The June Brides:
The June Brides crammed a lot into their short first life: NME cover stars, invited by Morrissey to tour with The Smiths, leaving a beloved album and clutch of singles when they bowed out in 1986. Their influence has since been acknowledged and songs covered by acolytes including the Manic Street Preachers.
Now Phil Wilson has mustered most of his original troops for a new double A-side 7″, “A January Moon”/”Cloud,” on Occultation (UK) and Slumberland (US), out late June, plus live appearances including the Indietracks festival in July and the Occultation End Of The Pier Show with The Distractions and Factory Star in Manchester at the end of August.
The new single builds on the success of Phil”s solo album, God Bless Jim Kennedy, released on in 2010. Phil takes up the story: “We didn’t plan to reform, it just happened. I formed a trio three years ago, then Frank and Jon from the original June Brides joined us and, although I didn’t want to cash in on the name, when The Loft asked us to join them for a one-off concert I asked our old guitarist Simon Beesley and it seemed foolish to resist calling it The June Brides.”
“A January Moon” is the silver lining and a classic example of Wilson’s way with a melody whereas “Cloud,” a previously unreleased Granite Shore song, shows the darker shadow cast upon this moon. Taken together, they show that Phil and The June Brides are still a very potent pop force, and that age has only deepened their talents.
Track listing:
A: A January Moon
B: Cloud
Release Date: June 26, 2012
7″ list price: $5.98
vinyl UPC: 749846-01757-4
digital UPC: 749846-01758-1
territory: North America
Allo Darlin’:
The second single from Allo Darlin’s superb second album is none other than the title track, “Europe.” The London-based four-piece – led by Australian songbird Elizabeth Morris, with guitarist Paul Rains, Bill Botting on the bass and Michael Collins on drums – create perfect, sophisticated pop gems and know how to put on a joyous, effervescent, fun-filled live show, and their recent US tour was a roaring success. Europe the album has been one of the pop gems of 2012, garnering excellent reviews everywhere from Pitchfork to NME.
Achingly personal, incredibly poignant and familiar all at once, Elizabeth Morris’ songwriting has deepened and developed since their 2009 debut, although they’ve lost none of their ability to create sophisticated, intelligent pop music with an uplifting, joyous feel. Elizabeth describes what “Europe” the song is about – “About a year ago I wasn’t sure how much longer I’d be able to live in the UK, because my visa was running out and I was running out of options. I’ve lived here for most of my adult life. I started thinking about what I’d lose if I went home, and what I’d gain. What memories I’d take with me if I left.” Oddly though the song also turned out to be a remarkably prescient celebration of the togetherness that pulled the band through a disastrous tour of the continent last year, when noxious fumes in their tour van nearly put paid to them altogether. The B-side is an alternative version of the song “Some People Say”, recording during the mostly abandoned original album recording sessions in Manchester. It’s a slower version than the album version, and is quite beautiful.
Having built up an intensely loyal and ever-increasing fanbase, Allo Darlin’s reputation has developed at its own pace, from just one girl strumming a ukulele to headlining London’s Scala and touring all over the world. In their brief lifetime they have toured the USA four times, sold out tours across the UK and embarked on an epic five-week European tour. The band have been strongly supported by BBC 6music, recording several sessions including one at the BBC’s prestigious Maida Vale Studios as Steve Lamacq’s personal choice for BBC Introducing. Their self-titled debut was released to universal acclaim with plaudits including being named No. 2 record of the year by online retailer eMusic and a glowing 1,200 word essay by legendary Go-Between Mr. Robert Forster in the Australian critical magazine The Monthly.
Gloriously catchy, brilliantly uplifting and charmingly intelligent, Europe is one of the most exciting albums of the year, with Allo Darlin’ pleasing their existing loyal fanbase as well as winning over hoards of new admirers. The album is continued proof that Allo Darlin’ are one of THE bands to watch out for in 2012. Following the release of this single, they’ll be playing some UK shows, and are also confirmed as one of the headliners on the Slumberland stage at the Indietracks Festival in July.
Track listing:
A: Europe
B: Some People Say (Alternative Version)
Release Date: June 26, 2012
7″ list price: $6.98
vinyl UPC: 749846-01777-2
digital UPC: 749846-01778-0
territory: North America
etc: all copies on blue vinyl
Girls Names/Weird Dreams:
“A Troubled See”/”House of Secrets” 7″
Having released their debut album last year, Girls Names make a welcome return with the track, ‘A Troubled See’, and it provides the first proper indication of where the band will be heading with their next full length, out later this year. Hinting at a shift away from their often mis-perceived surf and indie-pop roots, Girls Names more towards something more akin to Krautrock and Psychedelia.Indeed, the band has expanded to a four-piece and has spent the last six months in virtual seclusion honing and developing a more progressive and expansive sound, feeding on the darker sides of Echo and The Bunnymen, Spacemen 3, The Birthday Party and David Bowie’s Low.
Weird Dreams contribution to the split is their first new material since April’s debut album, Choreography, which was lauded by Pitchfork as a “consistently rewarding, highly revelatory listen.” Known for their sophisticated song craft that charts a middle ground between the twisted buzz of The Soft Boys and the pastoral vibes of Real Estate, Weird Dreams have quickly marked themselves as one of the most exciting bands on the London circuit. Their longest track to date – an almost perverse endeavor given the format it features on – ‘House of Secrets’ is a slow-burning, sinister lullaby, buoyed by an insistent and spidery guitar line and replete with the rich, languorous vocals characteristic of the band.
Track listing:
A: Girls Names – A Troubled See
B: Weird Dreams – House of Secrets
Release Date: June 26, 2012 (digital), July 31, 2012 (physical)
7″ list price: $6.98
vinyl UPC: 749846-01767-3
digital UPC: 749846-01768-0
territory: North America
etc: all copies on blue vinyl
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