Hello! We’re back, full of autumnal cheer and surrounded by freshly delivered boxes of our penultimate release of the year.
That release, the excellent new ‘Language Lessons’ CDEP (matinée 058) from London trio Tender Trap, finds band members Amelia Fletcher, Rob Pursey and John Stanley (DJ Downfall) in absolutely top form. Amelia is arguably the voice of the indiepop generation, fronting legendary acts Talulah Gosh, Heavenly and Marine Research from the mid-80s to the turn of the century and adding her unmistakable vocals to hits from The Wedding Present, Hefner, The Brilliant Corners, and Sportique, among others. Since forming in 2001 as Tender Trap, Amelia, Rob and John have released three singles and the superb album ‘Film Molecules,’ described in one respected music magazine as the “unholy alliance between Blondie and The Magnetic Fields.”
The long-awaited follow-up, the ‘Language Lessons’ EP features lead track ‘Talking Backwards’ which will appear on a forthcoming Tender Trap album in early 2006. The song is a refreshing pop hit, full of chunky guitars, mellifluous vocals, smart drumming (courtesy of Claudia Gonson of The Magnetic Fields), ba-ba-ba’s and shimmering enthusiasm as it builds to its highly harmonious conclusion. Check it out now on the updated sounds page. The EP also includes three non-album tracks: ‘Unputdownable’ showcases more of Claudia’s ace drumming as it mixes lush string-filled verses with a shouty chorus that recalls the heady days of Heavenly’s P.U.N.K. Girl; ‘Friendster’ is a lovely ode to a certain online forum; and ‘Cómo Te Llamas?’ is a frighteningly catchy electropop hit featuring a bilingual duet between Amelia and special guest Lupe Nuñez-Fernandez of fellow Matinée superstars Pipas. Another classic single and a very welcome return for Tender Trap! The single is limited to 1000 copies in custom minijacket sleeve so get to the order page for your very own copy.
The band is currently finalizing artwork for the forthcoming album ‘Talking Backwards’ (matcd040) which includes great new songs Six Billion People, Inuit Beauty Queen, Ampersand, Talking Backwards, Fahrenheit 451, I Would Die For You, Dead And Gone, Applecore, (I Only Love You When I’m) Leaving You, and Dreaming of Dreaming. More details on the newly updated Tender Trap website.
Good news this month for fans of The Snowdrops too as we finally received the audio master for the new ‘Sleepydust’ EP (matinée 053)! The single has made its way to the pressing plant so we will have copies available early next month for your holiday shopping. As you may know, the band is an occasional collaboration of indie legends Keith Girdler (Blueboy, Beaumont, Arabesque, Lovejoy), Dick Preece (Lovejoy) and Pam Berry (The Pines, Shapiros, Glo Worm, Castaway Stones, Black Tambourine, etc.) but they like to keep things mysterious so you never know who might contribute something in the end. The new EP features five tracks including a Pet Shop Boys-inspired title track (now playing on the sounds page) with brilliant lead vocals from Keith plus backing from Pam. Other tracks include the beautiful atmospheric number ‘Too Cold To Snow,’ a wonderful song called ‘The Boy With The Hummingbird Eyes’ with Dick on lead vocals and a guest appearance from Keris Howard (Harper Lee, Brighter), a short one called ‘Teddy Dragons’ and a remix of ‘Sleepydust’ with more Pam (always a good thing) and some other nice touches. We’ll start taking preorders later this month so check the order page for availability. As with all our singles, the EP is limited to 1000 copies in our custom designed minijacket sleeves.
In addition to the new Tender Trap and Snowdrops releases, we are also finalizing details of a 2006 singles club called The Hit Parade comprising a new EP every month with insanely catchy a-sides, exclusive tracks and more! We’re committing to twelve EPs in as many months from Matinée favorites The Lucksmiths, Sportique, Would-Be-Goods, Lovejoy, Slipslide, Harper Lee and more, plus some surprises. Stay tuned for details! Of course we have a few albums planned as well so 2006 is shaping up to be another top year for the label.
Looking backwards for a moment, the most recent release from Math and Physics Club is the magnificent ‘Movie Ending Romance’ EP (matinée 059)! In a few months the band has gone from relative obscurity to indie acclaim, with two successful singles, features in respected publications like Pitchfork, Magnet and Rockpile, heavy rotation at some of the best radio stations in the land, and live appearances alongside heavyweights like The Lucksmiths, The Pixies, Tullycraft and Modest Mouse. Released in July, this new EP has only helped to solidify their stature as one of the best new bands of 2005. Among its four songs, ‘Movie Ending Romance’ is a pure jangler with soaring guitars, tambourines and an ace drumbeat, ‘White and Grey’ is an earnest song featuring strings, keyboards, and harmonica plus some magnificently poignant vocals, ‘Graduation Day’ is a swinging pop hit with more jangling guitars, tambourine, violin, and great lyrics, and ‘You’re So Good To Me’ is a Pacific Northwest take on a Beach Boys classic. As always, the lead track is available for streaming or download on the sounds page. The band continues work on its debut album so check here for updates and song previews soon. In the meantime, go straight to the order page to secure your copy.
Earlier this year we released fantastic albums from The Lucksmiths (matcd039), The Young Tradition (matcd038), Pale Sunday (matcd037), Pipas (matcd036) and Lovejoy (matcd035), plus singles from The Lucksmiths (matinée 057), Math and Physics Club (matinée 056), and The Happy Couple (matinée 054). See the catalog pages for complete release details, soundclips and reviews. We think it’s the best year ever for Matinée and continue to be excited about the label and our plans for the future. We hope you’ll join us.
Our continuing back catalog spotlight features classic releases this month from Sportique, Melodie Group and Sweet William. Each release is on sale for the next month if you want to complete your Matinée collection. Here is further encouragement:
The ‘Modern Museums’ LP (matcd015) from Sportique was released in January 2002 and marked a fairly substantial evolution from the band’s 1999 debut. The press loved it, and the album amassed scores of positive reviews. Among our favorites, Everett True wrote in Careless Talk Costs Lives: “Modern Museums is immaculate in a bittersweet, madcap, loud petulant sort of way…I want to marry it and have its children,” while Tasty concluded “twisted genius in glorious stereo” and Wide Open Road wrote “a still breathless meth-amphetamine art punk (g)rumble through the underground with the spray can of hate and love.” The best review ever (for any Matinée release) came from Japanese magazine Cookie Scene which reported “sounds like a guy whistle with a grin in underground after packed up a dead body of himself in a fat suit case popped up a leg a little.” You read that right. How can you not want to hear that?! Check out full reviews and soundclips on the catalog page. If you haven’t heard Sportique this is a perfect place to start.
With release of the ‘Raincoat’ EP (matinée 020) from Melodie Group in November 2000, we went with a surefire attention grabber on the sleeve: pornography. Admittedly, we made it a bit arty with some clever photoshopping and pixelization but as the Supreme Court told us, you can’t define pornography but you know it when you see it. In keeping with the sleeve art, we called lead track “You’ve Got the Whole of the World In Your Mouth” a two-minute pop explosion with chiming guitars and superb vocals that recall the jangling best of early Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. Still a fair comparison we’d say, so if you remember the goodness of hits like ‘Perfect Skin’ or ‘Lost Weekend’ this might be for you. The EP includes three other tracks—the wonderfully sublime ‘Raincoat’ which seemed to be the favorite for most people, ‘Magic Robot’ which appropriately introduced a hint of modern electronica, and a moody one called ‘Goodbye’ that still makes us smile. English zine Robots and Electric Brains concluded “Melodie Group are on the side of the angels…Pastels, Wedding Present and 1986 are all here along with charm and chiming brilliance.” Of course Melodie Group mainman Roy Thirlwall is also lead vocalist of The Windmills and of all the Melodie Group releases this one is perhaps closest in spirit (or production) to The Windmills. Listening to it now we still think it is four A-sides that deserve to be heard by the masses and with all exclusive tracks (plus free porn) it’s a bargain as well. Listen to some Melodie Group soundclips on the sounds page and get a copy while it’s on sale this month. You’ll be glad you did.
This month’s back catalog classic 7” is the ‘Lovely Norman’ EP (matinée 006) from Sweet William. While this Australian band generally gets props for having the very first Matinée release ever (the ‘Dutch Mother’ EP from 1997), the spotlight this month is on their second single from January 1999. Confusingly, ‘Lovely Norman’ is the first song we heard from Sweet William and therefore more responsible for the launch of the label than even ‘Dutch Mother.’ Do you follow? Yes, this song is that good! You can listen to it on the sounds or catalog pages if you don’t believe me. In addition to the title track the EP includes ‘Run for Your Life’ and ‘Not Actual, Not Lasting’ (later covered by South London folk legends and Matinée labelmates The Pines). Three exclusive songs that sadly marked the end of the band but luckily we have this single to remember them always. Lead vocalist and guitarist Jason Sweeney went on to even greater acclaim in Simpático…a subject for a future back catalog classic feature for sure! ‘Lovely Norman’ is a key chapter in the Matinée history books so get a copy before it is gone for good.
Alright then…a combined hit parade for September and October keeps Math and Physics Club on top. Here’s the top ten:
10. Various – Matinée 50 CD
9. Pale Sunday – Summertime? CD
8. Brighter – Singles 1989-1992 CD
7. Harper Lee – All Things Can Be Mended CD
6. Various – Matinee Winter Warmer CD
5. The Young Tradition – Northern Drive CD
4. Tender Trap – Language Lessons CDEP
3. The Lucksmiths – Warmer Corners CD
2. Math and Physics Club – Weekends Away CDEP
1. Math and Physics Club – Movie Ending Romance CDEP
Thanks, as always, for supporting the Matinée mailorder!
Until December,
Jimmy
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