We are keeping more than a few secrets at the moment in preparation for our 15th anniversary next year but here’s one we are letting slip early because it’s just too exciting to keep to ourselves: we have a brand new Matinée artist!

Azure Blue is the solo project of Sweden’s Tobias Isaksson, known to some from the popular Labrador Records bands Laurel Music and Irene. With Azure Blue, Tobias has hit pure gold so we are truly honored and excited to present the debut album ‘Rule of Thirds’ (matcd059) in collaboration with hip Swedish label Hybris.

The nine-track album is a perfect pop classic that recalls various 1980’s favorites like New Order, OMD, or Pet Shop Boys but also verges at times into the realm of introspective pop done more recently by people like the wonderful Swedish artist Airliner or the British act Quigley. The songwriting is really impressive and of course you know the strength of that voice already. We are previewing the album with the superb track ‘The Catcher In The Rye’ which you can listen to below.

There is also a video for the song and you can watch it right here:

Azure Blue – The Catcher in the Rye from Jonas Börjesson on Vimeo.

‘Rule of Thirds’ is on course for December release but we will begin taking preorders in a few weeks once we confirm the final details. Watch this space for complete release information soon because you’re about to discover your new favorite band!

Just off to the pressing plant is an amazing new 7” single from Strawberry Whiplash! The ‘Stop, Look and Listen’ EP (matinée 080) is a three-track 7” on translucent red (natch) vinyl and in addition to the smash title track it has two exclusive b-sides called ‘In The Blink Of An Eye’ and ‘Luck Is The Residue of Design.’

If everything goes as planned we’ll have copies in early December for some stocking stuffer action but you’ll be able to preorder the vinyl and download the single even sooner than that. Watch for complete release details in two weeks.

In the meantime you can stream the title track RIGHT NOW on the handy Soundcloud player below. Everyone deserves a treat the week of Halloween right? The band’s brilliant debut album ‘Hits In The Car’ is on course for release in early 2012.

Have you missed us? It’s been a relatively quiet year for Matinée but we are working behind the scenes as we gear up for a big 15th anniversary celebration in 2012! In the works are splendid new releases from Bubblegum Lemonade, Cats on Fire, Math and Physics Club, Northern Portrait, and Strawberry Whiplash, plus glimmers of new activity from The Electric Pop Group, The Hermit Crabs, Would-Be-Goods and more. We also have a new band or two coming on board but those details are still top secret.

In the meantime, you should know that the Matinée mailorder is closed from October 26 through November 6 while we traverse through Italy. It’s our last hurrah before the nonstop anniversary release schedule kicks in. Watch for details on the first of the new releases very soon…

New music alert! Spectacular Scots Strawberry Whiplash are nearly finished with 15 new songs that will comprise a brand new 7” single and debut album scheduled for release later this summer.

The 7” will contain ‘Stop Look and Listen’ plus ‘In The Blink Of An Eye’ and ‘Luck Is The Residue of Design’ and they’re all pretty much fantastic. The debut album is called ‘Hits In The Car’ and should contain a dozen or so further tracks. We’ll reveal the tracklisting and further release details next month. In the meantime, watch for an exclusive preview of ‘Stop Look and Listen’ soon.

Math and Physics Club is getting ready for five July dates in England and Scotland, the first of which is one month from today! Here are details on the rather spectacular shows:

Monday, July 25 in Glasgow, Scotland @ The Captain’s Rest with Bubblegum Lemonade, The Hermit Crabs, and Very Truly Yours. Indietracks warm-up presented by Half My Heart Beats.

Tuesday, July 26 in Manchester, England @ The Castle Hotel with Very Truly Yours, Moustache of Insanity, and The Sweet Nothings. Indietracks warm-up presented by Pull Yourself Together.

Wednesday, July 27 in London, England @ the Windmill Brixton with Very Truly Yours, Pocketbooks, and The Sweet Nothings. Indietracks warm-up presented by Spiral Scratch.

Thursday, July 28 in Nottingham, England @ The Chameleon with Very Truly Yours, Pocketbooks, and The Sweet Nothings. Indietracks warm-up presented by A Layer of Chips. Read the recent A Layer of Chips interview with the band here.

Saturday, July 30 in Derbyshire, England @ Indietracks Festival!! If you are heading to Indietracks, make sure to catch the Saturday afternoon set from the incomparable Graeme Elston (Slipslide, The Love Parade, Pure, Eva Luna) too!

The band is touring in support of their recent smash album I Shouldn’t Look As Good As I Do’ (matcd055) which surely you have by now? If not, have a listen to the smash hit single ‘Jimmy Had A Polaroid’ for further convincing:

In reviewing the decidedly brilliant Bubblegum Lemonade album ‘Sophomore Release’ (matcd057) back in January, hip Seattle blog The Finest Kiss lauded the album’s “long lasting flavor” which has certainly proven true as it remains one of our top sellers more than six months following initial release. The album continues to generate great press as well, including these nice recent quotes:

“A highly enjoyable helping of indie surf pop.” —Clash Magazine

“Nearly pitch-perfect recreations of gold sounds from popular music’s past that are unleashed in quick two to three minute bursts.” —PopMatters

“A joyride through C86 country that finds its home somewhere in-between Jesus & Mary Chain’s Psychocandy and Primal Scream’s Sonic Flower Groove.” —The Big Takeover

“A perfect album.” —Pennyblack Magazine

For release details, band information, soundclips and more reviews, please see the catalog page. Operators are standing by in the Matinée shop with a copy just for you!

Perhaps in response to the official Campaign for Bubblegum Lemonade to Play Live, you can now make plans to catch the debut Bubblegum Lemonade live performance next month in Glasgow! It’s a bit of a Matinee showcase, as the bill has fellow Scottish popstars The Hermit Crabs showing welcome signs of life after a little break and our favorite American band Math and Physics Club who begin a week of UK dates that night leading up to their appearance at Indietracks at the end of the month. Fellow Indietrackers Very Truly Yours round out the bill. The show is Monday, July 25 at the Captain’s Rest in Glasgow and it’s courtesy of the nice people at Half My Heart Beats.

In other news, the cool kids at The Dumbing of America recently named Bubblegum Lemonade “the next big thing” and rewarded them with a nice chat about guitars, ‘60s pop culture, and new release plans.  There are already close to a dozen new Bubblegum Lemonade songs in progress so fingers crossed we may see a new release later in the year as well! In the meantime, have a listen to some stunning songs from ‘Sophomore Release’:

Apologies for the recent silence from the Matinée camp – we have exciting new releases coming this summer so watch this space for more details soon!

In the meantime, our big sale in the Matinée shop ends July 1st and for the next ten days EVERYTHING in the catalog is on sale including new releases so take this opportunity to pick up something good. Here are the top sellers for April and May:

10. Various Artists – The Matinée Grand Prix CD
9. Northern Portrait – Life Returns To Normal 7”
8. Bubblegum Lemonade – Caroline’s Radio 7”
7. Math and Physics Club – I Shouldn’t Look As Good As I Do CD
6. Northern Portrait – Criminal Art Lovers CD
5. Bubblegum Lemonade – Sophomore Release CD
4. Champagne Riot – Moonstruck CDEP
3. Math and Physics Club – Jimmy Had A Polaroid 7”
2. The Lucksmiths – Get-to-Bed Birds 7″
1. The Lucksmiths – Unfamiliar Stars DVD

In honor of our North Carolina Tarheels beating Duke to claim the regular season ACC basketball title, we are hosting our very own March Madness in the Matinée shop this month!

Please see the order page for mad price reductions on nearly the entire catalog—7” singles for just $1 each, cd singles for $2 each, and cd albums as low as $4 each.

There are a number of catalog items that are very close to selling out so if you see something with LAST COPIES! next to the title this may be your last chance to pick it up. The sale runs the entire month of March but get your order in soon for best availability.

All of this helps clear room for a bunch of smashing new releases we’ll start announcing next month. Stay tuned here and on the Matinée Facebook page for more news and exclusive previews.

As expected, new releases from The Lucksmiths, Champagne Riot and Bubblegum Lemonade hold the top three spots on the label hit parade. Here are the top sellers in the Matinée shop for the month of February:

10. The Lucksmiths – Warmer Corners CD
9. Math and Physics Club – I Shouldn’t Look As Good As I Do CD
8. Cats on Fire – Dealing In Antiques CD
7. Various Artists – The Matinée Holiday Soirée CDEP
6. The Lucksmiths – Spring A Leak 2xCD
5. Northern Portrait – Life Returns To Normal 7″
4. The Lucksmiths – Get-to-Bed Birds 7″
3. Bubblegum Lemonade – Sophomore Release CD
2. Champagne Riot – Moonstruck CDEP
1. The Lucksmiths – Unfamiliar Stars DVD

Our first single of 2011 is the magnificent ‘Moonstruck’ EP from Champagne Riot and it’s out today! Here are complete details:

matinée 079
CHAMPAGNE RIOT – MOONSTRUCK CDEP

Tracklisting:
1. Moonstruck
2. Goldrush
3. Heart Stab
4. A Friend Of A Friend

Debut Matinée release from bold Scandinavian duo Champagne Riot. Formed as a solo project of Caspar Philip Bock (who also serves as bassist in fellow Matinée hitmakers Northern Portrait), Champagne Riot released a superb EP on Shelflife Records in 2008. Along the way, Champagne Riot became a duo with the addition of Anders Reuter and the two proceeded to experiment with new sounds and a bolder approach to pop music. Recording from the basement of a neglected Copenhagen shopping mall, they make pop music of a kind that rarely exists anymore.

Their melodies take you back to a distant youth of sentimental evergreens on noisy AM airwaves, long summers of true love, and endless possibility. Their soundscapes are painted large and grand and draw inspiration from a variety of places, including the world of classical music, Scandinavian melodic tradition, and electronic pop’s greatest torch-carriers including Kraftwerk, New Order and Pet Shop Boys. In contrast to the music, their lyrical universe describes a lifestyle full of chaos and apathy.

‘Moonstruck’ begins the EP with a self-composed classical arrangement that gradually evolves into a massive electronic pop track full of arpeggio synths and layered drum machines plus a sweeping, radio friendly chorus. The song tells the tale of a night out in Gothenburg, Sweden and the resulting paradox of feeling perfect in the moment while realizing a late night crush will never survive the light of day.

Following the lavish title track, ‘Goldrush’ showcases more rich instrumentation including piano, mellotron, harpsichord, layered snare drums, and hand played percussion, while ‘Heart Stab’ is a club hit inspired by classical French pop, with organs and harpsichord melodies mixed with sweeping synthesizers. ‘A Friend Of A Friend’ concludes the EP with a clever mix of electronica and traditional instruments including piano and flute, plus nice female backing vocals. The song celebrates the beauty of shameless laziness, another recurring theme in the life of the band.

Champagne Riot’s uniqueness lies in their ability to translate and express a sense of inner chaos and urge for rebellion through songs of purity, beauty and romance. ‘Moonstruck’ is a confident step forward for the band and a magnificent and unexpected release for Matinée. Perfect for fans of classic electropop or modern artists like The Drums (whom Champagne Riot supported on their recent European tour) or The Radio Dept. Limited to 1000 copies in custom minijacket.

There has been some rather extraordinary pre-release hype of this single and you can read some of the reviews on the catalog page. Here are a few of our favorite quotes about the single so far:

“Denmark might not be renowned for its musical history, but it seems like they’re definitely on to a winner with Champagne Riot.” —Planet Notion

“Ibiza, here’s this year’s sleeper anthem.” —mp3 Hugger

“Intelligent in a way that makes you forget about any rubbish chart music ever released and reinstates your love of the pure Pop song.” —Electronic Rumors

“Four drops of synthpop beauty.” —A Layer of Chips

“With influences like Hedonism, nihilism and Abba, obviously something is working right here.” —Rhyme et Reason

“Splendid.” —Pop Justice

The single is in stock for immediate shipping so please visit the Matinée shop to secure your copy or demand one from your local pop retailer. If you just can’t wait, the songs are also available for download or streaming via the usual digital services right now. You can listen to the magnificent title track on the Soundcloud player below.  Hurrah!

The very cool ‘Unfamiliar Stars’ DVD from The Lucksmiths is officially released today! Here’s the skinny:

matdvd058
THE LUCKSMITHS – UNFAMILIAR STARS

Filmed at The Lucksmiths’ August 2009 farewell show at Melbourne’s Corner Hotel, ‘Unfamiliar Stars’ (matdvd058) is both a captivating concert film and a definitive end-of-the-line document, standing tall among the best of the band’s vast discography. Directed by Natalie van den Dungen (The Tote documentary), the film captures the final bittersweet airings of many Lucksmiths favorites as witnessed by a full-house of hometown fans, friends and family. Clocking in at a total of thirty-three songs, the swansong performance is the culmination of farewell tours across Europe and Australia, and finds the band in vintage form, cherry-picking pop gem after pop gem from their sixteen-year career and filling the gaps with a double-dose of irrepressible Lucksmiths repartee.

Here’s the impressive final show set-list: 1) A Hiccup in Your Happiness 2) Good Light 3) A Downside to the Upstairs 4) Synchronised Sinking 5) Myopic Friends 6) Camera-shy 7) Stayaway Stars 8) Untidy Towns 9) The Golden Age of Aviation 10) Take This Lying Down 11) Successlessness 12) Great Lengths 13) Song of the Undersea 14) Under the Rotunda 15) Requiem For the Punters Club 16) Frisbee 17) Macintyre 18) Punchlines 19) Weatherboard 20) Broken Bones 21) The Chapter in Your Life Entitled San Francisco 22) Self-Preservation 23) California in Popular Song 24) Smokers in Love 25) Fiction 26) Caravanna 27) A Sobering Thought (Just When One Was Needed) 28) Sunlight in a Jar 29) T-Shirt Weather 30) Midweek Midmorning 31) The Great Dividing Range 32) The Music Next Door 33) The Year of Driving Languorously.

Rounding out the package, ‘Darkening Doorways’ is a short documentary of the band’s final months and presents an intimate view of The Lucksmiths in rehearsal, in the recording studio and throughout their farewell tour.

You can see the video trailer and two additional previews if you scroll down this page a bit (see January 18 and January 24 news entries). The release is available now in the Matinée shop and from smart music and video retailers worldwide. Don’t forget your copy of the farewell ‘Get-to-Bed Birds’ 7″ (matinée 077) while you’re in the shop!

Please note: this DVD is an all-regions disc in NTSC format. Our chums at the Lost And Lonesome Recording Company in Australia have pressed the DVD in PAL format, so please point your browser Lost and Lonesome-wards if your country uses PAL.