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