Listening To This Week Playlist

 

Just a reminder that this week's |Listening To This Week Playlist is delayed until tomorrow. Simply due to real life work commitments and the weather problems in the area.

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The Garden Of Earthly Delights 2024 Volume 2

 

Today's offering features four 2024 Archive releases. We are often asked to feature more Reissues. We've been reluctant to do this to avoid deflecting from our main intention of covering new albums. However 2025 will bring more of these in special separate sections, but not enough to confuse our audience.

Yachts - Missing In Action - The Lost Tapes 1980 - 81 

Yachts are beloved, not just here, but in parts of the US and deservedly so. Described at times as Punk, but more often Power Pop. They are neither really. New Wave describes them best, the UK 78 - 80 version, not the 80s geeky synth overload variation. Here are the recordings that were to form their third album that never came to light. 

The band split and this led to the likes of The Christians and It's Immaterial. Lovingly remastered recordings under the watchful eyes of band members Henry Priestman and Martin Watson. The Vinyl LP also contains the identical CD Version providing an essential example of the second Merseybeat.

You can buy the album here.

Bruce Woolley & The Camera Club - The Definitive Anthology 1977-1981 (3CD)

Talking of New Wave. the band's only released album, English Garden is one of the essential albums of the genre. Containing the early versions of Video Killed The Radio Star and Clean Clean that were written by Woolley and the pre Buggles Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes, that album is expanded. 

CBS refused to release the second album bizarrely and that is here with loads of extra stuff and 2 In Concert Recordings, one from the UK and one from the US. An essential 3 Disc set from a band that included Thomas Dolby and a reminder of how joyous that New Wave scene was.

You can buy the set here.

The Futureheads - Decent Days & Nights - The Singles

Without the intention of name dropping, I remember a conversation with Andy Partridge about similar bands to XTC and he singled out The Futureheads and Field Music as examples. Sunderland's finest certainly have that angular, swift changing of direction that XTC had, but also have the benefit of four part vocal harmonies.

19 singles are gathered together for then first time including that wonderful cover of Kate Bush's Hounds Of Love. Here is a band every bit as good as the likes of Franz Ferdinand with a fine Indie Guitar led collection that is available as a 2 LP or CD version.

You can buy the CD here. The Vinyl Edition is available here.

Tremeloes - Master (Remastered And Extended)

Known for UK Beat and Pop, The Tremeloes dropped the "The" for this 1970 release and showed a completely different side to the band. The poptastic gentle harmonies are placed on the back burner in favour of a crunchier Rock sound. But there are also some wonderful Psych Pop adventures contained within.

The harmonies are still here, but far more West Coast orientated. Here is the definitive version on Roger Houdaille's excellent Think Like A Key label. Remastered by Prof. Stoned and adding 12 Bonus Tracks.

You can buy the album here and everywhere.

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The Garden Of Earthly Delights 2024 Volume 1

 

A chance to celebrate more 2024 albums, before we move on to 2025. We just ran out of time to write full reviews for these excellent offerings, but just want you to know how much we liked them.

Silver Sun - Mild Peril

My love of Silver Sun from Day 1 knows no bounds. One of the finest Power Pop bands that the UK has produced. The sad loss of James Broad is felt by me as a fan and personally as we chatted occasionally mainly about our pet Lurchers. He handled his illness with great dignity. James's wife, Lu, dropped this album late in the year. It is the album that James was working on before he passed away.

You can listen to the album here. It is also available on the likes of Spotify. A wonderful testament to a wonderful man.

The Tangerines - Make It Happen

Swedish Power Pop veterans, The Tangerines are now approaching their third decade together. Make It Happen reveals they haven't lost their Power Pop chops, but there are also departures into Pop Rock. Jangle Pop, AOR and even Psych Pop. A great listen!

You can listen to the album here. You can buy the album and find out more about the band here.

Bubblegum Lemonade - Lawrence Of Suburbia

Laz McCluskey, he of Strawberry Whiplash, returns to his solo project, Bubblegum Lemonade. The Jangle Indie Pop is prevalent as you might expect with some lovely 12 String vibes. But there is also variety present and quite a few surprises. Overall, there is a Sarah Records feel, but also a Television Personalities feel. Another triumph for Mattinee Recordings. All the way from Santa Barbara via Glasgow.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

EggS - Crafted Achievement

Great angular Indie Rock from a mysterious Parisian 7 piece. The sound doesn't give the impression of a 7 fold band, it is quite sparse, but contains some wonderfully surprising riffs and arrangements. An album that is delicate, yet wonderfully listenable. Intelligent Indie at its finest and available on the excellent Hartlepool label, Prefect Records. Which is also home to Mt. Misery who have been IDHAS's 2024 wild card.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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