Slumberland US Vinilo y CD

Review: Birdie's debut album, Some Dusty, first graced the music scene in 1999 and is now experiencing a well-deserved revival with a remastered vinyl reissue by Slumberland Records. The album's origins trace back to 1992 when Debsey Wykes (Dolly Mixture) and Paul Kelly (East Village) joined Saint Etienne's live band, sparking a connection over their shared admiration for '60s and '70s sunshine pop and soft rock. This bond led to the formation of Birdie in 1994, and the release of their 'Spiral Staircase' 7" single in 1997 on Summershine. Some Dusty was crafted in the summer of 1998 with producer Brian O'Shaughnessy (Denim, Moose, The Clientele). The album's deep and beautiful soundscapes are enriched by Debsey's sweet and soulful vocals, perfectly matched with the melodic, understated yet sophisticated arrangements. The quest for the quintessential pop moment is evident in every track, from the shimmering chimes of 'Port Sunlight' to the intricate interplay of acoustic guitar, trumpet, and keyboards on 'Let Her Go,' and the gentle wah guitar on 'One Two Five.' The addition of lush string arrangements by Sean O'Hagan of The High Llamas elevates the album to classic status. The reissue of Some Dusty allows a new generation to experience its timeless charm and impeccable production, solidifying its place as a pop masterpiece.

Review: Andy Pastalaniec's Chime School became a cornerstone of the Bay Area's vibrant pop scene with his 2021 debut. Now, his sophomore album, The Boy Who Ran the Paisley Hotel, is here with this "winter sky" blue vinyl edition. Recorded in his home studio on San Francisco's foggy southern edge, this new album marks a shift toward a more introspective, moody sound. While still driven by the jangling guitars that fans cherish, the album's 11 tracks showcase Pastalaniec's growth in songwriting, production, and arrangement, weaving a more patient and layered tapestry of sound. The album draws heavily from the rich history of UK indie pop, with influences from East Village, later Teenage Fanclub, and even hints of Northern Picture Library's Alaska. However, it remains deeply connected to the 2024 Bay Area, reflecting on the city's ongoing changes and featuring a songwriting collaboration with SF native Mike Ramos of Tony Jay/Flowertown. Opening with 'The End,' a blend of acoustic strums and the signature 12-string jangle, the album transitions into melancholic, mid-tempo pop. Tracks like 'Give Your Heart Away' and 'Wandering Song' reveal Pastalaniec's evolving artistry, pushing beyond familiar influences to create something distinctly his own. The album closes with 'Points of Light,' leaving listeners eager for more of Chime School's journey.

Review: Chime School main man Andy Pastalaniec may hail from San Francisco, but his brand of bright, breezy and densely layered "jangle pop" arguably owes more to British indie and alternative of the 80s and 90s than the psychedelic rock that his home city has long been renowned for. While undoubtedly nostalgic and reminiscent of a more wide-eyed age - think nods to Johnny Marr, shoegaze, early Blur releases, Teenage Fanclub and so on - it's a fully-formed and genuinely baggy sound that's impeccably realised and genuinely impossible to dislike. The Boy Who Rain The Paisley Hotel is the second Chime School album - a self-titled debut set dropped three years ago - and further fleshes out Pastalaniec's retro-indie sound with the help of a clutch of genuinely memorable songs and future indie club singalongs.

Review: Dream pop loving indie rockers The Pains of Being Pure at Heart announced their reformation last year, having previously called it a day at the end of 2019. While we wait for new music, former label Slumberland Records - the imprint that first pushed the New York combo into the international spotlight - has offered up this slender retrospective focusing on the band's formative years at the tail end of the noughties. Atmospheric, with a uniformly 'big' (if lo-fi) sound (they loved reverb back then), the collected cuts sound like they were recorded at the turn of the nineties rather than at the end of the noughties. Highlights are plentiful though, with our picks including jangly anthem 'Side Ponytail', the brilliantly titled 'Kurt Cobain's Cargidan' and the effortlessly upbeat and life-affirming swell of 'Higher Than The Stars'.

Review: This noise pop group's impeccable debut album is being re-released as part of its 15th anniversary celebrations. The Kip Berman-led band burst out of the 00s Brooklyn indie scene and onto global cult success when it was released thanks to their idiosyncratic style and nods to the likes of pre-Creation My Bloody Valentine, The Pastels and Black Tambourine. The record shows an aesthete's ear for producing stylish guitar tones and drum sounds as they conjure a dreamy, atmospheric wall of sound, which strikes the right balance between shoegaze and jangle pop. With music as taut, melodic and viscerally enveloping as this, it's no wonder Berman's life changed irrevocably after its release. Rarely do debut albums gain this level of acclaim and honouring it with an anniversary edition and tour is the righteous thing to do.

Review: Suave timing for this release as The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, who had been roughly five years disbanded, are back out on the road in 2025 touring Europe. The Brooklyn band, who are fronted by founder Kip Berman, are best known for their 2009 self-titled debut and a lot of their other best songs were scattered. To condense the companion material from that era into one place gives listeners the opportunity to further understand what a richly creative time it was for the indie group. Of the highlights, here 'Kurt Cobain's Cardigan' from their 'Higher Up The Stairs' EP is a snappy number up there with the very best of jangle pop greats. And 'Say No To Love', which was available on 7", is surely going to be a staple in their upcoming live shows and what better way to refamiliarise with it than having it on rotation here next to some belters.