A Hanging Whisper [Volume 11] – The Original Shoegaze

Onto the last couple of mixes in the original Shoegaze series, I took a couple of weeks off there to concentrate on the grown up issues of bringing up children and finding places to live. So, I return to the blog older and wiser and ready to move forward yet again safe in the knowledge that I have fulfilled my life responsibilities albeit rather poorly...

I hope you like the start to this one as the Swervedriver Aspidistra one-two is a great example of the heavy sounds of the Shoegaze spectrum and quite timeless in their execution. Ultra Cindys’ “Near Perfect” is just that – a beautiful piece of moody Shoegaze that sounds familiar eve on first listen.
I bought “Safe In Heaven Dead EP” by the Starlings one Christmas for my brother – it was in a bargain bin for 20p and I recognised the label Anxious (Curve) so I figured it would bolster up his Christmas present – by Boxing Day I had stolen it back then by Dec 27 he had hit me for stealing it and reclaimed it – one of the greatest EPs of the 90’s of which “Where Angels Share” is just a perfect crystalline example of its merit - essential.
There are few on here that I never really considered Shoegaze however as I have 12 volumes and their sound kinda fits I have included them – take a bow The Sundays, See See Rider, Another Sunny Day and The Clouds – I know after hearing the tracks that you’ll forgive me anyway so why fret. We finish with a beautiful track from Earwig – weighing in at over 10 minutes it shows the movement of Shoegaze into Post Rock territory which would become extremely popular in the 90s and onwards.
Hope you enjoy this collection...

01. Rave Down - Swervedriver
02. Sunrise - Aspidistra
03. Near Perfect – Ultra Cindy
04. Where Angels Play –The Starlings
05. Changing – Bulldozer Crash
06. Angel – Sonic Boom
07. Get Out Of My Dream – The Clouds
08. Sun Less Sea – Half String
09. Rio – Another Sunny Day
10. She Sings Alone – See See Rider
11. And David Seaman... – The Lillies
12. Chris R - Swirlies
13. Portland Cement Factory at Monolith, California – Cul De Sac
14. Medicine – The Sundays
15. Every Day Shines - Earwig

Eleven

A Hanging Whisper [Volume 10] – The Original Shoegaze

Do you know I was sit here tonight I find that I am only worrying about one thing and that is the fact that I have no uniform for later life – I mean every time I see an elderly gent he is always dressed in a suit and looking well but this is surely the fact that people are just maintaining the dress of their youth. Now, when I hit 70 (hopefully) am I going to be wearing kicker boots and flares? – It’s a frightening thought and hopefully not but when I think about it is it any worse than being dressed liked I’m at a wedding for my twilight years – if anyone wants to suggest future fashion I would appreciate it as at the minute I need an exit strategy.

Now, onto the tunes... I posted “If I Could Shine” on the Juggernaut series and to be honest I would post it on every mix if I had the opportunity such is its overwhelming brilliance. Power of Dreams are not a Shoegaze(y) band at all however Happy Game always reminded me of a tribute to the genre – the layered guitars and the wistful lyrics are beautiful – I have read a thousand times that they never got the acclaim they deserve so here’s 1001 – simply one of the greatest bands you will ever hear in your life.
The Suncharms were on Wilde Records (Catherine Wheel) and you can hear a little similarity between the two acts – unfortunately another tragic case in independent history of releasing 2 singles then disappearing into the ether – a great single and one of two that should be remembered.

There are a few great “mood” numbers on this mix that really provoke some form of affirmation from the listener – Closedown and Drop give two examples of heavy melodic textures designed to reflect upon. Velocity Girl and The Daisies and Candy Darlings give us straight up layered music that seems probably grander than necessary parts – it’s still magnificent – as is Glaring Surge who have to be heard to be believed.

Finally, “ Sing” by Blur – my brother really put me onto Blur with the “She’s So High” 12” and then the subsequent singles which went pretty mainstream – he bought the album "Leisure" and I remember listening to it and enjoying it though only two songs really blew me away “Sing” and “Wear Me Down” – my favourite of the two was “Sing” as it was like the most perfect drone Shoegaze pop song – I used to listen to that track endlessly in my teenage bedroom smoking cigarettes out of open windows thinking about everyone and everything that revolved around me at the time... a few years later I sat in a Dublin cinema and watched a film called “Trainspotting” which moved from being very good to a masterpiece simply because the director was smart enough to see the genius of “Sing”

Hope you enjoy...

01. If I Could Shine – The Sweetest Ache
02. Just Before I Come (Believe Me) – Smashing Orange
03. Happy Game – Power Of Dreams
04. Sparkle – The Suncharms
05. Kaleidoscope – Teenage Filmstars
06. Memory – An April March
07. Red Oval - Closedown
08. Day Spent – The Daisies
09. Save My Soul - Drop
10. I Don’t Care If You Go – Velocity Girl
11. Mooncrash - Besotted
12. Surf’s Up - Deardarkhead
13. Transparent – Candy Darlings
14. Unreleased Dreams – Glaring Surge
15. Sing - Blur

Repeat

A Hanging Whisper [Volume 9] – The Original Shoegaze

It was 11am when I heard the news, typically doubting its validity prompting my messenger four times to deliver the crack of the whip to my brain; realisation then numbness as the mind scatters into a thousand shards and you spend the next few minutes attempting to piece them all back together into some sort of linear narrative. Failure is inevitable so you push the disorientated pieces to the back of your head and proceed back to work and despite the memories raining down like ticker tape. You just want the car to drive to the end of the block but the bloody ticker tape keeps hitting you on the head causing reflections that dance before you then disappear. You hold it together in front of your colleagues as a mixture of machismo and embarrassment help you pretend – keep the playing cards face down – you ring your wife during break – she will sympathise and your love for her will increase tenfold – you will change the subject quickly to familiar ground – the ticker tape will hit – you will suppress....you will suppress...you will suppress...back to work...

You will laugh with colleagues – you will feel guilt, you don’t dismiss the guilt you embrace it. You will finish work – you will drive home – you will hear snippets of the music – you will feel guilt at your enjoyment – you are John Glenn again – the car in fronts of you puts on their brake lights...you brake and realise “All Different Things” by Bark Psychosis is a masterpiece at the same time.

Dinner is good – kids are OK and conversation turns quickly to your loved ones day – you care but your mind still wanders – you know they know you’re not there but they proceed as it’s important to keep going – if we stop now then we have to confront – you are not ready for that...you call your friend as he will make the trip with you to see the family – you need him - it’s safety in numbers.

The journey is quiet – it is shared with your friend – both of you spend most of the trip expelling air from your mouth and silently shake your heads – words are unnecessary - there will be no arguments – no banter or ritual teasing...you notice your car is nearly full of petrol...you feel happy then guilty immediately.

Handle turns...glasses steam up with the heat of tea in the kitchen...ignore the people the floor is the only thing you see – you embrace – hands shake you nod to family members whilst muttering “y’alright?” guilt....stupid question...ignore move on...fuck this is hard....guilt...it’s not about you...

You don’t speak...nobody speaks... you meet your best friends you can’t look them in the eye...you want everything to be as it was...guilt...you whisper though you have nothing to say... you laugh at a shared past misdemeanour...you feel the stares ...guilt...guilt...the sad face appears again – it’s not hard to find.

You leave not because you must but because you want to ...guilt...you drive – you speak when spoken to, you stop to buy red wine on the way home. Home now, you pour another glass of red and wait...it comes – you suppress – it comes again – it’s yours and you have to do it by yourself...it’s the least you could do for a friend...

In Memory
John Mc (27/10/2009)

01. Plainsong – The Cure
02. Love Blind – Secret Shine
03. Shine – Bailter Space
04. Found Love - Darkside
05. My Secret World – The Golden Dawn
06. All Different Things – Bark Psychosis
07. Plain - Witch Hazel
08. Tongue Tied – The Hollow Men
09. Miss You – Biff Bang Pow!
10. Mistress – Red House Painters
11. All The Stars - Crayon
12. Moon – Wonky Alice
13. Sugar Your Mind - Swallow
14. The Bitter Air - Lorelei
15. Florian - Charalambides

No9

A Hanging Whisper [Volume 8] – The Original Shoegaze

“Oohh...Uh Oh I like French Ones” - I can’t really post this week without commenting on the sad death of Liam Maher (Flowered Up); I can still recall the rush of excitement I felt at hearing “It’s On” for the first time – it was great...no wait it was greater than great it was perfection – it was one song guaranteed to turn heads. Flowered Up were featured on my very first mix on this blog – which reminds of the point of this little blog exercise, it was a hobby and a chance to shine a light on forgotten musical gems from the past...well Liam you were a real gem and you’ll never be forgotten round my way...

A pulsating attack of monotone sounds that bleed through your speakers into your world – there was nothing like Loop at their peak – “Heavens End” is just a piece of art that should be hung in a gallery forever. Do you ever listen to a song and like it so much that you want it to end really quickly...just so you can play it all over again. You are over eager fumbling with the record needle like a teenager making out in the park – I get like that with “Supermarine” by The Spinning Jennys – it’s just effortless dreamy pop goodness – sometimes I wish the track lasted 60 minutes. I get that similar feeling with Molasses – easily the best song by Revolver – all balls and bravado a proper pounding bastard of a tune that owes more to Swervedriver than Lush.

Now, St.Johnny is a band that I keep trying to get people to turn onto – an American alternative band that honed their sound in equal measure from the UK noise scene and the American low-fi movement – listen to “Highway” at silly decibel level and tell me you don’t love it – or try and drive you car to that track without speeding up – tenner says you can’t?

As I listen to this mix I am still blown away by the breathtaking “Horoscope” – Easy – the melodic flair of Headtime and Bird Nest Boys, Beatnik Filmstars and Family Cat. Everyone should know “Love In A Car” a song so beautiful that convinced me for me years that Guy Chadwick was not of this world – let’s be honest have you ever meet anyone that listened to the House of Love and didn’t love them?

Hope you enjoy this one as much as I do...

01. Soundhead - Loop
02. Supermarine – The Spinning Jennys
03. Molasses - Revolver
04. I’ll Be Your Saint - Adorable
05. Highway – St. Johnny
06. Horoscope - Easy
07. Need To Be - Headtime
08. Jaffa Boy – Bird Nest Boys
09. Looking For Rain – Underground Lovers
10. Love In A Car – House Of Love
11. Hang On - Snapper
12. Train Song – 14 Iced Bears
13. Tom Verlaine – The Family Cat
14. You Can’t Fake Sadness Like This – Beatnik Filmstars
15. Third Shade Of Green – Ocean Colour Scene

Take It

A Hanging Whisper [Volume 7] – The Original Shoegaze

It was clear vinyl if I recall and you had to guess which side to put on the turntable – ahh the memories of Spectrums “How You Satisfy Me” are greater than simply enjoying one of the great singles of the early 90’s no it also came with a built in Krypton Factor challenge – now there was a band that knew their audience.

Australian band Autohaze might be a little lesser heard of over in this part of the world but they are well worth checking out – a lot of those Australian bands remind me of the Irish scene of that time – the songs were never insular but stretching to bursting point with hooks and melodies.

Onto Ireland then with Whipping Boy whose first album “Submarine” was influenced by the Shoegazer scene in England yet they infected it with a darker edge that gave the sound an honest raw quality – they later abandoned this sound to produce Irelands greatest alternative album in “Heartworm”.

Another little gem to be found on this collection is Eternal (not the RnB band) but the one single wonder from Sarah records – their 1990 Breathe EP is a cracking record and one that should be checked out imeediately. Naturally, the old reliable are also here this week with Lush, The Charlottes, St.Thersea, Galaxie 500 and The Primitives adding a certain gravis to the proceedings.

I have finished with “Sway” by the magnificent Spiritualized, it’s the kind of song that sweeps you away on a musical plain so far ahead of its time that on occasion you lose your breath as breathing seems less relevant than the music – outstanding – it’s also nice to bookend the mix with the two Spacemen. I have a theory that the music is in some part inspired by Dead Poets Society (film) – of course this could just be another stupid theory that is based in no fact or credence whatsoever – my favourite theories I might add...

Till next week...

01. How You Satisfy Me - Spectrum
02. Lanes - Here
03. Undecided - Autohaze
04. Sushi – Whipping Boy
05. Lost – The Ropers
06. Empathise – The Primitives
07. Superblast [Remix] - Lush
08. Sleep - Eternal
09. Sweetabyss - The Ecstasy Of Saint Theresa
10. Love In The Emptiness – The Charlottes
11. Here She Comes Now – Galaxie 500
12. Coward - Moonshake
13. Second Hand Man – Honey Thieves
14. Daisy Kiss – Veronica Lake
15. Sway - Spiritualized

Dead Poet

A Hanging Whisper [Volume 6] – The Original Shoegaze

So, we reach the halfway point on our journey back to the Shoegaze(ish) past of the early nineties; it would have been impossible compiling a mix without The Pale Saints on it – a great band who never really received the credit they deserved.

Next we head on over to Holland to The Nightblooms – it’s amazing how this sound spread over the globe, it obviously hit Japan as well as White Come Come validate – they only released one single I believe and it really is a great piece of 12 inch goodness. Did you know that Adorables guitarist plays currently with the best band on the planet today “The Zephyrs” – a great musical legacy he will leave.

Again, this compilation drifts between pure Shoegaze to dreampop in equal measure and then we have Cocteau Twins who are just genius. Puressence are another band that have been around forever and have never produced a bad track – they are worshipped still in Greece which is cool as apparently those Greeks are a civilised bunch.

I think that these compilations are getting stronger as we go along – there are certainly some beautiful moments to raise your spirits here – the crunch of Velocity Girl to the lush pop of Dreamscape. Finally we finish with a bit of a classic “Freefall” by Antiseptic Beauty is Shoegaze epic at it’s finest.

Till next week...

01. Sight Of You – The Pale Saints
02. Starcatcher – The Nightblooms
03. Broken Bird – White Come Come
04. Self-Imperfectionist - Adorable
05. Violet Intertwine – Jupiter Sun
06. Carolyn’s Fingers – Cocteau Twins
07. Double Dare – Yo La Tengo
08. Awesome – Ups And Downs
09. Offshore - Puressence
10. I Don't Care If You Go – Velocity Girl
11. Comforts - Blindside
12. Can’t Even Fake It - Ivy
13. Real Babe – Sweet Jesus
14. So Far From Belief - Dreamscape
15. Freefall – Antiseptic Beauty

Feel Blue

A Hanging Whisper [Volume 5] – The Original Shoegaze

Do you know what I miss – Snub TV, anyone who was a fan of UK based alternative music in the early 90s watched that show. It was like a musical awakening every week – this is where I discovered Ride “Drive Blind” , Catherine Wheel “She’s MY Friend “and The Dylans (Snub paid for them to get a video to still one of the greatest singles ever “Godlike”– anyway it was whilst watching Snub TV that I heard the Telescopes “Celeste” a euphoric psychedelic masterpiece – it took me less than 10 seconds to fall in love with it and the band.

“Suzanne” was mesmerising on the first listen – it’s the percussion that really sets it apart – that and the bass run gives the song a dark heart that pours into you and suffocates. Of course Moose were pretty famous in the Shoegaze circles, a band less familiar is French group Les Autres who prove that quality of this type of music was not confined to the south of England. Ever since I started this blog I wanted to people to enjoy some of the great music that was produced and went unnoticed – one of my motivating reasons was Jane From Occupied Europe whose “Coloursound” album remains a bona fide masterpiece – please do yourself a favour and find a copy – it deserves a super deluxe re-release costing £80 with its own separate usb stick for good measure.

Some other bands worth a mention are Coaltar of the Deepers – Japanese Shoegaze meets a little of mariachi metal, Australian band The Earthmen, American outfit Difference Engine and hear the closest Cure “Just Like Heaven” cover check out UK band Saturn V’s “Machine-Gun Head”. All worthy of your precious time.

I was trying to make a point the other day that if you have less you make more of it - pretty straightforward concept I figured and one that made me feel awash with prophetic wisdom. I think now I have figured it out – in an age where we have 50 music stations on TV we are overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choice – was it better back in the times of waiting once a week for my Snub TV to educate me on new music – you know what tonight with my rose tinted bi-focal memory and YouTube to remind me I do believe it was – or maybe it was just my youth and the music?

I am enjoying this series immensely!

BTW: Smile by Levitation is just too good!

01. Celeste – The Telescopes
02. Suzanne - Moose
03. Shimmer – Jesus And Mary Chain
04. Kill The Girl I Love – Les Autres
05. Day Spent – The Daisies
06. Drift 13 – Jane From Occupied Europe
07. Chlorine Dream – Spirea X
08. By Tomorrow –Black Tambourine
09. Here By Chance - Breathless
10. Momentum – The Earthmen
11. Blink (Spinning a Sweet Daydreams) – Coaltar Of The Deepers
12. 5 Listens – Difference Engine
13. Your Eyes Immaculate - Lovesliescrushing
14. Machine-Gun Head – Saturn V
15. Smile - Levitation

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