Hey…it’s February already and there’s superb news to share with you as we unveil the first three releases of 2001.
Many of you probably already have the debut full length from Airport Girl called “Honey, I’m An Artist”
(matcd011)…it was released in mid-January and has spent most of the past month atop the Parasol Mailorder top
sellers chart which is a nice way to start off the year! Just this week, however, it faces stiff competition from “Go
Back To Bed,” the debut album by Harper Lee (matcd009), which in three days has become the third-best
selling Matinée album to date. Perhaps it’s the purple gorilla on the cover, or the public’s general fondness for “To Kill
A Mockingbird”…in any event the album is brilliant so you should all go get one. This week also brings the highly
anticipated debut from Simpático called the “Postal Museum” EP (matinée 022)…four classic tracks from
Jason Sweeney, the chap responsible for Matinée’s debut release back in 1997 as Sweet William. In suitably digital
cd single format, we think it’s the perfect first single of the new year. All releases are now available from the usual
suspects (including us directly), so check the order page for details. Full information on
each release is posted on the updated catalogue page.
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In addition to the highly anticipated beginning of spring, March will also feature the next batch of Matinée releases
from Slipslide, the Windmills and the Siddeleys. Slipslide is a new three piece from London featuring three
members of the band Astronaut…who, despite the comparisons, are a whole lot better than Spearmint so check out
all their excellent releases on the Fierce Panda label. Indiepop spotters should also take note that one of those three
is none other than Graeme Elston, the former frontman of indie legends Eva Luna, Pure and the Love Parade who
collectively were responsible for a handful of classic releases on A Turntable Friend and Sugarfrost over the years.
Slipslide played their debut performance last November at the Matinée Pop Spectacular in London to an enthusiastic
crowd and look forward to some live dates this spring. The debut release is called the “Four Day Weekend” EP
(matinée 023) and should appeal to fans of melodic guitar pop such as Aztec Camera, Go Betweens or Pale
Fountains. It features songs entitled “Firefly,” “Unlucky Charm,” “The Airport Song,” and “Waiting For The Call.”
The Windmills have made the most of the cold winter by holing up in a studio to record scores of new songs,
four of which will appear shortly on the “When It Was Winter” EP (matinée 024) to bridge the gap before the release
of their second album later this year. The EP contains the superb title track (one of their strongest songs to date),
plus “Pounds Shillings & Pence,” “Snow White” and “Good Riddance To Bad Rubbish.” The band previewed the first
two tracks at their Matinée Pop Spectacular performance and plan to support the single with additional live dates this
spring. Their “Drug Autumn” EP is still rather new and selling quite well so check it out while it’s still in print.
With the artwork now final, The Siddeleys compilation “Slum Clearance” (matcd005) is also scheduled for
release next month in collaboration with London’s Clarendon Records. The album features sixteen songs, including
all the tracks from their “What Went Wrong This Time” and “Sunshine Thuggery” singles, plus “Wherever You Go”
from the Sha La La flexi, “Bedlam on the Mezzanine” from the La-Di-Da cassette, and seven previously unreleased
songs taken from BBC sessions recorded in the late 1980’s. The CD includes an elaborate sixteen page booklet
providing a retrospective on one of the most talented bands from the talent-filled 1980’s.
The debut Ego album “La Main Devant La Bouche” (matcd006) is still missing in action somewhere between
Marseilles, France and Washington DC, but could be ready for release any day. For now, I hope you like this picture
of it! Following the March releases will be the second-most delayed Matinée release to date…the “Train Journeys” EP
from Remember Fun (matinée 015). I can now confirm that the tracklisting will be “Train Journeys,” “Doze
Off Them,” “Three Chers (When She’s Dead)” and “Car” and when it is finally released you will all rejoice in its brilliance! (ed. In case
you were wondering, the Fairways still hold the above-mentioned title).
Your first listen to “Train Journeys” may in fact be on the compilation CD “France On A Bicycle” (matcd010)…a
collection of songs pulled from the first 23 singles on the label including songs from Sweet William, Ego, Bella
Vista, the Lucksmiths, Sportique, the Fairways, Monterey, the Windmills, Lovejoy, Harper Lee, Remember Fun,
Edson, Melodie Group, Simpático, and Slipslide! It’s a superb introduction to the label and the perfect way for those
of you without turntables to hear some of the classic songs released on vinyl over the past few years.
Still in the works…Sportique “Modern Museums” CD, Lovejoy “Plays Biff Bang Pow!” 7″, Razorcuts “R Is For
Razorcuts” CD, new singles from Melodie Group, Airport Girl, Harper Lee, and Slipslide, plus a few surprises. I’ll be
back in London this spring for another set of Matinée shows…this time with plenty of advance notice. More details
on this and more next month! …Jimmy