Category Archives: Indie Pop
CULT CLASSIC: COCTEAU TWINS-BLUE BELL KNOLL.
Cult Classic: Cocteau Twins-Blue Bell Knoll. By 1988, the Cocteau Twins’ star was in the ascendancy. They were officially, one of music’s rising stars. So it’s no surprise that major labels were starting to take an interest in the Cocteau Twins. That wasn’t surprising. The Cocteau Twins had already served their musical apprenticeship. They had already …
THE BLUE NILE-HATS-VINYL EDITION.
The Blue Nile-Hats-Vinyl Edition. Label: Confetti Records. Enigmatic, reluctant and contrarian are words that best of describe The Blue Nile. They’re the complete opposite of most bands. The Blue Nile have been described as publicity shy. That’ is an understatement. Ever since Paul Buchanan, Robert Bell and Paul Joseph Moore formed the Blue Nile, they’ve …
CULT CLASSIC: THE BATHERS-KELVINGROVE BABY.
Cult Classic: The Bathers-Kelvingrove Baby. The Bathers were formed in Glasgow, in 1985, by singer, songwriter and troubled troubadour Chris Thomson and released six albums between 1987 and 1999. Their fifth album was Kelvingrove Baby, which is a a minor classic, that’s one of the finest Scottish albums ever released. Sadly, Kelvingrove Baby and The …
CULT CLASSIC: TEENAGE FANCLUB-BANDWAGONESQUE.
Cult Classic: Teenage Fanclub-Bandwagonesque. Hardly ever does commercial success and critical acclaim come overnight for a band. Instead, it often takes a couple of albums before a band hits their stride. That was the case with the Teenage Fanclub. It wasn’t until the Teenage Fanclub released their third album Bandwagonesque in November 1991 that commercial …
IN 1984 THE BLUE NILE RELEASED A WALK ACROSS THE ROOFTOPS.
In 1984 The Blue Nile Released A Walk Across The Rooftops. Some albums are like old friends, and that is the case with The Blue Nile’s debut album A Walk Across The Rooftops. It’s an album I’ve treasured and loved for over three decades, and has I been a faithful companion in an ever-changing musical world. A Walk Across The Rooftops …
35 YEARS AGO IN 1984 LLOYD COLE AND THE COMMOTIONS RELEASED RATTLESNAKES.
35 Years Ago In 1984 Lloyd Cole and The Commotions Released Rattlesnake.s During the eighties, Lloyd Cole and The Commotions were, without doubt, one of the finest purveyors of perfect pop, releasing a triumvirate of critically acclaimed albums during a six year period, and becoming one of the most successful Scottish bands of the past forty years. The Lloyd Cole and …
LA TORRE IBIZA: VOLUMEN TRES.
La Torre Ibiza: Volumen Tres. Label: Hostal La Torre. The nineties and early noughties were the golden age for what was referred to as Balearic, chill out or downtempo music. Many of these lovingly curated compilations were released on smaller independent labels and featured a mixture of the new and old, from familiar faces and new names. Some of these …
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN-1996-2016: THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS.
Belle and Sebastian-1996-2016: The First Twenty Years. Over the last fifty years, many bands have been formed at university or college. Many of these bands went on to hone their sound on college and university circuit. However, only one of theses bands went on to release their debut single and album on their college’s record label. This might sound fat …
THE BLUE NILE-HATS
The Blue Nile-Hats. Label: Confetti Records. Enigmatic, reluctant and contrarian are words that best of describe The Blue Nile. They’re the complete opposite of most bands. The Blue Nile have been described as publicity shy. That’ is an understatement. Ever since Paul Buchanan, Robert Bell and Paul Joseph Moore formed the Blue Nile, they’ve been …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TRASHCAN SINATRAS.
The Life and Times Of The Trashcan Sinatras. Nowadays, very few bands get to celebrate their tenth anniversary, never mind their twentieth or thirtieth. Especially bands formed in the eighties. Many were short-lived affairs, who released a couple of albums, before calling it a day. Some crashed and burned amidst rancour and anger. Often, money was at …
COCTEAU TWINS-FOUR CALENDAR CAFE AND MILK AND KISSES VINYL.
Cocteau Twins-Four-Calendar Café and Milk and Kisses Vinyl. Label: UMC It was the best of times, it was the worst of times for 4AD President Ivo Watts-Russell when the Cocteau Twins released their sixth studio album Heaven Or Las Vegas on the ’17th’ of September 1990. He watched as the critically acclaimed album of dream reached …
THE BLUE NILE-CONTRARIAN YET PERFECTION PERSONIFIED.
The Blue Nile-Contrarian Yet Perfection Personified. Enigmatic, reluctant and contrarian are words that best of describe The Blue Nile. They’re the complete opposite of most bands. The Blue Nile have been described as publicity shy. That’ is an understatement. Ever since Paul Buchanan, Robert Bell and Paul Joseph Moore formed the Blue Nile, they’ve been …
BIG STAR-PIONEERS OF POWER POP.
Big Star-Pioneers Of Power Pop. Sadly, in music, talent doesn’t guarantee commercial success. If it did, Big Star would’ve been one of the biggest bands in musical history. Alas, that wasn’t the case. Lady luck failed to smile on Big Star when they released a trio of albums between 1972 and 1978. Despite this, Big Star …
TEENAGE FANCLUB- BIG STARS AND KINGS OF JANGLE POP.
Teenage Fanclub-Big Stars and Kings Of Jangle Pop. Not many Scottish bands have enjoyed the longevity and commercial success that Teenage Fanclub have. Scotland’s Kings of jangle pop have been together four decades, have released ten albums and toured the world several times. Still though, Teenage Fanclub still going strong, and must be contenders for the 2017 Scottish Album of The Year …
COCTEAU TWINS-TREASURE HIDING: THE FONTANA YEARS-VINYL.
Cocteau Twins-Treasure Hiding: The Fontana Years-Vinyl. Label: UMC It was the best of times, it was the worst of times for 4AD President Ivo Watts-Russell when the Cocteau Twins released their sixth studio album Heaven Or Las Vegas on the ’17th’ of September 1990. He watched as the critically acclaimed album of dream reached number seven …
COCTEAU TWINS-TREASURE HIDING: THE FONTANA YEARS.
Cocteau Twins-Treasure Hiding: The Fontana Years. Label: UMC It was the best of times, it was the worst of times for 4AD President Ivo Watts-Russell when the Cocteau Twins released their sixth studio album Heaven Or Las Vegas on the ’17th’ of September 1990. He watched as the critically acclaimed album of dream reached number seven …
GOOSEBUMPS 25 YEARS OF MARINA RECORDS.
Goosebumps 25 Years Of Marina Records. Label: Marina Records Any indie label that has survived for the last twenty-five years is obviously doing something right. Especially given how challenging a market it has been for both major and indie labels over the past twenty years. Everything from the death of vinyl and the introduction of …
MOGWAI-KIN ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK
Mogwai-Kin Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Label: Rock Action Records. Although Scottish post rock pioneers Mogwai have released nine studio albums, two live albums, two remix albums and written and recorded the score to three documentaries, until very recently, there was still something missing from the Glasgow band’s impressive musical CV. Mogwai had still to write …
THE BLUE NILE-PERFECTION PERSONIFIED.
The Blue Nile-Perfection Personified. Enigmatic, reluctant and contrarian are words that best of describe The Blue Nile. They’re the complete opposite of most bands. The Blue Nile have been described as publicity shy. That’ is an understatement. Ever since Paul Buchanan, Robert Bell and Paul Joseph Moore formed the Blue Nile, they’ve been one of …
TEENAGE FANCLUB-BANDWAGONESQUE-VINYL
Teenage Fanclub-Bandwagonesque-Vinyl. Label: Sony Music. Having signed to Creation Records in 1991, Teenage Fanclub proceeded to pull a musical rabbit out if the hat when they released their third album Bandwagonesque on the “19th” of November 1991. Bandwagonesque was an award-winning, game-changer of album by Kings of Jangle Pop,Teenage Fanclub who came of age musically. …
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