Happy New Year! In addition to customary reports on new releases, this month we present lists of 2006 favorites from Matinée artists and our slightly belated fifth annual Matinée fanclub poll!
The first of two brand new releases is the impressive ‘Feel Good Factor’ EP (matinée 063) from new Glasgow act The Hermit Crabs! Band members Melanie Whittle and Des McKenna are veterans of Scottish favorites California Snow Story, while John Ferguson and Tony McDonald complete the current lineup. Lead track ‘Feel Good Factor’ is rich with instrumentation and simply spectacular…the sort of song that comes along only once in awhile but sticks with you forever. The track is one of the winners in Scotland’s Burnsong song writing competition so prepare for something truly remarkable. Have a listen to it on the sounds page and you’ll see what I mean.
The EP also features ace exclusive songs ‘China Girl,’ ‘Vegan Vows’ and ‘I Spend My Time’—three more top quality tracks featuring violin, classical guitar, keyboards, superb vocals and strong lyrics. Perfect for fans of Camera Obscura, Tender Trap, Belle and Sebastian or Sambassadeur, the Hermit Crabs are a very welcome addition to the Matinée roster. The band is currently working on its debut album for release later this year so now’s the time to get hip to one of the greatest new bands we’ve heard in a long time! Check out the early reviews while you listen to ‘Feel Good Factor’ on the catalog page. The EP is available now from your favorite record merchant or the trusty Matinée mailorder. Hurrah!
Also fresh on the new release shelves is a superb 20-track collection of singles, compilation appearances, and unreleased tracks from South London pop duo The Pines! Entitled ‘It’s Been A While’ (matcd043), the album showcases the strong songwriting, intricate guitars, and exquisite harmonies of amiable English gent Joe Brooker and legendary American songstress Pam Berry. Smart students of indiepop know Joe is a prolific songwriter and one-half of English pop duo The Foxgloves, while Pam’s distinguished resume includes association with notable indie bands of the last decade including Belmondo, Black Tambourine, Bright Coloured Lights, The Castaway Stones, Glo Worm, The Seashell Sea, The Shapiros, The Snowdrops, and Veronica Lake, plus guest spots on recordings by The Clientele, Jasmine Minks, The Lucksmiths, The Relict, and The Saturday People. She’s also the subject of track three on the imminent album from Sub Pop megastars The Shins!
Beginning in 2000, The Pines released a series of limited edition singles for international record labels Annika (Spain), Becalmed (UK), Foxyboy (USA), Gifted (Australia), Long Lost Cousin (UK), and Matinée (USA) and contributed compilation tracks to collections by Chickfactor (USA), Papercuts (UK), and Red Square (USA). In addition to highlights from these releases, ‘It’s Been A While’ includes three songs from a rare self-released Christmas CD and unreleased covers of songs by Young Marble Giants and The Cat’s Miaow. You can see the full tracklisting, read some early reviews, and listen to songs on the catalog page. The CD is available now from your favorite shop or the Matinée mailorder so get going!
Still shining is the wonderfully received debut album (matcd042) from indie darlings Math and Physics Club! The world fell in love with this Seattle band as soon as its debut ‘Weekends Away’ (matinée 056) was released in 2005. The EP sold out of its initial pressing in just a few months and has now earned the distinction as the best selling single on Matinée. The follow-up ‘Movie Ending Romance’ (matinée 059) was released later that year to worldwide acclaim and proved the success of the debut was no happy accident.
The self-titled album features ten highly melodic songs about relationships and heartbreak. The album kicks off with a new indie classic called ‘Darling, Please Come Home.’ The lyrics draw you in immediately with images of fireflies and coals burning low, while the jangling guitars, precise drumming, and keyboards keep things moving. What would normally be a difficult one to follow for most bands is handled with ease by second track ‘I Know What I Want,’ a strings-laden jangler that builds to a superb Softies-inspired finish. It swings!
‘April Showers’ comes next and shows that here’s a band that holds the Housemartins in the high regard they deserve. Written staring out the window at the rain (of course…this is Seattle), it recalls the brilliance of the famous Hull act with its ba-ba-ba’s and jaunty melodies. ‘Holidays and Saturdays’ is the moody one of the bunch, showcasing plaintive lyrics and violin to match, while ‘La La La Lisa’ picks it back up with the story of a high school crush that is made especially grand with some genuinely inspired trumpet parts. ‘Look At Us Now’ is perfect café music with its sparse bossa nova beat, ba-ba-ba’s, and violin…perhaps the best Style Council song Paul Weller never wrote? ‘You’ll Miss Me’ is classic Math and Physics Club with a surprise rollicking piano in the second chorus, while ‘Cold As Minnesota’ has a bit of Motown/Supremes flavor to it—full of tambourine, handclaps, organ and violin flourishes along with some very Peter Buck guitar work. ‘Such A Simple Plan’ is another perfect three-minute pop song with excellent lyrics and a toe-tapping quotient that can’t be beat, and final track ‘Last Dance’ is a swanky little number that will make you want to dance like Fred Astaire.
The sensational reviews continue for this album, with Pitchfork writing “10 brazenly sweet songs of quiet heartbreak, late-summer acoustic guitar, reverb-laden Rickenbacker, tambourine, and occasional violin;” I’d Rather Be Fat Than Be Confused declaring “this is THEE indie pop album of the year, maybe of the decade thus far;” CDReviews.com calling it “a truly remarkable effort;” PopMatters concluding “for those searching for an album of genuine notions and enchanting melodies, this just might be the perfect fit;” and Erasing Clouds calling Math and Physics Club “a rising star of a band, already creating timeless pop music.”
The album has appeared on numerous year-end lists including the band walking away with #1 favorite band honors and #2 album of the year on the annual Tweenet Poll. Congratulations! You can listen to three album tracks on the catalog page, and ‘Darling, Please Come Home’ is also featured on the sounds page. Get to the mailorder if you haven’t heard this album yet because it really is a modern indiepop classic that continues to sell like hotcakes for good reason!
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Of course the above releases are just three gems competing in our annual Matinée fanclub poll! We’re slightly delayed with the polling this year due to some December baby action, but thought it still made sense to collect your votes and give away some free CDs in the process. In the best album of 2006 category, contenders include ‘It’s Been A While’ (matcd043) from The Pines, ‘Math and Physics Club’ (matcd042) from Math and Physics Club, ‘Out To Sea” (matcd041) from Brighter, and ‘6 Billion People’ (matcd040) from Tender Trap. Which one gets your vote? Favorite 2006 single contenders are the ‘Feel Good Factor’ EP (matinée 063) from The Hermit Crabs, ‘England Made Me’ EP (matinée 062) from Lovejoy, ‘He Holds A Flame’ EP (matinée 061) from Harper Lee, ‘A Hiccup In Your Happiness’ EP (matinée 060) from The Lucksmiths, and ‘Sleepydust’ EP (matinée 053) from The Snowdrops. Some excellent choices if I say so myself. |
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In addition to the favorite album and single categories, we are also collecting votes for song of the year, favorite band, and favorite Matinée release of all time. Please take a minute to share your thoughts. As with prior polls, simply entering earns you a chance to win five free CDs of your choice and with selections like these what do you have to lose? The poll closes February 12th so go here to complete your entry today and best of luck in the prize draw!
We also surveyed Matinée artists regarding their top musical moments of 2006 and some early responses are up now on the archive page. Additional lists will be added throughout the month.
The Matinée mailorder will be closed January 30 to February 12 but please continue to place orders and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. All orders during this period will ship February 13. Apologies in advance for the delay. If you’re looking for something to buy, why not consider some of the top sellers of the last two months:
10. Harper Lee – He Holds A Flame CDEP
9. Lovejoy – England Made Me CDEP
8. The Lucksmiths – Warmer Corners CD
7. Brighter – Singles 1989-1992 CD
6. Math and Physics Club – Weekends Away CDEP
5. The Pines – It’s Been A While CD
4. The Hermit Crabs – Feel Good Factor CDEP
3. Math and Physics Club – Movie Ending Romance CDEP
2. Brighter – Out To Sea CD
1. Math and Physics Club – Math and Physics Club CD
We’ll be back in mid-February with results of the fanclub poll and news of our 2007 release schedule. Thanks to everyone for another great year!
Regards,
Jimmy