Our final two releases of the year are in American shops this week and en route to various international destinations too. Have we saved the best for last? The Guild League and The Hermit Crabs say of course! Here’s all you need to know:
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THE GUILD LEAGUE – SPEAK UP
Tracklisting:
1. Mouse vs. Mountain
2. If Not Now…
3. Dead Hour
4. Suit Fits
5. The Idea
6. Where’s The Colour?
7. Brains
8. Limited Express
9. 17 Summer
10. Incandescent
Long-awaited third album from Australian pop collective The Guild League, comprised of frontman Tali White (also of The Lucksmiths), lead-cellist/bassist Cressida Griffith, sax prodigy Gus Rigby, drummer about town Phil Collings, trumpet from Roger Clark, and guitar magic from Basic Shape’s Gerry Eeman.
The follow-up to the celebrated ‘Inner North’ album (matcd034) in 2004, new album ‘Speak Up’ is the sound of a band full of optimism and new ideas. There’s a little bit for everyone, from the insanely catchy guitar pop of ‘Suit Fits’ and ‘If Not Now…’ to ska-tinged swingers ‘Mouse vs. Mountain’ and ‘Where’s The Colour?’ to stunningly beautiful and poignant vocal showcases ‘Dead Hour’ and ‘Incandescent.’ The album mixes guitars with strings, keyboards, bursts of trumpet and saxophone, wonderful female backing vocals, and handclaps, all complemented by Tali’s crystal clear and perfectly pitched vocals.
Imagine the younger brothers of Australia’s legendary Summershine Records roster (The Rainyard, The Sugargliders, Tender Engines) mixed with early 80s British pop staples (The Jam, Madness) and you’re nearly there. A refreshingly diverse and confident set from a band that only gets better with time.
For band information, soundclips, and more release details please see the catalog and artist pages, or visit the Matinée and The Guild League pages on Myspace.
You can hear four songs on the Matinée sounds page, or tracks from the album rotating weekly on MySpace, or 30-second samples of all the songs on iTunes. It’s available now in the Matinée shop and from select record emporiums across the globe.
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THE HERMIT CRABS – CORRESPONDENCE COURSE EP
Tracklisting:
1. About You Before
2. Correspondence Course
3. Turn The Clock Back
4. I Don’t Know How
Splendid new EP from heralded Scottish band The Hermit Crabs! Following impressive debut single ‘Feel Good Factor’ (matinée 063) and album ‘Saw You Dancing’ (matcd046) last year, the Glasgow band spent a year sharpening its live set with shows across the UK plus an appearance at the New York City popfest. The four new songs on this EP accentuate the rich instrumentation present on earlier recordings with a diverse mix of acoustic and electric guitars occasionally embellished with distortion and present a more upbeat, poppy side to their sound.
Lead track ‘About You Before’ is a swinging number about summer relationships that boasts melodic vocals, nice orchestration, a soaring chorus and great bursts of percussion. ‘Correspondence Course’, driven by superb violin arrangements and distorted guitar bits, is another tale about the china girl mentioned on their debut single. ‘Turn The Clock Back’ is a beautifully pensive one about a breakup and the little things you miss when you’re not going out with someone, while ‘I Don’t Know How’ is a classic case of saving the best for last—an upbeat hit with a sixties vibe, surf guitars and a great singalong chorus. It’ll even have the indie hipsters dancing by the end so don’t fight it, feel it!
Well written and perfectly produced, ‘Correspondence Course’ pops and crackles in all the right places and is a fantastic step forward for the band. Limited to 1000 copies in custom minijacket sleeve.
For band information, soundclips, and more release details please see the catalog and artist pages, or visit the Matinée and The Hermit Crabs pages on Myspace.
You can hear current favorite ‘I Don’t Know How’ on the Matinée sounds page, or tracks from the EP rotating weekly on MySpace, or 30-second samples of all the songs on iTunes. It’s available now in the Matinée shop and from top quality stores elsewhere too. You’ll love it!