Summer singles top the Matinée hit parade

Our new summer singles are top of the pops at the moment and they are collecting admirable reviews in the music press too.

‘The Fake Stories About You and Me’ (matinée 083) is the new EP from Brazilian band Pale Sunday and here are a few of our favorite quotes from recent reviews:

“Happy (When You Lived Here) is one of my favorite guitar tracks of the year [and] the best track from the band that I’ve heard to date.” —Austin Town Hall

“Jangly and melodic summershine music.” —Heroes of Indie Music

“They say they are from Brazil, but I bet you’ll think this is a forgotten band from Scotland’s finest hour … perfect jangly indiepop that will immediately make you nostalgic or euphoric. It’s shiny, warm and addictive.” —Bloodbuzzed

“A perfect record for your summer collection.” —When You Motor Away

“The Fake Stories About You and Me is Pale Sunday’s strongest release since those nascent days of 2003, with four songs that are definitely more confident, rounded, and affecting than at most times since that first Matinée release.” —A Layer of Chips

“Pale Sunday is still more than capable of creating magnificent indie pop tunes.” —One Chord To Another

“Happy (When You Lived Here) is a typical fey, floppy-fringed jangle that might as well have been written in a Glasgow bedsit in 1986. The melody could be lifted from an early Belle & Sebastian track, it’s a song that spans generations of guitar-pop and you’ll find echoes of your favourite Swedish, C86-influenced group in there.” —The Sound of Confusion

It’s winter in Brazil at the moment so here is the final track from the EP entitled ‘The Winter Song’ for your listening pleasure:

The ‘Dishevelled Revellers’ EP (matinée 082) from English trio Charlie Big Time is generating lots of positive reviews and here is what the indie press has to say about it:

“This is the kind of early Creation Records style pop that, for some of us, never goes out of fashion; particularly when it is this well done.” —When You Motor Away

“Dishevelled Revellers is ace.” —In Love With These Times

“High on melody and with its foundations lying in erstwhile heroes The Smiths as well as others from that era such as The Housemartins … Charlie Big Time’s sound is more restrained, swerving as close to Galaxie 500 as to C86.” — The Sound Of Confusion

“Gorgeously gliding melancholia.” —A Layer of Chips

“Charlie Big Time have managed to quickly burst into the scene of great pop songwriting, and hopefully we’ll get to hear more from them soon.” —Austin Town Hall

“New release of the week!” —Indie Pop Saved My Life

The title track is a song about the downside of getting tipsy and is one of our featured tracks on Soundcloud at the moment so you can have a listen to it right here:

Finally, the debut Matinée EP ‘There May Come A Time’ (matinée 081) from Australian collective Bart and Friends is basking in praise from around the world and here are some of the superb things written about the release so far:

“There May Come A Time is an impeccable EP, all understated, clean production and chiming guitars with softly perfect vocals. The title-track is a thing of contemplative beauty, with every sound inch perfect in its positioning.” —Sounds XP

“Bart and Friends are a group. And they’re super. And There May Come A Time is an EP as sweet, as joyful and as treasurable as an Andrea Pirlo spot-kick.” —In Love With These Times

“One of the EP gems of the year so far … shimmering, jangling guitars, bright melodies and affecting vocals … if my computer could develop deeper grooves from excess plays, the section with this EP would look like the Grand Canyon.” —When You Motor Away

“You’re probably going to have some lofty expectations … luckily for us all, There May Come a Time lives up to those expectations and surpasses them.” —Austin Town Hall

“A Kiss You Won’t Forget combines the effortless grace of Pam Berry’s vocals with a guitar line straight from Johnny Marr: the early years … and These Words Are Too Small is one of the finest love songs you’ll hear for many years.” —A Layer of Chips

“There May Come A Time is a sweet, melancholy toe-tapper blanketed in a vague but powerful nostalgia.” —Fingertips

“All around the world indie pop fans are rejoicing right now.” —Blurt

One of the standout tracks from the EP is ‘A Kiss You Won’t Forget’ and it’s playing on the nifty player below if you fancy a listen:

All three singles are available now in the Matinée shop in both physical and digital formats. Please see the updated catalog pages for complete release details including soundclips and full reviews.