Back catalogue: Indie/Alternative

Review: Not to be confused with our own homegrown horror-punk legends, this preceding The Damned were a short-lived Dutch glam rock studio-only project, who's one release of note is this long out of print Morning Bird 7", accompanied by the proto-disco groove of B-side 'Theta'. Available on wax for the first time in 50 years, this slept on neon-tinted holy grail of glam originally came courtesy of iconic producer Miki Dallon (The Sorrows, Boys Blue, Shakane, New York Dolls) for his Young Blood International label in 1974.

Review: 'Neat Neat Neat' might have only been the second single released by The Damned, but its timeless longevity as an essential punk staple has seen it appear in episodes of The Simpsons and The Boys while Edgar Wright would give the track yet another lease on life by using it to score the intense opening chase sequence in 2017's Baby Driver. That's before even mentioning the vastly differing artists it has influenced with everyone from My Chemical Romance to Elvis Costello taking a stab. Pressed to artwork complimenting purple wax, this 7" offers a slice of cuts captured during a set in Mulhouse, France in 1994, with the classic single on the A-side, while the flip boasts a dynamic yet bizarre bevvy of covers, from the likes of iconic pop duo The Righteous Brothers ('You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin') to 60's mods The Craig ('I Must Be Mad') to Johnny Cash's 'I Walk The Line'.

Review: After leaving his native California for Chicago, Rudy De Anda dimmed down his beachy, psych-rock roots and dipped into some unknown waters, yielding enchanting results. His latest album, which was recorded in Austin, Texas, is romantically familiar and novelly soulful Latin pop that's a pure joy to behold. The b-side here - '83' - is a key number from that album. It has a subtle, cool groove perfect for sparking up a fat cigar and putting your feet up for the day. Given that De Anda is on such top form in this chapter of his life, it's no surprise he's done justice and then some to with his cover of Royal Jester's version of 'Take Me For A Little While'. The two tracks fit seamlessly together and beg repeat listens.

Review: "The final episode of this soap-opera of a band will be released in the form of a 7 inch on 24.01.2025." If this is your first encounter with De Nooit Moede, then welcome to the wake of the best group you sadly only cottoned onto when they were posting about their final release on Instagram. The Brussels seven piece's swan song certainly fits the bill for funeral soundtrack, with RIP's garage-punk-wave washing through your mind with equal parts melancholy and swagger. Four tracks run from the staccato-step of 'Doopsel', which opens the scoring and sets the mood perfectly, through the more melodic 'Sluiswachter', blissfully downtrodden 'Fake Niet', and motoring 'Alledaagse Nachten'. Each is as infectiously groovy as the next, and cooler than pretty much everything else you will have been listening to this week/month/year. More Flemish attitude, please.

Review: Emotional Rescue takes another trip into the twisted world of post-punk dubs, electronics and oddities here at the hands of DJ, collector and radio host Gary The Tall. The original comes from German duo and new wave innovators Die Radierer whose pop-reggae jam 'Batman' is irresistibly catchy with its low-slung beats and lazy, sun-kissed melodies. It appeared on 1983's In Hollywood and was recorded at their home studio on a Tascam 4-track cassette recorder. Gary The Tall's remix finds him teaming up with Aaron Coyles under his new alias of Exotic Gardens and the results are loopy and dubbed out to perfection.

Review: DIIV formed back in 2011 and made big impressions within the blog world and then the real world after debut single 'Sometime' picked up plenty of attention. It was follow up with two further singles as well as a cover of a Kurt Cobain tune 'Bambi Slaughter' and to mark the 10 year anniversary all of their debut album all of these 7"s re pulled together on vinyl and serve as a great reminder of where the band has come from. They scream DIY and are very indicated of the Brooklyn scene out of which they were born with songs that muse on love in all its many different ways.

Review: Continuing the label's special 7"s releases that capture the nascent 80s post punk, dub, funk and pop - as examined on releases by The Jellies, Woo, Phantom Band, 4AM and more - here a discovery of unheard demos from Dislocation Dance's Midnight Shift album.
As part of the eighties Manchester scene, the band's pop and jazz sensibilities have continued to garner attention, offering a rightful place in the city's rich music history.
With the closure of Richard Boon's New Hormones label in 1982, they came to the attention of Geoff Travis' Rough Trade. Creating a home studio in the basement of an old rambling farmhouse in Withington, Ian Runacres (guitar, vocals), with lyricist Paul Emmerson (bass), set to work creating demos to garner a deal.
Inspired by the funk-disco of Dr Buzzards Original Savannah Band debut album, Here Comes Love was written using Roland TR-606 drum machine, guitars, bass and (cheap) keyboard, its magical and lo-fi charmed quality melts hearts.
On Mr Zak, the fun Runacres had is evident. Written as an "indie" song, but with Aztec Camera and Burt Bacharrach on his mind, with Andy Diagram (trumpet) and Kathryn Way (vocals), hides a structure matching the album version, but which in its rudimentary instrumentation and production is unique and outshines the later version, to encase a specific period and innocence, of time.