Happy September everyone and thanks for visiting the Matinée website. Loads to report this time as we gear up for the autumn
releases, which start off Monday the 10th with a brand new single from Harper Lee! It’s their third single overall and the
first to appear on CD format…mainly because there are three songs on it so it wouldn’t have fit on 7″ but also because it just
feels like a CD single. The three songs are all exclusive to this release, and they are called “Train Not Stopping,” “I Could Be
There for You” and “The Sea Gently Lifting.” Demonstrating more of the masterfully layered guitars and keyboards evidenced on
their debut album “Go Back To Bed,” this new single (matinée 032) also introduces a bit of soulful influence and we think it’s
the band’s strongest release to date. Laura of the band recently moved to Brighton where Keris already lives so the threat of a
live performance from Harper Lee may actually come true. I’ll cross my fingers at least…
Also out on September 10th is the first release in eight years from London’s Would-Be-Goods! Entitled the
“Emmanuelle Béart” EP (matinée 030), this cd single includes four new songs to add to the band’s impressive discography on
the él and Trattoria labels. The title track and “Words” are two electric affairs that swing in all the right places (and undoubtedly
will have you doing the same), while “Je lèche les vitrines” and “Everybody Wants My Baby” serve as a showcase for Jessica’s
beautiful voice set against acoustic guitars, cello and accordion. The band headlined one night of the Matinée Spring
Spectacular in April and have plans for more live dates over the next few months. Following this single and a forthcoming 7″ on
Fortuna Pop!, the band will co-release its third album “Brief Lives” (matcd017) on Matinée and Fortuna Pop! in January. For
now, we are extremely pleased to offer this exclusive new single and the return of one of the most adored bands of the last
decade.
The Windmills resume action later this month with their second full length called “Sunlight” (matcd014). Comprising
ten tracks, the album demonstrates a tremendous step forward in the band’s songwriting and is easily their most impressive
release to date. Incorporating keyboards and the occasional harmonica into their classic blend of pristine guitar pop, the band
has achieved a fuller sound throughout this new album. Lead track “Unkiss” was previewed on the Matinée Spring Collection
CD in April and is only a hint at some of the instantly memorable songs included here…an album of A-sides if you ask me.
The band is planning UK dates in support of the new album over the next few months and we’ll post dates as soon as they’re
set here and on the band website.
The long-delayed Lovejoy Plays Biff Bang Pow! 7″ (matinée 028) is unfortunately still delayed due to a licensing issue.
The wax has already arrived though and the first 500 on red vinyl are very cool so be on the lookout for this release in the next
month. The songs again are “Hug Me Honey” featuring the debut of Keith on lead vocals, and “The Beat Hotel” with Dick on
lead and featuring a beautiful duet with Ally on the chorus. In the meantime, Lovejoy has started recording for its next release – a
10″ mini-album called “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” (matlp018). The answer? We all do, so buy lots of Lovejoy records.
Slipslide follows up its debut “Four Day Weekend” EP with a new 7″ including the songs “Sleeptalk” and “Six Strings”
(matinée 031). The A-side is the most immediate song the band has recorded to date, with superbly jangling guitars, farfisa, a
tambourine, a bit of reverb and a toe-tapping quotient as high as anything I’ve heard recently. I can dance to it, but then again I
can find a way to dance to nearly anything. The flip employs classic 12-string guitar, more tambourines and a slight folky edge
reminiscent of the best moments of Shack. Need I say more? Slipslide members Graeme, Dave and Brychan make up
three-fourths of the outstanding London band Astronaut, who have just
released a full length on Fierce Panda called “The Curse of…” which is essential listening around these parts and a fully
Matinée endorsed product.
Although temporary victim of a licensing delay, the debut single from The Snowdrops is coming along well now and
looks something like the image at right. As I mentioned last update, the Snowdrops is a new band featuring Keith Girdler
(Beaumont, Blueboy, Lovejoy); Pam Berry (The Pines, Castaway Stones, Glo Worm, Shapiros) and Dick Preece (Lovejoy,
Spinning Wheels)…and for their debut they have recorded an innovative cover of the Tears For Fears classic “Mad World” b/w
an original called “Don’t Buy Anything.” Pam and Keith both sing on this wonderful new 7″ (matinée 029), which will appear on
your turntables as soon as one small sample is cleared. To keep you entertained while waiting, why not seek out the recent
Beaumont single on Siesta called “Discotheque a la Carte” which has taken up residence in my 5-disc carousel and shows no
signs of leaving anytime soon. And yes, I can dance to it too.
Melodie Group have just delivered the master for a fantastic new 7″ which we quickly dubbed the “Summerness” EP
(matinée 033). The A-side features the song “Summerness” which shows that somebody is a big fan of Echo and the
Bunnymen…or is it just coincidence that Roy bought that new Echo box set a week before he went into the studio? The
B-side includes two acoustic numbers called “Nineteen Eighty Nine” and “Small Grinning Thing” and they are superb as well
so we are delighted to present this single. It is on track for an October release so check back for more definite news.
Another autumn release in the pipeline is the debut single from a London-based duo called Pipas. Featuring Mark of the sadly
departed Bella Vista and a sultry Spanish gal named Lupe, the band presents a brilliant concoction of sounds that recall the
best moments of Club 8, Broadcast, the Aislers Set, and La Buena Vida. The single features three exclusive songs: “A Short
Film About Sleeping,” “Troublesome” and “Fingerprints.” We’re working on artwork now and will announce a release date
soon. In the meantime, Pipas are coming to the US for two shows in late September…on Saturday the 22nd in New York City
and on Tuesday the 25th in Washington. Watch this space for an update on venues and times as soon as everything is
confirmed. We should also soon have copies of a very limited 10″ release from Pipas called “Chunnel Autumnal” on the Long
Lost Cousin label. This will be offered on the Order page as soon as we have them in stock, so
check there later this month if you want a preview of this exciting new Matinée band.
The Lucksmiths have been strangely quiet for the past month, undoubtedly recovering from several months of dates in
the US, Japan and Australia. While here, they played numerous shows with the Ladybug Transistor before breaking out on
their own for a series of headlining dates in support of their recent “North American Tour 2001” single (matinée 027). Copies still
remain of the single if you didn’t get one during the tour. It contains exclusive songs “Friendless Summer” and “Goodness
Gracious” recorded by Karl Smith of Sodastream fame. While in New York, the band also paid visit to the headquarters of Spin
magazine where they played three songs that are supposed to be archived on the Spin.com
website but have not shown up yet. They also did a great interview with National Public Radio that aired on NPR’s
Morning Edition on August 1st. A copy of the segment is now archived here for your listening pleasure. The band is heading to the UK for
a month of shows starting October 3rd, including a Matinée/Fortuna Pop! night in London on the 27th with Airport Girl and
Slipslide. To coincide with the UK dates, they will release a tour single on Fortuna Pop! with the tracks “Cassingle Revival” and
“Myopic Friends.” We will have copies of this single here as soon as they are available so check back if you’re in need of a
Lucksmiths fix.
Fellow Australians Simpático have just finished recording 12 new songs for their debut album “The Difference Between
Alone and Lonely” (matcd016). Following the band’s debut single “The Postal Museum” on Matinée early this year and a split
7″ with The Pines on Gifted Records of Australia, the album will be a co-release between us and we couldn’t be any more
excited. Simpático have achieved a brilliant balance of guitars and electronica that comes out sounding fresh and intriguing.
We’re designing artwork now, and will announce a release date in the next update.
A band rather quiet of late is Sportique, but that will change soon enough as they return with their second album
“Modern Museums” (matcd015) in January. Aptly described as anything but quiet, the new album picks up where their 1999
debut “Black Is A Very Popular Colour” left off. Following successful US dates last December and continued exposure on the
John Peel show, the band has recorded nine new songs of art-pop for this album, which will be available on CD and limited 10″
in conjunction with Where It’s At Records in London. The band intends to return to the US for shows along the West Coast
next year.
One of Sportique boss Gregory Webster’s former bands was Razorcuts, who of course have a storied past with late
80’s releases on the Creation, Subway, Flying Nun and Caff record labels. Razorcuts will return to the new release shelves
soon with the definitive compilation “R Is For Razorcuts” (matcd012). Compiling 15 songs from these rare releases along with
an unreleased track, this CD will be a definite hit. Although we have experienced the customary licensing delays, the CD
should still see release this year.
The Airport Girl CD “Honey I’m An Artist” (matcd011) was recently repressed so if any of you were looking for one
there’s now more to be had. The band recently released a split single with the Static Waves on Sorted Records in the UK,
including a great new song from Airport Girl called “Cold”. The band is currently recording new songs for the 5-track “Do
You Dream In Colour?” CDEP for release on Matinée early next year.
The Siddeleys are basking in the success of their recently released “Slum Clearance” CD (matcd005), while the band’s
website continues to receive hundreds of hits a week. Lead singer
Johnny Johnson has just started work on new recordings that will find their way to a Matinée release next year if all goes as
planned. If there is anyone out there more excited by this news than me, please make yourself known so I can offer you a job.
Matinée returns to London the last two weeks of October for a round of shows, including the aforementioned showcase on the
27th with the Lucksmiths, Airport Girl and Slipslide. Another show is still in the planning stages and this page will be updated
in the next few weeks with complete details on both.
Finally, thanks to both IndiePages and Pennyblack Music for doing recent features on the label. Based on interviews conducted
a month apart, the content in them is surprisingly different so have a look if you haven’t seen them yet. The Pennyblack
interview originally appeared as a feature of their July magazine, which is now archived here. For anyone interested
in reading good record reviews, there are some recent Matinée releases featured online at Tangents (Remember Fun and Slipslide), Modular (Lovejoy, Airport Girl, Matinée Spring Collection), and Aquamarine (Windmills, Melodie Group, Edson, Lucksmiths,
Lovejoy). Superb reviews also appear regularly on the Pennyblack
and Indiepages sites (both usually with soundclips), so visit there often as they update their
sites frequently.
Until next time…xx, Jimmy