July 20, 1999 Arab Strap, The King Of Luxembourg, Summer hits, The Mondo Crescendo, Billy Mahonie, Clinic, The Starlets, Majestic 12, MJ 12

July 20, 1999

Arab Strap

title

Mad For Sadness

label

Go Beat

format
LP

10 song live record recorded at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. This record was only pressed in an edition of 1000. Go Beat is not their usual label (most of their stuff is on Chemikal Underground). Many have said that this record captures Arab Strap better than any of their studio recordings. The production is top notch here, and Adele Bethel sings lead vocals on 2 songs.

---Carl, July 20, 1999

The King Of Luxembourg (Simon Turner)

title

Sex Appeal

label

Richmond (Cherry Red)

format
CD

A compilation with 22 songs Simon Turner covered under his King Of Luxembourg guise. Lots of interesting choices and treatments, including the Go-Betweens 'Lee Remick', PIL's 'Poptones', Bowies 'The Prettiest Star', and many others.

---Carl, July 20, 1999

The Summer Hits Group

title

The Summer Hits Group

label

Volvolo

format
12inch

This 12inch is the first thing the Summer Hits have put out in several years. Summer Hits have a ragtag California sound and share members with (the now defunct) Further. There are 4 songs on this 12inch. They also have a CD which came out several years ago ('Beaches and Canyons') which compiles all the singles up to that point (they have never put out a record) which is worth finding.

---Carl, July 20, 1999

Mondo Crescendo

title

Italia! Italia!

label

Blackbean & Placenta

format
CD5

This 2 song CDEP has one song from their upcoming LP ('Free') and a song which will only be on this single ('Italia! Italia!'). We have several singles by The Mondo Crescendo, but the 2 songs here are my favorites so far. They describe themselves as 'psychedelic punk'. I would add that they are a female vocal pop band that write great songs.

---Carl, July 20, 1999

Billy Mahonie

title

'Little Feet' & 'Man With The Woman Head' b-w 'Are We Rolling'

label

Gold Hole Recordings

format
7inch

Billy Mahonie 4 piece London instrumental band named after a fictional little boy. They have put out several strong singles, and have just released a full length ('Big Dig') on the label Too Pure. Billy Mahonie sound like some of the early Kitty Yo bands.

---Carl, July 20, 1999

Clinic

title

'The Second Line' b-w 'Magic Boots' & 'Dr. G.'

label

Domino

format
7inch

Their fourth single, thier first for Domino. A very modern sound, which has strong hints of Can on the A-side. In print Clinic are frequently mentioned in the same sentence as Add N To X as bright hopes of the UK music scene. The most they share with Add N To X is a disregard for the rules of traditional rock presentation. They play wearing hospital scrub masks. All their previous singles were released on the own 'Alladin's Cave Of Golf' label.

---Carl, July 20, 1999

The Starlets

title

'New Wave' b-w 'Western Electric'

label

Illumiere

format
7inch

Scottish (Glasgow) pop band with an interesting sound, particularly the voice of the singer. I've enjoyed several of their earlier singles, such as 'The Happy Camper', 'Give My Regards to Betty Ford', and a split single they had with The Finger Creams. This single says that the A-Side will appear on their debut full length called 'Western Electric', which has not been released yet.

---Carl, July 20, 1999

Majestic 12

title

'Long' b-w 'You Are The One'

label

Moonscreen Records

format
7inch

The band Majestic, who have the great 'Live It Up!' CD on Shelflife, had a past as an indiepop band under the name Majestic 12

---Carl, July 20, 1999

MJ 12

title

'Lost & Found' b-w 'Cold Wind'

label

Quiddity Records

format
7inch

The band Majestic, who have the great 'Live It Up!' CD on Shelflife, had a past as a Mazzy Star-ish band under the name MJ 12

---Carl, July 20, 1999