Hello! We have classic singles out today from Northern Portrait and Bubblegum Lemonade so here are the complete release details:
matinée 070
NORTHERN PORTRAIT – NAPOLEON SWEETHEART EP
Tracklisting:
1. I Give You Two Seconds To Entertain Me
2. Sporting A Scar
3. In An Empty Hotel
4. Our Lambrusco Days
Stunning second single from new Matinée favorites Northern Portrait! Upon release of their debut ‘The Fallen Aristocracy’ EP earlier this year, the accolades started pouring in for this new Danish band: “as perfect as jangling guitar pop can get”… “an instant classic”… “the bar has been set very high indeed”…“these songs are second to none”… “outstanding is an understatement”…“a modern pop classic”…“single of the year!” The EP has topped the Matinée best sellers chart every month since its release with good reason.
On the highly anticipated ‘Napoleon Sweetheart’ EP, the band worked to expand its sound slightly while retaining the classic appeal of its debut. The brilliant lead track ‘I Give You Two Seconds To Entertain Me’ was the second song ever recorded by the band but has been completely remixed and remastered for this EP. Featuring jangling guitars, keyboards, superb vocals and bright melodies, the song is a three-minute classic inspired by the feeling of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
‘Sporting A Scar’ is the first of three additional tracks on the EP—thematically close but more self-reflective than the lead track, with especially superb lyrics and more breezy keyboards. It’s another gem! ‘In An Empty Hotel’ is a short and catchy tune about the clash between hopeful dreams and the practical problems that can occur, while the nearly epic ‘Our Lambrusco Days’ is a slightly sentimental and warm ballad with relatively simple instrumentation and open guitar tuning giving the song a special sound.
Reviewers of the first EP rightly questioned how Northern Portrait could possibly follow such a strong debut single. The band has responded in brilliant fashion, as ‘Napoleon Sweetheart’ is another solid contender for single of the year. The bar has been set very high indeed. Limited to 1000 copies in custom minijacket sleeve.
For band photos, soundclips, early reviews and more information please see the catalog and artist pages, or visit the Matinée and Northern Portrait pages on Myspace.
matinée 069
BUBBLEGUM LEMONADE – SUSAN’S IN THE SKY EP
Tracklisting:
1. Susan’s In The Sky
2. Surfin’ USB
3. Just Like You
4. Holocaust
Scottish wonderkids Bubblegum Lemonade debuted early this year with an outstanding single ‘Ten Years Younger’ that earned song of the day honors on influential radio station KEXP and amassed countless positive reviews in the music press including favorable comparisons to influential 60’s popstars (The Velvet Underground, The Monkees, The Byrds) and 80’s indie legends (Jesus and Mary Chain, Razorcuts, Biff Bang Pow!). Before delivering the all important debut album, the band pause for a moment to release a spectacular second EP!
Title track ‘Susan’s In The Sky’ is an everyday tale of an air hostess and her slacker boyfriend caught up in a Romeo and Juliet type scenario. It’s another sunshine wall of pop with Rickenbacker guitars, tambourines and nice organ bits. A short dose of California sunshine perfect for all seasons.
Among the EP’s exclusive extra tracks, the cleverly titled ‘Surfin’ USB’ is a proper jangle with fuzzy guitars and a nice Beach Boys coda, while ‘Just Like You’ continues the California theme in a 150 bpm mini classic drenched in Mary Chain feedback with a mix of fuzz and surf guitars. Closing track ‘Holocaust’ is a superb cover of the legendary Big Star classic featuring a mix of Rickenbacker and acoustic guitars.
Once described as “the perfect C86 pop band that just happened to turn up 22 years behind schedule,” Bubblegum Lemonade deliver instantly memorable songs with brilliant pop melodies. ‘Susan’s In The Sky’ is another remarkable success for Matinée and a vibrant reminder of the essential new pop coming out of Scotland. Limited to 1000 copies in custom minijacket sleeve.
For band photos, soundclips, early reviews and more information please see the catalog and artist pages, or visit the Matinée and Bubblegum Lemonade pages on Myspace.
Both EPs are on all back to school shopping lists so stop by the order page or your favorite shop today! Both EPs should appear on iTunes shortly so if you’re after digital copies your wait is nearly over. You can listen to ‘Susan’s In The Sky’ and ‘I Give You Two Seconds To Entertain Me’ in their entirety on the Matinée sounds page, or tracks from each EP rotating weekly on MySpace, or 30-second samples of all the songs on iTunes. Enjoy!
Following a down-to-the-wire battle with Bubblegum Lemonade, Northern Portrait has replaced itself atop the Matinée Hit Parade. Here are the top sellers for the month of August:
10. The Lucksmiths – Warmer Corners CD
9. Matinée Recordings t-shirt
8. The Pines – It’s Been A While CD
7. Math and Physics Club – Baby I’m Yours CDEP
6. Strawberry Whiplash – Who’s In Your Dreams CDEP
5. Bubblegum Lemonade – Ten Years Younger CDEP
4. The Electric Pop Group – Sunrise CDEP
3. Northern Portrait – The Fallen Aristocracy CDEP
2. Bubblegum Lemonade – Susan’s In The Sky CDEP
1. Northern Portrait – Napoleon Sweetheart CDEP
Look for more news and exclusive soundclips from new releases in just a few days…