New artist alert! The Perfect English Weather are Simon and Wendy Pickles, a duo from Brighton taking time out from The Popguns to create an enchanting collection of odes to overcast afternoons in seaside cafes, conversations with cats, and weekend adventures to cancelled Morrissey concerts. Inspired by the unjaded love of a great pop song, the result is grown up music for those who still prefer a karaoke party to a dinner party.

Their debut album ‘Isobar Blues’ (matcd078) was originally intended to be a short set of simple acoustic recordings, but one thing lead to another and they couldn’t help turning some of these vignettes into full-on electric guitar pop. The result is a flurry of guitars, words and melodies that stay with you all day … as their signature song ‘English Weather’ so dreamily reminds us.

Opening track ‘The Sweetest Feeling’ has an almost Motown feel to it and a great positive vibe backed by a joyous chorus, while ‘Hit Town’ is a very tongue-in-cheek Smiths styled jangler, telling the story of a weekend in Athens where Morrissey cancelled his concert last minute as he couldn’t “make his plane in time”. The perfect, cool laid back groove of ‘Try A Little Harder’ is again less than serious as listeners are reminded not to be too tough on each other’s little imperfections.

‘Reacquainted’ begins with a slow picked guitar and plaintive vocals before opening into its full glory as our clandestine couple emerge into daylight from a cinema matinee. ‘English Weather’ is the first of the fully acoustic songs and is a perfect chance to close the eyes and get lost as Wendy’s gorgeous tones describe a rainy afternoon spent hidden away in a park cafe. We are then kicked back into life by ‘Spirited Away’, a perfect pop tune with a wicked hook that seems to refer to the death of a favourite pop star … do we wonder who that might be?

‘London In Your Eyes’ changes the mood and is a straight slice of heartache with definite echoes of Lou Reed and Galaxy 500 in an arrangement which features Wendy on organ and tambourine. From this point the album meanders downstream in a more low-key, acoustic vein. ‘Christmas Single’ is a lovely song about spending Christmas at home with the family with someone else on your mind, while ‘You Wrote’ is a simple acoustic arrangement with to-die-for vocals and a rare appearance of Mr. P on harmony backing vocals. The album closes with ‘Two Stars’, which has a stark, ethereal feel and a lyric loaded with cosmic metaphors, leaving a final image of our tiny place in time and space – a beautiful way to end the record.

‘Isobar Blues’ is released November 25 but you can order a copy RIGHT NOW exclusively from the Matinée shop on CD or digital download formats. While you wait, you can listen to a few top tunes below.

New release alert! The superb new album ‘The Great Leap Backward’ (matcd077) from Scottish pop partisans Bubblegum Lemonade is the perfect reminder that old school indiepop never goes out of style.

The album begins with the pulsating rhythms and big fuzzy chorus of ‘Hit The Ground Running’ and the post apocalyptical pop of ‘The Last Girl’ complete with jangling guitars, Shakespeare quoting, and beautiful vocal harmonies. Meanwhile, first single ‘Beard On A Bike’ is a pop classic, going straight for the jugular with an instantly catchy tale of a psychopath on a cycle path.

‘The Only Constant Is Change’ delivers contemplative pop with amusing word play and a constantly evolving vocal melody, while ‘Wishing It Were Friday’ is a prospective radio hit with plenty of pop culture referencing and some breathtaking 12-string guitars, and ‘Straight To The Heart Of The Sun’ has a more pensive feel with acoustic strumming, tambourines, and clever paraphrasing of the Boss.

Side two kicks off with the driving and assured title track ‘The Great Leap Backward’ with its Dr. Feelgood inspired opening riff and confident instrumentation. ‘Tongue Tied’ is another ace single contender with racing guitars, witty lyrics, and a fuzzy pop chorus, while ‘Summer In Your Hand’ is chiming, reflective pop with a fun psychedelic guitar solo.

The hypnotic ‘As Dead As Disco’ contrasts the bright optimism of Woodstock with the dark reality of Altamont using gently bouncing verses and an abrasive chorus. The album continues with the irresistible pop melodies of singalong smash ‘You Bring The Rain’ and comes to its chugging conclusion with the beautiful harmony guitar work of the effortlessly cool ‘Don’t Get The Last Train’.

Sporting extraordinarily catchy songs, spectacular melodies, and intelligent lyrics, ‘The Great Leap Backward’ is another modern pop classic for the impressive Bubblegum Lemonade catalog.

The album is officially released November 18 but you can order a copy RIGHT NOW exclusively from the Matinée shop on CD or digital download formats. In the meantime, have a listen to album gems ‘Beard On A Bike’ and ‘Tongue Tied’ at the Soundcloud link below. Hurrah for Scottish pop!

The smashing ‘Beard On A Bike’ EP (matinée 093) from Scotland’s Bubblegum Lemonade is out now!

Lead track ‘Beard On A Bike’ goes straight for the pop jugular with an instantly catchy tale of a psychopath on a cycle path. The song is a preview of the band’s forthcoming album ‘The Great Leap Backward’ set for release later this year.

The EP also features three non-album tracks exclusive to this release. ‘Golden Afternoon’ is a mid tempo song with a baggy rhythm and ace 12-string Rickenbacker guitars, while ‘Saturday Girl’ is an effervescent ode to weekend warriors with racing guitars and ‘Looking Out For You’ is a poignant late night tale showcasing superb harmonies and jangling guitars.

The early reviews suggest we may have another hit on our hands:

“Beard On A Bike is pop perfection. This is gold, dig it.” –Unpeeled

“I would rank ‘Beard on a Bike’ as his best single in the rack.” –Linear Tracking Lives

“The best songwriting you’ll hear this week.” –Austin Town Hall

“Bubblegum pop with jangle, plenty of reverb, and a dose of western twang…touchstones are early Primal Scream, The Jesus And Mary Chain and a number of your favorite ’60s bands.” –When You Motor Away

See the catalog page for complete release details and more reviews. The EP is available from smart groove merchants or direct from the Matinée shop on CD or digital download. While you are shopping, have a listen to some ace sounds on the Matinée Soundcloud!

The great new Math and Physics Club compilation ‘In This Together’ (matcd076) is out today!

Longtime fans of the Pacific Northwest indie darlings know the band has never stashed away their lesser material on EPs and b-sides. Some would argue that many of their best songs over the past decade have appeared on exclusive EPs and vinyl-only singles, which is why this compilation of 16 non-album tracks plays like one of the band’s finest full length albums.

Here are a few choice quotes from the pre-release reviews:

“Near-perfect indie pop gems featuring jangling guitars and sprightly rhythms. Newly recorded track ‘Coastal California, 1985’ ranks with their best moments from the past decade.” –All Music Guide

“I want to get out into the sunshine, wind the windows down and drive down leafy country lanes with this album as my soundtrack. So far this is easily the best compilation album of the year and quite possibility the only one you’ll need in 2016.” –Pennyblack Music

“Coastal California, 1985 is one of the Club’s finest compositions yet, transmuting into an unapologetically wide(r)screen sound and a refrain you’ll be humming for days on end. Had it been a single, it would be one of this blooming year’s best.” –In Love With These Times

“There’s something stirring and anthemic in the best of these sweetly melodic, heartfelt and life-affirming songs that keeps you hooked on every word and chord change.” –Sounds XP

“Math and Physics Club are a Pacific Northwest treasure.” –When You Motor Away

“Brand new song ‘Coastal California 1985’ highlights the band’s bouncy guitars and swelling harmonies. Song of the Day!” –3am Revelations

You can see complete release details and more reviews on the catalog page. The album is available from your favorite local record merchant or direct from the Matinée shop on CD or digital download. There is also a white vinyl version available from our pals at Fika Recordings in the UK but it is limited to 300 copies so get there quick if you want one.

Check out brand new track ‘Coastal California 1985’ and three other gems from the album at the Soundcloud link below:

How I spent my Saturday: watching Math and Physics Club play an in-store at Sonic Boom Records in Seattle!

Our second summer release is a smashing new EP (matinée 093) from popular Glasgow band Bubblegum Lemonade!

Lead track ‘Beard On A Bike’ goes straight for the pop jugular with an instantly catchy tale of a psychopath on a cycle path. The song is a preview of the band’s forthcoming album ‘The Great Leap Backward’ set for release later this year.

The EP also features three non-album tracks exclusive to this release. ‘Golden Afternoon’ is a mid tempo song with a baggy rhythm and ace 12-string Rickenbacker guitars, while ‘Saturday Girl’ is an effervescent ode to weekend warriors with racing guitars and ‘Looking Out For You’ is a poignant late night tale showcasing superb harmonies and jangling guitars.

Limited to 1000 copies in custom minijacket sleeve, ‘Beard On A Bike’ is essential Scottish pop for your summer playlist and another absolute gem for the Matinée discography.

The single is officially released July 1, but we are taking preorders now in the Matinée shop and will begin shipping later in the month. In the meantime, have a listen to ‘Beard On A Bike’ on the Matinée Soundcloud!

New release alert! We have been quiet lately, but a summer of new releases kicks off now with the ace collection ‘In This Together’ (matcd076) from our pals Math and Physics Club!

Longtime fans of the Pacific Northwest indie darlings know the band has never stashed away their lesser material on EPs and b-sides. Some would argue that many of their best songs over the past decade have appeared on exclusive EPs and vinyl-only singles, which is why this compilation of 16 non-album tracks plays like one of the band’s finest full length albums.

The songs here are presented in reverse chronological order, starting with the stunning new track ‘Coastal California 1985’ that finds the band in fine form with its chiming guitars and swelling harmonies. The album continues without missing a beat, winding through several unreleased and hard-to-find tracks from recent years, including a soft and sweet acoustic arrangement of ‘Do You Keep a Diary’ that turns the tables on the electropop version that originally appeared on the 2007 ‘Baby I’m Yours’ EP (matinée 066).

The album concludes with tracks from their beloved and out-of-print first two EPs, with the classic jangle of ‘Movie Ending Romance’ (matinée 059) kicking off a relentlessly cracking set of pop that, when presented together this way, serves to highlight the band’s remarkable first year.

The full tracklisting is: 1. Coastal California 1985; 2. It Must Be Summer Somewhere; 3. Across The Paper; 4. Our Own Ending; 5. The Sound Of Snow; 6. Do You Keep A Diary; 7. In This Together; 8. Baby I’m Yours; 9. Movie Ending Romance; 10. White and Grey; 11. Graduation Day; 12. Love, Again; 13. When We Get Famous; 14. Nothing Really Happened; 15. Sixteen and Pretty; 16. Weekends Away.

Math and Physics Club appeared to burst onto the scene in 2005 with their debut EP ‘Weekends Away’ (matinée 056) that garnered international attention, but in reality the band had been taking shape in the hearts and basements of childhood friends Charles Bert (vocals) and James Werle (guitar) since the mid-1990s. Never in a hurry, it took nearly a decade before they found Ethan Jones (bass), Kevin Emerson (drums), and Saundrah Humphrey (violin) to complete the lineup, but it was worth the wait.

An essential release for Math and Physics Club completists and the perfect starting point for new fans, ‘In This Together’ comes in a handsome eco-wallet featuring photos from the band’s 10-year history and liner notes by Sean Tollefson from Tullycraft.

The album is officially released June 24 but you can order a copy RIGHT NOW exclusively from the Matinée shop on CD or digital download formats. Our friends at Fika Recordings in the UK have a limited white vinyl version available as well. We will have a handful of copies of the vinyl available later this month. In the meantime, have a listen to the brand new track ‘Coastal California 1985’ and three other gems from the album at the Soundcloud link below:

We are big college basketball fans here at Matinée HQ, so we are celebrating the number one seeding of our North Carolina Tarheels in the NCAA college basketball tournament with a little March Madness of our own!

Nearly every release in the catalog is currently on sale, and from now through the end of the month you can take an additional 30 percent off everything in the shop including new releases, sale items, and digital downloads. Use promo code madness to take advantage of the extra savings.

Get 7″ and cd singles as low as $1.40 each, and CD albums as low as $2.80 each! Quantities are limited and there are several releases close to selling out forever so please don’t delay.

You can maximize postage savings by selecting the flat rate priority mail envelope which can hold approximately ten CDs or ten 7″ singles for a price that is not much more than what you pay to send just two or three items. Please note that 10″ and 12″ vinyl cannot ship using the flat rate envelope. See the Matinée shop for current availability and help us clear space for an ace batch of new releases this year. In the meantime, happy shopping!

The smash sophomore album ‘Stuck In The Never Ending Now’ (matcd074) from Scottish popstars Strawberry Whiplash is getting lots of love in the music press, and here are excerpts from a few of our favorite reviews so far:

“Stuck in the Never Ending Now is packed from top to bottom with sprightly, energetic indie pop nuggets that will brighten turntables and maybe even get some feet moving.” –All Music Guide

“A top-notch pop-Scotch album from the very heights of the Matinée roster.” –In Love With These Times

“Strawberry Whiplash have affirmed their status as one of the finest indiepop bands going.” –The Sound Of Confusion

“Stuck In The Never Ending Now is unabashed tweedom, sweltering in the umbrella of The Primitives and Talulah Gosh, Sandra’s delectable vocals shimmering all over wanna-be MTV hits like ‘If Surface Were Depth’ and the outstanding title track ‘Never Ending Now’ with its fuzzy guitars and impatient drumming.” –Porky Prime Cuts

“Following Glasgow’s fine lineage of janglesome bands such as The Pastels, Belle & Sebastian and early Primal Scream, ‘Time Takes You Away’ is a highly infectious track that burrows its way into your consciousness after only one listen. It could almost be a lost early Creation Records single, and it could also be the most insistently catchy song of 2015; really, it is that good.” –God Is In The TV (Track Of The Day)

“Any band that would take its name from Scottish legends Strawberry Switchblade and Meat Whiplash would get my attention. This followup may as well have been recorded the day after the brilliant ‘Hits in the Car,’ and it feels wonderful to be bouncing to their brand of indie pop again.” –Linear Tracking Lives

“Strawberry Whiplash deliver songs worthy of Lee Hazlewood or the more romantic edge of David Gedge, while remaining absolutely charming. The album only lasts thirty-seven minutes, but is long enough to put a big smile on indie pop fans’ faces.” –Pennyblack Music

“It’s magical guitar pop luster that will fill your room while you’re dancing around to the highly stimulant beat. Record Of The Day!” –50 Third and 3rd

“Strawberry Whiplash has an incredible knack for crafting the perfect aural nuggets, with just the right amount of instrumentation and spot on vocal nuances. Their second album ‘Stuck In The Never Ending Now’ finds the band musing about the passage of time over the course of 12 hook-filled songs.” –When You Motor Away

The album comes in a snazzy eco-wallet and is available worldwide from your favorite record shop, mailorder, or digital provider as well as the Matinée shop. Full release details and more reviews can be found on the catalog page. You can preview the album on the Soundcloud player below:

The ace new album ‘In My Flat’ (matcd073) from Scottish favorites The Hermit Crabs is the current best seller on the Matinée hit parade, and the band is basking in the glow of some mighty fine reviews too. Here’s the proof:

“As always is the case with a recording from The Hermit Crabs, Melanie Whittle’s compositions are a star of the proceedings. Personal, intimate, revealing, feisty and witty, she paints evocative little portraits of life in a manner reminiscent of Scottish indie pop peers Belle & Sebastian and Camera Obscura. ‘In My Flat’ is the band’s best work yet.” –When You Motor Away

“A modern Matinée classic.” –In Love With These Times

“Scotland forever. The nation that’s given the world Altered Images, Postcard Records, The Associates, Edwyn Collins, the Cosmic Rough Riders, et al just keeps on giving, and ‘In My Flat’ is joyous and uplifting.” –Porky Prime Cuts

“Great little bouncy, fun and bittersweet indie-pop songs.” –PopMatters (Best Indie Pop of 2015)

“There’s always a spot in my record collection for low-key, well-written pop music, and The Hermit Crabs fit right in.” –Blurt Magazine

“Brave and beautiful.” –Linear Tracking Lives

“In My Flat may be fairly typical indiepop in sound, but the quality of the songs and the way they’re arranged is more than enough to make it stand out from the crowd.” –The Sound Of Confusion

“Grown-up and clean-sounding indie pop from Glasgow.” –Collective Zine

‘In My Flat’ is available on CD eco-wallet or digital download worldwide from your favorite record shop, mailorder, or digital provider as well as the Matinée shop. Full release details are on the catalog page, and you can preview four album classics on the Soundcloud player below: