Another release perfect for the summertime is the recent four song ‘Shooting Star’ EP (matinée 073) from Brazilian indiepop legends Pale Sunday.

Lately the band is getting plenty of attention as they prepare to wow the crowds at the Indietracks Festival next week in England. In the meantime, the new EP continues to impress with 75 or Less calling it “the perfect summer companion,” and writing “These Brazilian indie-poppers outshine their jingle-jangly competition with their perfect harmonies and guitar-driven grooves that are so deep you’ll fall in head first.”

In other review action, IndiePages reports “it certainly didn’t take long to fall in love with Pale Sunday all over again,” Pennyblack calls the single “a cracking collection of songs,” and In Love With These Times… suggests “you can try and get big and clever and say how in 2010 people of our advanced age should have outgrown plain old indie-pop groovery, but in all honesty, if the right ingredients are there, resistance is useless.”

Full release details and additional reviews can be found on the catalog page, and there’s a free download of ‘Shooting Star’ on the sounds page if you fancy a listen. The band’s debut single ‘A Weekend With Jane’ (matinée 049) and album ‘Summertime?’ (matcd037) are perfect summertime companions as well, and lucky for you, all three releases are available here in the Matinée shop plus other worldwide vendors in both CD and digital formats. Have fun at Indietracks!

As we bask in the initial press frenzy of our latest releases, we feel obliged to point out that a couple gems released way back in January are in fact perfect releases for the warm summer months too:

Exhibit One: The sophomore album ‘Seconds’ (matcd053) from sensational Swedish band The Electric Pop Group. Since its release, the album has received great reviews from the likes of Erasing Clouds, A Layer of Chips, PopMatters, Indie-mp3.co.uk, Delusions of Adequacy, The Big Takeover and others but today we’re highlighting the opinions of four excellent international blogs:

Reviewing the album, Eardrums wrote “Matinée Recordings have had a wonderful start of the year, and the one release that I have enjoyed the most is from The Electric Pop Group,” while In Love With These Times concluded “there is no shortage of marvellously toetapping indiepop on Seconds.” Elsewhere, Slowdive Music Blog described ‘Seconds’ as “a distinct album of beautiful arrangements and infectious moods” and Burning World called it “the best album of the year thus far.”

You can read these reviews and more on the catalog page and download a free mp3 of ‘Not By Another’ on the Matinée sounds page. The CD is available in the Matinée shop and worldwide from any decent record store, plus digitally of course.

Exhibit Two: The Electric Pop Group are one of a number of Matinée artists that contributed exclusive tracks to our recent label compilation ‘The Matinée Grand Prix’ (matcd050). Joining them are international superstars Bubblegum Lemonade, Cats on Fire, Clay Hips, The Guild League, The Lucksmiths, Math and Physics Club, Northern Portrait, Simpático, Strawberry Whiplash, and Tender Trap. The resulting collection is a vital release for the Matinée faithful and a fantastic introduction to some of the best indie bands of today.

Some of the many nice album reviews include Hits in the Car writing “Grand Prix is an absolutely amazing collection of indie pop tunes and darn close to being the perfect gateway to the genre as well as the Matinée roster,” Pennyblack Magazine concluding “The Matinée Grand Prix is an excellent introduction to the labels offerings as well as a being a great collectable piece for the already converted fan, and PopMatters suggesting “Matinée’s ear for indie pop is sound, and its compilations are rewarding.”

Six months on and the vast majority of these tracks are still available only on this compilation so it’s something you certainly need to hear. You can see the tracklisting and other release details on the catalog page and download a free mp3 of Simpático’s ace song ‘Australian Idle’ on the sounds page. The CD is available worldwide in both CD and digital formats, including right here of course in the Matinée shop!

While the new Math and Physics Club album is receiving plenty of well-deserved attention, the band’s latest single ‘Jimmy Had A Polaroid’ (matinée 075) is on everybody’s playlist (and shopping list) these days as well.

The title track is a catchy two-and-a-half minute number with unequivocal song of the year contender status. Backed with the exclusive non-album track ‘The Sound of Snow’ and limited to 500 hand-numbered copies on ice-blue vinyl, we knew it would be popular but wait until you read the reviews it’s getting!

Among our favorites, In Love With These Times… called it “an absolutely bombing 7″ single – two and half minutes of indie-pop righteousness that was born to be a 7″ A-side,” while PopMatters described it as “more delicious guitars, melodies and sweet longing from a band which has cornered the market for shimmery pop music.”

In other reviews, Aversion.com wrote “Jimmy Had a Polaroid could be this summer’s choice pop tune,” 32 Feet Per Second compared it to “a Camera Obscura cut played by The Lucksmiths,” and A Layer of Chips declared it “the sort of song that will make you throw your hands in the air like you just don’t care and waggle your legs around like a duck with Alzheimer’s.”

For more release details and reviews please see the catalog page. You can grab a free mp3 of ‘Jimmy Had a Polaroid’ on the Matinée sounds page as well. The 7″ is available now from the Matinée shop and select record emporiums across the globe plus digitally from the usual suspects. You know you want one…

The new album ‘Dealing In Antiques’ (matcd056) from fetching Finländares Cats on Fire is now readily available worldwide! As you may have heard, the album is a generous 20-track collection of sold-out EP and single tracks from the band’s past plus assorted rarities, unreleased tracks, and a few recent recordings too. Check out the full tracklisting on the catalog page. We think it’s pretty much the bee’s knees but then again we like everything we release by definition so it’s good to read the impartial reactions of the music press.

In early press action, Pennyblack Magazine called the album “a powerful tonic of indie goodness” and “an essential album for fan and casual listener alike, while Aversion.com wrote “Cats on Fire come forward with a collection of tracks that’s still so in love with pop’s frisson-inducing charms that it doesn’t need to try to convince us how damned clever it is.” Meanwhile, Austin Town Hall in a five-star review concluded “really, if you want a perfect record, this is probably as close as you can come,” and Subba-Cultcha described Cats on Fire as “like Morrissey with a pair of brass balls and a belly full of apathy.”

You can read these reviews and more on the catalog page and find a free mp3 of ‘Your Woman’ now playing on the sounds page if you’d like a little sample. ‘Dealing In Antiques’ is available now in the Matinée shop and top record shops worldwide, plus digitally via iTunes, emusic, Amazon mp3, Darla.com and other smart digital providers.

In other Cats news, Finnish magazine Six Degrees recently caught up with the band and you can read the interview here. Following recent shows in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Hong Kong, the band were invited to open for Belle & Sebastian in Helsinki next week. Please see the Cats on Fire website for details on more upcoming concerts including three German dates in August.

Our favorite Glasgow duo Strawberry Whiplash has recorded an acoustic radio session for Pete Jackson at English internet station Dandelion Radio!

The session includes versions of ‘Picture Perfect’, ‘Celestial’ and ‘Hay In A Needlestack’ (all originally found on the recent ‘Picture Perfect’ EP) plus ace new track ‘Stop Look And Listen.’ The session airs at 2pm (London time) every day for the whole month of July and you can listen to it here.

The ‘Picture Perfect’ EP (matinée 072) continues to amass glowing reviews including especially nice words from Magnet Magazine, All Music Guide, The Big Takeover, Erasing Clouds, Pennyblack and countless top indie blogs, plus taking ‘song of the day’ honors on influential radio station KEXP. You can read reviews on the catalog page and find a free download of ‘Picture Perfect’ on the sounds page.

The band is currently working on songs for that all-important debut album which may or may not be called ‘Hits In The Car’ when it finally sees release. Stay tuned for details! They have also created a new band page on Facebook so you can stop by there for even more news!

Hey pop lovers! We have some great news to share but we’re traveling most of the next two weeks enjoying the glorious East Coast heat and humidity. How did we ever live here?

In the meantime, please check the Matinée Recordings page on Facebook for quick news bits. We promise a full website update upon returning to paradise in mid-July.

On the Matinée hit parade, Math and Physics Club capture the top two spots for the month of June. Here are the top sellers for the month:

10. Northern Portrait – Napoleon Sweetheart CDEP
9. Cats on Fire – Our Temperance Movement CD
8. The Electric Pop Group – Seconds CD
7. Various – The Matinée Grand Prix CD
6. Math and Physics Club – Weekends Away CDEP
5. Northern Portrait – Criminal Art Lovers CD
4. Bubblegum Lemonade – Caroline’s Radio 7″
3. Cats on Fire – Dealing In Antiques CD
2. Math and Physics Club – Jimmy Had A Polaroid 7″
1. Math and Physics Club – I Shouldn’t Look As Good As I Do CD

Hope you are enjoying your summer!

The superb new album from Math and Physics Club is out now! Here are the details:

matcd055
MATH AND PHYSICS CLUB – I SHOULDN’T LOOK AS GOOD AS I DO

Tracklisting:
1. Jimmy Had A Polaroid
2. We Make A Pair
3. Trying To Say I Love You
4. Everybody Loves A Showtune
5. Love or Loneliness
6. Will You Still Love Me?
7. I’ll Tell You Anything
8. The Internationale
9. I’ve Been That Boy
10. We’re So DIY!

Long-awaited second album from Seattle pop darlings Math and Physics Club!

The band first captured our hearts in 2005 with the charming ‘Weekends Away’ EP (matinée 056), which quickly sold out of its initial pressing. The band’s brand of literate acoustic-based guitar pop has garnered frequent comparisons to The Smiths, Belle and Sebastian, and labelmates The Lucksmiths, and their self-titled debut full length (matcd042) was named best indiepop album of 2006 by PopMatters. Picking up where their excellent 2007 ‘Baby I’m Yours’ EP (matinée 066) left off, Math and Physics Club return with their first long player in nearly four years.

‘I Shouldn’t Look As Good As I Do’ is a smashing collection of ten new pop gems, chock full of the chiming guitars and sweet melodies we’ve come to expect, but it also packs a punch their earlier work shied away from. Seattle producer Martin Feveyear (Presidents of the USA, Mark Lanegan) helped the band dial in rich, clean tones reminiscent of their 80’s influences like The Housemartins, but with a decidedly modern luster. The ten tracks clock in at less than 25 minutes, showcasing the band’s knack for crisp arrangements and good sense to know when a song just doesn’t need that extra chorus.

Lyrically the album continues the themes of love and heartbreak that are signatures of the band’s earlier recordings, but songs like ‘Everybody Loves a Showtune,’ ‘The Internationale’ and ‘We’re So DIY!’ also catch them poking fun at theater culture, faux celebrities, and even at themselves.

First single ‘Jimmy Had a Polaroid’ starts out in familiar MAPC fashion, but as soon as the drums and bass rumble into the picture you realize this is no twee affair. As chiming guitars whirl through the choruses, the rhythm section keeps things driving at a fast clip that will surely get the kids dancing.

Among the other highlights, ‘Everybody Loves a Showtune’ is an unexpected slice of folk pop full of banjo, accordion, trombone, tuba, and timpani. The story follows a clueless chorus boy who brings a musical production to its knees when he breaks ranks. ‘Love or Loneliness’ is one of the album’s most surprising tracks as the band stretches into new musical territory with a straight ahead rock beat and sweeping mellotron reminiscent of ‘Out of Time’ era REM.

Meanwhile, ‘Will You Still Love Me’ is a fast-paced homage to bands like The Housemartins and Heavenly, with Charles’ vocals melding with guest vocalist Jen Garrett of Seattle band Stuporhero to deliver a sweet tale about insecure lovers. ‘We’re So DIY!’ closes the album with a tongue-in-cheek tribute that condenses the indiepop handbook into a tidy two minutes, complete with handclaps and Beach Boys-drenched harmonies. Oh yeah!

‘I Shouldn’t Look As Good As I Do’ is Math and Physics Club’s most confident and sharply written work to date. What sophomore jinx? We’re happy to have them back!

For band information, soundclips, early reviews, and more release details please see the catalog and artist pages, or visit the Matinée and Math and Physics Club pages on Myspace. There is also lots of activity on the Matinée Facebook page and the Math and Physics Club Facebook page so check those out too.

We’ve added soundclips for four key album tracks to the catalog page and a free mp3 of ‘Jimmy Had A Polaroid’ is now available to download on the Matinée sounds page!

The CD is available now in the Matinée shop and in good record shops across the globe, plus digitally via iTunes, emusic, Amazon mp3, Darla.com and other good digital providers. Don’t forget to pick up your copy of the fantastic ‘Jimmy Had A Polaroid’ 7″ (matinée 075) before they’re all gone too!

The new Bubblegum Lemonade 45 is out now! Here are the complete details:

matinée 074
BUBBLEGUM LEMONADE – CAROLINE’S RADIO 7″

Tracklisting:
1. Caroline’s Radio
2. Stalling and Laughing
3. Looking To The Sun

Glasgow popkids Bubblegum Lemonade resume transmission this summer with a new three-track 7” single! The first release since their celebrated debut album ‘Doubleplusgood’ (matcd048) in 2008, ‘Caroline’s Radio’ is a fantastic Scottish pop hit that pays homage to offshore pirate radio station Radio Caroline with zippy lead guitars and rich harmonies perfect for surfing the medium waves. It’s a preview of the band’s sophomore album set for release later this year.

The single also features two exclusive b-sides — ‘Stalling and Laughing’ is ace stop start pop with revving guitars and a clever nod to fellow Glaswegians Orange Juice, while ‘Looking To The Sun’ is a ‘Psychocandy’- era blast of Mary Chain pop with 12-string guitar intro, stomping drums, and reverb drenched harmonies. Limited to 500 hand-numbered copies on smashing transparent red vinyl!

For band information and more release details please see the catalog and artist pages, or visit the Matinée and Bubblegum Lemonade pages on Myspace. There are various extra things happening on the Matinée Facebook page and the brand new Bubblegum Lemonade Facebook page so you may want to go there too. Remember when all we had to update was one simple website?

Starting this very moment, we are offering a free download of ‘Caroline’s Radio’ on the Matinée sounds page so go get it! The 7″ is available now exclusively in the Matinée shop and is shipping to hip record shops worldwide this week. Enjoy!

We are surrounded by stacks of red and blue vinyl – Matinée 45 assembly line in full swing!

The new 45 from Math and Physics Club is out now! Here are the complete details:

matinée 075
MATH AND PHYSICS CLUB – JIMMY HAD A POLAROID 7″

Tracklisting:
1. Jimmy Had A Polaroid
2. The Sound of Snow

A very welcome return for beloved Seattle indiepop stars Math and Physics Club! Their first release in nearly three years and a preview of the forthcoming ‘I Shouldn’t Look As Good As I Do’ album (matcd055), ‘Jimmy Had a Polaroid’ is an incredibly catchy two-and-a-half minute pop thrill. While the song begins in familiar Math and Physics Club fashion, chiming guitars whirling through the choruses and a driving rhythm section combine to get the kids dancing to a certified song-of-the-year contender.

On the flipside, exclusive non-album track ‘The Sound of Snow’ is a beautifully plaintive ode to The Softies, with more chiming guitar melody and nice vocal harmonies completing the reference. Limited to 500 hand-numbered copies on ice-blue vinyl which is perhaps the coolest color you’ll ever see.

Since today is your lucky day, we are offering a free download of ‘Jimmy Had a Polaroid’ on the Matinée sounds page RIGHT NOW so go get it!

For band information and more release details please see the catalog and artist pages, or visit the Matinée and Math and Physics Club pages on Myspace.

We are posting reviews of the single simultaneously on the catalog page and also on the new Matinée Facebook page. The band has a new-ish page on Facebook you should probably check out too.

The 7″ is available now in the Matinée shop and from select record emporiums across the globe. As of today we’ve sold through about half of them so don’t delay if you’re after a copy. Enjoy!