Moon Can Do
From One Extreme To A Broken Dream
Goodbye Yuppy Scum

BEYOND THE BLUE / SIDEWAYS LAUGHING / THE TENDERHOOKS

I fell in love with british indiepop back in 1986 and became an collector soon after i left school a year later. Beside all those lovely records i was always into demotapes. To locate those obscure stuff always giving me the biggest thrill. I was getting very nervous the last year when i received an offer to buy an demotape collection from an english ex radio dj who was on air between the mid 80's – early 90's. From the start it was a sure thing for me that i have to buy this amazing collection. I collect nearly 100 hundred tapes from him and it will not surprise you to hear that the lot contains some of the most greatest stuff i've ever heard. I wrote about demos from well known bands as The Jeremiahs or The Rain before but now it is time to go deeper into the more obscure stuff. Some of you may remember the excellent “Beyond The Fence Begins The Sky“ compilation LP released in 1986 on Plastic Head Records. Full of hits there was a band called BEYOND THE BLUE which really kicks me. I once wrote that their song “The Return Of The Prodigals“ is one of the most finest indiepop songs ever written. All the years i've tried to track down this band to get the chance for more recordings by them. Without luck i was an happy man to found one of their demotapes among the collection i've bought. This untitled collection contains six songs recorded back in 1986. i can't stop listening from the start as all of the songs contain some of the most fantastic jangly guitars i've ever heard. How great ! The tape contains an different version of “The Return Of The Prodigals“ plus five other tunes which left me sleepless. I have to think of all those classic bands as The Love Parade, Mighty Mighty or The Aurbisons while listening to those recordings. The tape's tracklist looks as follows:

Beyond The Blue
Time To Smile
The Return Of The Prodigals
A Time In My Heart
The Never Never Girl
Acid Rain

To my surprise i found out that the band's members played in two other band's as well whose tapes were also part of the lot. Although i'm not sure i believe that SIDEWAYS LAUGHING were pre BEYOND THE BLUE. Songs full of love and vocals somewhere between Edwyn Collins and Paul Haig. I received two tapes by them with 12 tracks in total, no filler, hits only ! I really wonder why i never heard about them before ! They should have became huge and i'm more than sure that everyone who is into the first Orange Juice album would have fell in love with them.
As it seem's BEYOND THE BLUE split up in 1987 and members of the band formed an group called THE TENDERHOOKS and tell you what, the band's demotape contain some of the greatest song's i've heard in years. Unfortunately no songtitles were given on the tape's sleeve but can let you know that it contains an new version of one of the SIDEWAYS LAUGHING tracks. Over all those years, some songs became special to me in the likes of Mighty Mighty's “Is There Anyone Out There, Aurbisons “Ring Collector“ or Close Lobsters “Mirror Breaks“. It's that wonderful feeling that hit's me while listening to those songs. Some of Tenderhooks song's now means the same to me and it's not often that i can say something like that. Now it's up to you, try to locate them and when you found them let them know that there is an label who would love to release an retrospective by them !!!!

Vacation 2009 (or should i rather say business...)

Another summer means another trip to London for me. I've been doing this mix of vacation and business since more than 20 years. I gave up going by plane in 1994, so i took the bus instead since then. This year it took me a lot of good words to convince Marina to hit the road again. In honest the bus-journey is pure horror ! We left berlin on sunday afternoon and reached london in the early hours of monday morning. The tour operator offers an sight-seeing tour before we can check-in into the hotel. No interested in this we left the bus at Elephant & Castle Tube-station around 9.00. It took us another 30 minutes to reach tube-station Oxford Circus. I always enjoy this place in the early hours, the streets are still empty. We first went into HMV to buy some music-magazines. Soon after we moved to Berwick Street, which is still one of my favourite places for record shopping, although some shops were closed down over the last couple of years as Mr. CD which was an amazing place for finding bargain stuff. We spent a while in Sister Ray where i bought the new Rumblestrips EP (just out on that day) plus some bargain cds. Too tired to have a look at all these 7“ boxes we left to enter Revival Records. This shop is around since two or three years. I was too late the other year, so I've never been to this shop before. A friend of mine went in the last year and bought some excellent stuff. To be honest, i didn't found that much, just bought stuff for a friend and the latest Camera Obscura album for cheap money. Next it was our plan to visit Record & Tape Exchange, but normal thing in the early hours, the bargain floor was still closed. Some time left we decided to have a first look at Cheapo Cheapo Records which is just a couple of minutes away from R&TE. To my horror we found out that the shop has finished business. How sad ! This shop was one of my alltime favourite stores. A friend of mine told me later that they have closed down a couple of weeks before.
We moved to Paddington station to get in the bus again. Another surprise hits us when we found out that the hotel was based in Heathrow. Not a good thing. We arrived an hour later. After some conversation with our tour guide we went into our room to fresh up again and left our bags. Only can say great words about the hotel (the breakfast was amazing by the way) but it took us an hour to reach London City each day. We spent the rest of the day at Records & Tape Exchange at Berwick Street. I bought some cool albums from the likes of Montt Mardie, The Answering Machine or Little Jackie for 0,50 pence each. I also found an compilation album called “The Sounds Of The Rhubarb Triangle“ which dates from 2005. It contains favourites Skint And Demoralised with an early take of “It's Only Been A Week“ which will be part of the band's debut album which will see the day of light in october and an great tune by Pavilion whose had an fine 7“ single out the last year. The next day we went to Camden for some clothes shopping. Sure thing, we went to Record & Tape Excance as well. I bought records from Dubious Brothers, Jamie Wednesday or Marden Hill for a pound each. Next up we took the tube to move to Angel. It took me nearly four hours to go through all the boxes at Haggle Records. Marina meanwhile spent the time to check the streetmarket which is nearby. I bought around 40 records from Haggle for 2 pounds each including some nice stuff from bands as Red Harvest, Guernica or Felt. Now it was time for some lunch and we took a bar just next up to Flashback Records for it. While having an cold banana shake i noticed that Christian of Soulboy Collective fame went through the bargain boxes of Flashback. What a surprise ! Christian left Berlin a couple of years ago for living in London. After some cigarettes (my first since we arrived to London!) we've spent some time to going through all the boxes which can be found at the shop's second floor. Nice stuff was found ! Christian offers an pub-session but i rather stayed away as it would have been impossible for me to drive back to Heathrow with having some beer before. How sad ! We spent the rest of the day for clothes shopping around Oxford Circus.
Next day we moved to Covent Garden to visit my friend Stephan (Ship Shape Club) who works in London since last december. It was great to meet him again after all those months. After some drinks we went to Notting Hill Gate to spent the rest of the day at Record & Tape Exchange. I bought around 100 cds / vinyl at the bargain floor plus some more stuff at the regular floor. What kicks me back home was an 12“ by an obscure band named After Tonite which was engieered by John Rivers. The record's a-side leaves me cold but both songs on side b sounds amazing to me. “It's Getting Harder And Harder“ let me think on such fine bands as Fragile Friends, Ade Moose and Walker or Decoy Avenue mixed up with the guitarsound of Archie Bell's “Tighten Up“. How great ! I played this record to death when we moved back home. It's up on places as musicstack, so please feel free to have a look for it !
On thursday it was on the plan to visit Alan's Record shop in East Finchley. I heard great words about this shop from friends of mine. The shop is based 218 High Road. It will took you a 10 minutes walk from the tube station to reach Alan's shop, but do not worry, there are a lot of Charity Shops on it's way which are worth to visit. We've been to four or five of them and found rather amazing stuff. Another copy of that amazing 12“ by swedish band The Hip Horace was found at the first shop. It was only the second copy i ever saw of this unique record. I just bought it from an scandinavian dealer a couple of months ago and i tell you what, this record is more than worth to have. Songs somewhere between late Close Lobsters, The Smiths and vocals ala Grahame Skinner makes this one an big favourite of mine. I also found a copy of the rare 12“ ep by obscure irish band Cuba Dares at the same place. At the next shop i took Trash Can Sinatras deadly rare “Senses Working Overtime“ 12“ plus some regular stuff from bands as McCarthy, Mousefolk or Jim Jiminee. It took us nearly two hours to finally reach Alan's shop only to found out that the shop's owner was on holiday. A letter on the shop's window promised that he will open again on saturday, so no problem. We took the bus and went to Portobello Road where we spent some nice time for shopping as well. I went into Rough Trade Shop only to find out that they now have an second floor which offers second hand stuff. I was surprised about it. They stock some nice stuff, so i can recommend a visit ! I bought some 7“ vinyl at the regular shop as well before we went into Oxfam shop which is just around the corner. Marina went through some books while i was searching for some cool records. I bought the first Pooh Sticks album plus 12“ singles from Boxing Clever, Fallover 24 or The Servants from it. A nice place to go as well !
We took our bus on friday for a trip to Brighton. The tour operator offers the trip for just 12 euro each. I always enjoy this town very very much. Unfortunately i left too much money for an polo-shirt only to found out an hour later that i could have saved more than 15 pounds for the same one from a shop nearby. Anyway, i was an happy man to found some obscure records the next door in the likes of stuff by The Waiting Sound (ever heard ?), The Sardines or that cool EP by obscure Lancashire based Hate Syndicate which were around the early 90's. The next hours we spent some time at the Brighton Beach. How lovely !!
On the way back to the hotel we left the bus in Brixton to walk around the streets over there.
The next day we had to bring our bags into the bus which took me nearly an hour. After we found out that i've bought nearly 400 cds plus 150 vinyl, i decided to left all the cd jewel case in the hotel but it was still a hard walk to transfer everything's into the bus. After work was done we spent saturday morning for some more shopping at camden town before moving to East Finchley again to visit Alan's Record Shop finally. This time he was in ! How great ! It took us nearly five hours to go through all his records, and we only checked the indie and pop section !!! we bought around 30 records and Alan makes us an great discount. I have to say honest, that i've been never into an more friendly shop than this one. I absolute recommed this place. Please make sure to visit his place the next time you're will be in London. It's more than worth !
Still time on our side we went to Covent Garden to visit Fopp Musicstore. We spent the rest of our money for cds from Beautiful South (BBC-Sessions), Lloyd Cole & The Commotions (sessions), Belle & Sebastian (just another BBC-Session Disc) or the deluxe edition of the Housemartins first album which was on my top must-have list for our vacation.
Hours went by and we totally forgot to pick up Stephan who just works around the corner for a “goodbye drink“. Shame on us for it ! We went back home to berlin soon after. It took us nearly 18 hours and costs me 30 euros for an taxi to bring my stuff home from the busstation.



My Top 11 list of songs from the records i bought:

Answering Machine – Another City, Another Story
After Tonite – It's Getting Harder And Harder
Skint And Demoralised – It's Only Been A Week
Pavilion – Lost In The Moonlight
The Northwestern – All The Ones
Tim Yen Yen – When The Song Applies To You
The Twang – Barney Rubble
Rumblestrips – Not The Only Reason
Beautiful South – BBC Sessions
The Hip Horace – Local Cornershop
The Steeples – Loosy Lucy

THE RAIN – DEMO TAPES

Hailed from Basingstoke, this great three piece released a couple of singles and one sole album between 1984 – 1990 before decided to change their bandname into Clark Springs. Another two singles were released before the band finally called it the day.
Always big faves of mine i was more than happy to receive some of the band's demo tapes a while ago.
First up we have an three track tape which i believe contains some of the band's earliest recordings.
Although no recording date is given on tape's sleeve, it contains the cataloguenumber JA 002, the same which can be found on their debut 7“, released in 1985. The tape kicks of with one of their greatest tunes ever, the elsewhere unreleased “Feet Turns To Clay“. Everything on this song sounds perfect to me, Clive sings like an young god and the guitarsolo sounds amazing to me. I played this tune to a couple of friends and everyone wonder why this track never found it's way on the band's vinyl releases. Next up we have an cool version on the rare “Money Man“. The tape end up with another pearl. “These Feelings Will Pass“ is one of those songs you will never forget about the first time you was listening to it. It was released later on one of Dave Driscoll's legendary compilation tapes .
The band released at least one other demo in 1984 contains this tune plus the unknown song “Parliament Hill Fields“. The tape's sleeve is shown on the band's myspace. It would be a great thing to hear it !
Next up we have another three track demo which contains songs whose later versions ends up on the band's album “To The Citadel“.
Tracklist for it as follows:

Hi There 1986
St Martin's-In-The-Field
Down Here

The last tape of the bunch i received is much more of interested as it contain an elsewhere unreleased coverversion of “She Don't Care About Time“ which was originally written by Gene Clark plus early versions on “First Of May“ and “Bright Pavilions“.
The lot i bought has also an demo by THE SOUND ACADEMY which contains the Rain's Nigel Rivers who teamed up with Jo Burgees on this. Unfortunately the tape didn't contain the band's songs, instead i have the pleasure to listen to an radioshow. I nearly went crazy when i found out about it !
The tape's sleeve lists four songs, anyone out there who has further infos about them ?
Back to The Rain, Clive once passed me another great unreleased tune which i will not forget to mention. “And The Leaves Circled Like Birds 'round Her Hair“ seems was recorded during the band's final days and shows once again how special they were !

JIM JIMINEE – EARLY DEMO TAPE

JIM JIMINEE – EARLY DEMO TAPE

OH, how i love this band ! It was the summer of 1987 when me and my old mate Stefan spent holidays in Hastings. There was a club whose name i have forgotten about which we went to every night. Great music was played and beside classic tracks from The Smiths or New Order there was a song we never heard about before. To shy to ask the DJ about it we just found ourself on the dancefloor. Shortly before leaving Hastings we're listening to an radioshow which plays this tune as well. We found out that the band's name was Jim Jiminee which just released their first single called “Do It On Thursday“. We went to the next recordshop but couldn't find the record. Back at home it took us months to locate the record finally. I will never forget the day i first played it on my turntable. After playing the record an hour or so, my neighbour came by to ask me if there would be a chance to stop this nonsens. I just closed the door and was listening again. He moved house soon after.
Over the years the band became a part of my life, i bought their records and saw them playing live a couple of times. “Town & Country Blues“ became an alltime fave at the ship shape club. Split much to early the band released two retrospective albums on Vinyl Japan and i was nearly sure that i never ever would hear any other songs by them. Gladly i became the chance to buy an early demo tape by them and tell you what, i nearly start crying while listening to it. No idea about it's recording date it contains four tracks, three of them unreleased elsewhere and i really wonder why. “Sleeping Once Again“ and “Centre Of Attention“ would have made perfect hits on the band's sole album “Welcome To Hawaii“. Beside those songs the tape contains an early version of “Snap Me Up“ plus an fine tune called “Time On My Hands“. Check out their video on Youtube and remember yourself how great they were !!!