So years later I couldn’t believe it when Ian asked me to guest DJ for the second time – for the C86 special in October. I couldn’t believe it, and was so so so excited! Ian made the room look really special that night: flyers, posters, literature and memorabilia from a golden age that it really was fantastic. I’m truly grateful to Ian and all his massive effort in keeping the indie pop flag flying with the added ingredients of 60′s girl groups, Soul and heartbreak, a winning combination – thanks Ian. My set went like this…..

Hurrah! – The Sun Shines Here
Biff Bang Pow – There Must Be a Better Life
The Jasmine Minks – Mr Magic
The Soup Dragons – Not For Humbert
The Primitives – She Don’t Need You
Jesse Garon and the Desperadoes – Splashing Along
The Clouds – Jenny Nowhere (flexi)
The Pastels – I’m Alright With You
My Bloody Valentine – Sunny Sundae Smile
Pop Will Eat Itself – Candydiosis
The Jesus and Marychain – Ambition
Meat Whiplash – Don’t Slip Up
Slaughter – I’ll Follow You Down
The Groove Farm – Couldn’t Get To Sleep
The Shop Assistants – All That Ever Mattered
Another Sunny Day – Anorak City (flexi)
The Brilliant Corners – Delilah Sands
The June Brides – I Fall
McCarthy – Red Sleeping Beauty
The Chesterfields – Completely and Utterly
Baby Lemonade – Jiffy’s Neckwear Creation (flexi)
The Flatmates – Tell Me Why
The Loft – Over The Hill And Down The Slope
Primal Scream – It Happens
The Sea Urchins – Solace
The Springfields – Sunflower
The Golden Dawn – My Secret World
Talulah Gosh – Don’t Go Away
The Boy Hairdressers – The Assumption As An Elevator
The Orchids – Apologies
14 Iced Bears – Inside
The Fieldmice – Fabulous Friend
The Bodines – Therese
BMX Bandits – What A Wonderful World
Razorcuts – Big Pink Cake
The Pastels – Million Tears

Check out the How Does It Feel website here.

Here are some photos of the night.

Ever the Optimist

Inches from the Ground

A Matter of Convenience

My Idea of Fun

Don’t Take This to Heart

Note to Self

The Fireworks, The Sunny St, Jonny Collins, The Kick Inside and Our Arthur.

A celebration of our first year as a label and showcasing some of the bands we’re lucky enough to be working with.

A Big Black Plastic Explosion!!

It goes without saying that a top indiepop disco will follow after the bands. The sweet sounds of the Big Pink Cake DJs plus guest sets from the legendary Rocker (Dandelion Radio) and dancefloor fillers from Gareth (Lipstick On Your Collar). Stay and bop!

The Garlands formed in 2007 by Christin Wolderth and Roger Gunnarsson (previously of Free Loan Investments, Happy Birthdays, Nixon, Cloetta Paris etc.). They discovered that they shared the same passion for indiepop in the style of Heavenly, Go Sailor! and Talulah Gosh, and started writing songs. Since 2007, The Garlands have releases on labels Cosy Recordings, Cloudberry Records and Atomic Beat Records. Since 2010 The Garlands is also a live band, which consist of Christin Wolderth, Maria Petersson, Einar Ekström, Patrik Lindgren and Robert Klaesson.
‘You Never Notice Me’ was written in 2007 and was the very first song the Garlands wrote, but have only existed in demo versions and have not been released until now, along with ‘Continue’, which was written in 2010. Both songs are written by Christin Wolderth and Roger Gunnarsson, Recorded by Roger Gunnarsson and The Garlands, mixed and produced by Einar Ekström in Stockholm in 2011. Upcoming gigs are Indietracks festival and a post-Indietracks gig in Sheffield.

Prepare to dance yourself dizzy.

Today seems a bit of a strange time to start a blog – the world seems to be going a bit mental and in times like these the only ting to do is stay at home and hide. Anyway, yesterday was really really sad, as news of the Norwegian tragedy seemed to be filling the airwaves and rather typically of me I didn’t want to go out and mingle and chat or do anything. Weirdly enough though, Norway has been on my mind loads this week…youtube through ones of its recommendations (because I’d watched something to do with Oslo) suggested (as it indeed does) that I view ‘the true Norwegian Black Metal’ knowing nothing about this genre apart from some stave church burnings in the early 90s, I was intrigued. Then I was further intrigued by a character called Gaahl – lead singer of band Gorgoroth – articulate, intelligent, had been in prison for GBH (I think). Well anyway Gaahl got my mind going thinking – well he’s just misunderstood etc. THEN…images of walking…..no no no militantly flouncing, would be a more appropriate description, into his valley, silver tinsel boots, as an ultra camp silver thing came flooding my mind…only to think….don’t be stupid….he’d probably kill you!!!…Well a day later I found out that he has recently come out as a gay man and thought my ‘fantasy’ was a bit more tangible…don’t be stupid….he’d probably kill you!!!! The fact (I think) still remains…untested and untried out….scaredy cat! Therefore my point being that Norway had indeed been on my mind all week…some extreme examples of its population make up had me willingly distracted and perhaps strangely and curiously seduced.

Anyway – erm yes this is an INDIE POP blog dedicated to the sounds that are uplifting, joyful, soulful and life affirming…..a million miles away from black metal….maybe not (!) Saturday – get yourself to Notting Hill… NOW, Spiral Scratch are putting a gig on at ‘the rota’ Notting Hill Arts Centre!!! The world indeed does keep spinning round, its no use, no use at all getting down – go out! TINY FIREFLIES, one half being Tiny Microphone the other The Fireflies was indeed a treat. A SUPER SUPER angelic voice that leaves traces of pure gold…. and then disappears, I was mesmerised….gentle breezes of guitar matched to intertwined keyboards adding a quiet yet distinct soul and power that hooked me, hooked me, left me swaying, feeling the hushed quiet of distant emotion and pictures of quiet reflection….very necessary…thoughtful and quietly MASSIVE.

Next up THE SUNNY STREET….well last week at Librarians Wanted… they were mine encapsulated on stage, timeless, in an enclosure ready to pick up like a snow storm…ready to thrill me with the sound sounding so perfect…the best (sound) I’ve heard in London I have to say….then….it happened again…yesterday…into a poem….’FOR GOODNESS TRY TO CONTROL YOURSELF!’ The Sunny Street have a real knack in making me come over all emotional…like a cold wave…like a memory…like beating into my heart and capturing me…completely. Very few bands can actually do this – not many are this good…its a skill. I think its called being genuine, being honest and as pure and lovely as you could possibly get. The Sunny Street are there to warm and stir your heart…to encapsulate you, melt your heart – through POP. Ian’s bass melodically lifts and adds the emotional engine whilst Remi dramatically adds the guitar dynamics that are intuitive and with that intuitiveness…spot on, sensitive and powerful. Christos…we love you….hiding, but not forgotten… adding yet further emotionals….listening to the effects of quiet yearning and complementing EVERYTHING! Delphine….if I could I could write poetry I would, I would write a thousand words and tell the world that I love you….Delphine is the perfect perfect front person – utterly adding to the beauty of the band…..THEN she dedicates….Pottery and Glass to… ME………for making her smile…..ME! Are you trying to destroy me/finish me off? Some moments are golden….The Sunny Street are it.

Well after that I wasn’t really in the mood for anything else, Soho was calling, so Jen and I headed out to The Stockpot on Old Compton Street – highly recommended for cheap, unfussy honest food, it really is a true delight for Central London.

Off to Borderline to see THE JASMINE MINKS – I was trying to avoid any pre ideas or opinion of anything and just I’d ‘let it happen.’ Well first on the case were THE EDINBURGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAF…I’ll give it a go…..intensely intense, facial expressions a go go. Backs to the audience milarcky. fidgety, wouldn’t stand still for a single second – ants in his pants, par excellence, Very very very different from ‘the rota’ but good – fiercely passionate, provocative, with a hint of danger. I liked it. It then turns out that it was there last gig. So yes of course go for it, go crazy, go mental, burn the place down – oh hang on the drummer has taken the drum off the stage and is playing it centimetres furiously from Jen and I. Visions of leaving with the venue with a drum stick impaled to my eye take over…. PHEW!!!…eyes intact – it was excellent and reminded me of the glorious diversity of POP. PASSION WITH A CAPITAL P I think cool and like a hurricane.

THE JASMINE MINKS – I never saw them back in the day, I’m not entirely sure if they ever played Bristol. Anyway – yes time has moved on people do look older, people will look like dads and not like poster boys of a time gone by. I truly forgot how brilliant the harmonies and singers (3 of them) there were in The Jasmine Minks. A not so brilliant start but then WHAAAAAAAAM!!!!! just like the Liechtenstein painting immediate and utterly utterly amazing – ‘You Take My Freedom’ just reminded me of the strength of their songs the punk/mod/pop attitude of early creation it was so refreshing and vital. Cold Heart was a gorgeous blend of amazing song writing and pop that reminds you of your beating heart….cold hands…warm heart my dear. Totally life affirming and brilliant.

An earlier conversation with friends at the rota, in the wake of all this tragedy and hearing about Amy Winehouse’s death. Life (in my opinion) is the most most most important thing and its our birth right to be the happiest that we can be and that is what we need to strive for and try to remember always. Whatever floats your boat, what ever makes your heart tick….that’s our take on life….its for living…that’s what we want for everyone. Obviously with us its INDIE POP….adding to the fun and beauty of life itself.

A later conversation walking home to the tube with a friend. I felt it necessary to say don’t get distracted by others, don’t let others get you down, hold on to your INDIE POP dream, align yourself with YOUR dream and YOUR vision of what you want it to be. Not with disappointments that you can’t change anyway that will lead to more…….disappointments that YOU have given attention to. Not bad for a miserable so and so who didn’t want to leave the house earlier….but then that’s the POWER OF INDIE POP!!!!

XXX MATTHEW (JULY)

Betty and The Werewolves

Wake The President

Evans The Death

Our Arthur

Arctic Circle

Peru

Heroes of the Mexican Independence Movement

Lonely Tourist

Tracey’s LoveCue Fanfare

Special guest DJs Maz (NYC Popfest), Deb (Flatmeates), Nikki (Bubblegum Splash), Rocker (Dandelion Radio) and the Big Pink Cake DJs spinning heady summer tunes after the bands.

Bring on the sunshine!

Tickets are £10 and can be bought in advance from http://www.wegottickets.com/event/119894

Surfin’ Into Your Heart (LoFi)

Captain Fantastic (4 Track Demo)(LoFi)

I’m Never Going To Fall In Love Again (Alt Mix)(LoFi)

A Raving Pop Blast! from the past…

Ready to preorder now via Paypal – release date July 2nd 2011

Indie pop.1986. Bristol, meant many things, but it also meant The Groove Farm – with their own unique garage/surf take on pop/punk as inspired by Buzzcocks, The Undertones, The Jam and The Chords. The Groove Farm’s first single ‘Sore Heads and Happy Hearts’ exactly 25 years ago (well November) was sent to Janice Long and John Peel – who played it within the very next few days and becoming firm favourites on the independent radio airwaves. Becoming a fine and legendary live act and an uncompromising force to be reckoned with, they were part of The Subway Organisation troupe alongside, The Flatmates and The Chesterfields et al. Throughout their time The Groove Farm toured with The Wedding Present and constantly appeared in the indie charts, consistently proving their appeal as one of the most exciting indie pop bands of the time. The Groove Farm 1986 – 1990 provided a wealth of takes on pop but was always elemental, immediate and FUN, never failing with it’s ‘true to the bone’ stance. Matt Haynes wrote on The Groove Farm ‘THAT DAY I DISCOVERED PUNK ROCK!’ in Sarah 4 fanzine - a firm believer in their pop conviction and manic pop bliss. This cd, ‘ Its Only Indie Pop..But I Like It’, fantastically archives the finest moments with only their best bits (23 and a bit tracks) included, complete with pics, photos, posters, info and accounts of a time that was truly special and truly theirs..it can be yours too. We think you’d… ‘like it’ too, after all is 100% indie pop.

Tracklisting

01. Surfin’ Into Your Heart

02. It Always Rains On Sunday

03. The Best Part Of Being With You

04. Stop!

05. Baby Blue Marine

06. The Big Black Plastic Explosion (It’s Alright It’s Alright!)

07. It Might Not Mean That Much To You But It Means A Lot To Me

08. Heaven Is Blue

09. I’m Never Going To Fall In Love Again

10. Couldn’t Get To Sleep

11. Driving In Your New Car (Triumph Herald)

12. You Can’t Deny It, Can You?

13. Just A Silly Phase I’m Going Through

14. Captain Fantastic

15. Something’s Going Wrong

16. In The Summertime

17. I Can’t Dance With You

18. No Friend Of Mine

19. Nancy Sinatra

20. Don’t Try That Old Routine On Me

21. Watching The World Go By

22. That’s Deceit

23. No One Like You