It has been a while, largely because there hasn't been so much. But over the past week, it has come flooding in. The theme is largely about the return of IDHAS heroes.
Mothboxer - Twelve
Hot on the heels of February's Timelimes album (IDHAS Review here) Dave Ody is proving especially prolific this year, on fire really. 26 July will mark the release of a second album for 2024. Ody started recording after the release of Timelines.
Having heard the album, it is top notch. You know that Mothboxer never let you down, but the new one is simply wonderful. Look out for the nigh on 13 minutes closing track How Does It Feel. The album is called Twelve, being errrr Mothboxer's 12th album.
Caddy - Someone Like You
There`s a 20 year anniversary for Caddy this year and Tomas Dahl wanted to write and record a new album for the occasion. The self titled album will be released on vinyl through Vestkyst Records and CD through Kool Kat. Release date is 22 August.
2023 was pretty rough for Dahl with losing both parents and two close friends within a period of 6 months.. The album is lyrically darker reflecting on those events, The music is still very much melodic but there is much more Power on this album than in a long time, but the results from our Power Pop hero are outstanding.
A single has been released and you can listen to Someone Like You below. The song will also be included on next week's Listening To This Week Playlist from Monday 15 July.
The Mommyheads - One Eyed Band
I think many of you know our love of The Mommyheads. We have been fans forever and ever amen. It has been wonderful to see the band in full flow over recent years with more Live shows than ever. We have seen the following grow and grow and still consider them as possibly our favourite band ever.
A new album, One Eyed Band, will be released on 13 September and I know we can be biased, but it is truly magnificent. The tracklist is below. Look out for further details on the band's website here and Bandcamp site here.
Album Details :
01 Chicken Soup
02 Life Is A Dream
03 Season Of Our Sound
04 Architect
05 Human Being
06 Risk It All
07 One Eyed Man
08 Weightless And Unbound
09 Junk
10 The Gift
Derrero - Breezing Up
It is hard to believe that I have been a fan of Welsh Wizards, Derrero for 29 years. Through Brit Pop and Beyond. No one quite catches the mood like their albums do. So it is delightful to note that Derrero's sixth studio album, Breezing Up, will be released on 14 September.
The bulk of the album was recorded last October at Palm Tree Studios in Kent and features contributions from Dewi Parry (Ghosts Lawns, Siula) and Gid Goundrey (Gulp, Ghost Lawns, EYE) with additional brass from Ifan Rhys & Rob Halcrow.
Derrero have maintained a resolutely DIY and esoteric approach to music making cementing their reputation as a strident and confident band who remain steadfastly unafraid to swim against the tide and self-release uncompromising music outside of the mainstream
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Breezing Up will be preceded by a single on 02.08.24 from when the album will be available for pre-order. The tracklisting is as follows :
01 Ride On Rider
02 Catherine
03 The Drive Home
04 A Line In Space
05 Breezing Up
06 Cosmic Shift
07 Painting With Sound
08 Mile After Mile
09 Creepy Crawlies
Cherry Fez - Superexcited Sessions
It is an exciting time for Todd Shuster this year. Firstly, he has recorded an EP in Nashville with Brad Jones. The results are exhilarating and all four songs will delight Power Pop fans. The first track from those sessions has been released and you can listen to it below.
There may be more songs recorded later in the year and here's hoping a label will pick them up for a Physical Release as either an EP or mini album. Superexcited (the song) will also appear on next week's Listening To This Week Playlist (15 July).
In the meantime, the excellent Subjangle label is releasing a double CD compilation of Todd's old band, The Impossible Years called A Good Past Deserves Repeating. Provisional Release Date is 14 July. More details as I have them.
Finally Cherry Fez will be playing some IPO’s as Rick Kingo Featuring Cherry Fez at LA, San Diego, Vancouver and New York). It is great chance to see Rick and Chris from Caper Clowns with Cherry Fez. I am quite envious. IPO Details can be found here.
The Junipers - Annie Almond
On the theme of returning heroes, there was a real Wow! hollow when we found out that The Junipers were returning. First up is the wonderful single that is released on Thursday (11 July). Called Annie Almond, it is as ace as you would expect.
A follow up single is initially planned for 1 August titled She Looked Up At the Stars. Even more exciting is the news that a new album is ready, provisionally planned for a release at the end of August. The album is likely to be called Imaginary Friends.
The You Tube embed for Annie Almond is below. It will not go live until after midnight on Thursday. Listening To This Week fans can also hear the single on next Monday's LTTW (15 July).
Sloan - Smeared Deluxe Vinyl Box Set
The fourth deluxe box set from Sloan and this time focusing on the debut LP, Smeared. Along with that album, it also contains an LP of demo recordings. Live recordings from the era are on the third LP and the 7" single. Lots of great photos, stories and ephemera in the excellently designed 12" x 12" 44-page booklet. Limited edition!
Tracklist
LP 1 - Smeared
Side A
01. Underwhelmed
02. Raspberry
03. I Am The Cancer
04. Median Strip
05. Take It In
06. 500 Up
Side B
01. Marcus Said
02. Sugartune
03. Left Of Centre
04. Lemonzinger
05. Two Seater
06. What's There To Decide?
LP 2 - The Demos and Outtakes
Side A
01. Kool Aid (March 1990 Chris demo)
02. Left Of Centre (February 1991 demo)
03. In Her Place (February 1991 demo)
04. Pretty Voice (1991 Jay demo)
05. Caroline (1991 demo)
Side B
01. Underwhelmed (1991 demo)
02. Marcus Said (1991 demo)
03. 500 Up (October 1991 demo)
04. Raspberry (October 1991 demo)
05. Median Strip (Andrew vocal)
LP 3 - Live at McGill University June 17, 1993
Side A
01. Median Strip (live at McGill 06/17/93)
02. Take It In (live at McGill 06/17/93)
03. Sugartune (live at McGill 06/17/93)
04. Pillow Fight (live at McGill 06/17/93)
05. Coax Me (live at McGill 06/17/93)
Side B
01. Underwhelmed (live at McGill 06/17/93)
02. Penpals (live at McGill 06/17/93)
03. I Am The Cancer (live at McGill 06/17/93)
04. Rag Doll (live at McGill 06/17/93)
05. Left Of Centre (live at McGill 06/17/93)
7" single
01. Autobiography (live at The Grawood, Dalhousie 03/20/92)
02. Easily Fooled (live at The Grawood, Dalhousie 03/20/92)
Chris Church Underground Again
Chris Church is currently finishing off his latest album, some of which I have heard and those songs are top notch as ever. In the meantime, Chris has released the song, Underground Again. The definitive version of this song has eluded him, but he has always loved it.
This version is newly recorded in spring 2024, with Brian Beaver, friend and bandmate from DANG on Drums. Brian also painted the picture in this cover photo. Church wrote the song in the late '90s. A different version of it was recorded with THE FREDS several years ago.
That version is titled "Fad Collectible" (first track on THE FREDS album "Heavens For Betsey"). Finally set free with no final mix or mastering. it is Church's final attempt at the song and well worth a listen.
The Glad Machine - So High
Finally, a most welcome return from The Glad Machine. It has been a couple of years since the excellent Hey album which featured heavily in our Best Albums Of 2022. You can read the IDHAS Review of that album here.
Suiting the season, if not the weather over here in the UK. A great blast of catchy Power Pop joy. Brad Thayer still has a fine set of pipes. We can't wait to hear more from the band.
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All fantastic news indeed, Don!
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