When Arab Strap's live album "Mad For Sadness" was released this summer it was to be a limited release that many thought was a one off for Arab Strap. When the "Cherubs" EP appeared a few months ago we all knew that Arab Strap had signed on the line with Go Beat and were no longer on Chemikal Underground, the label run by Emma of The Delgados. With the end of Arab Strap's relationship with Chemikal Underground came the end of their relationship with Matador Records here in the US. Go Beat is a very difficult label to buy in the US. Their records are very expensive when they are imported, and they seldom end up with US releases (witness Fridges "EPH" record which came out in the beginning of the summer. It still has not been picked up by a domestic label despite it's high quality). I'm not convinced Elephant Shoe WILL see a US release, but the record is too good to be ignored.

---Carl, Nov.16 1999

In 1976 The Subway Sect put out the untouchable 7" 'Nobody's Scared' b-w 'Don't Split It' on the tiny label Braik Records. Both sides of the single were (and are) completely incredible. It was like all the energy of the emerging punk rock movement, but performed by people who read and were thinkers, not smashers. This double CD compilation shows the many stages that the leader of The Subway Sect (Vic Godard) has gone with his music. The only thing I can't understand about this collection is why 'Don't Split It' is not on it. Other than that, 4 songs from the never released punk album by Subway Sect are here (worth the price of admission alone for connoisseurs of his work). Vic Godard moved from punk to a northern soul sound, then to a swing sound, an almost beatnik jazz, finally turning into his own version of a doo wop rockabilly. Within each of his sounds there are gem songs which just catch and hold your attention and admiration. He had a traditional sound on the first song on Disc 2 almost like Brian Wilson era Beach Boys backed by John Cougar Mellancamp. You certainly can hear where Jim Ruiz picked up inspiration for his Legendary Jim Ruiz Group sound. In fact, the only thing you can't see listening to the 45 tracks spread out over 150 minutes, is how Vic Godard & The Subway Sect have remained so overlooked for so long. Frequently sounding like some unholy hybrid of Richard Hell and Bob Dylan, Disc 1 contains the 'rock' songs of his career, while Disc 2 contains the various oddball stages he took his music through.

---Carl, Nov.16 1999

Early in 1997 an interesting looking double LP showed up at Newbury Comics. It had a pink cover with a great photo of a four person band - 2 guys, 2 gals - and graphics that made it look like a techno record, along with Japanese writing that added to the international feel that record exuded. The record was "Soundtracks For Living", the band was The Gentle People. Within a month Bungalow released the RO3003 compilation, and the word that defined The Gentle People's sound at the time was coined, "club pop". The Gentle People had the look, the sound, and the songs all in one tidy package. There was Laurie Lemans from France, Dougee Dimensional from the US, Honeymink from the UK, and Valentine Carnelian from South Africa. A truly multi-national sound and lineup. That record percolated slowly, getting them small but consistent praise from those who heard them. Then they put out 2 releases on the Japanese label Flavour Of Sound. First was a compilation of other artists put together by them called 'Music To Watch Comets By', second was a remix record of their first record called 'Mix Gently'. Despite the big names on the remix record, niether of these records were ever released outside of Japan and are hard to find and expensive if you do. In 1998 Rephlex Records in the UK put out a 12" with 3 songs from 'Mix Gently' and a CDEP with an additional song from 'Mix'. That was it from The Gentle People till this summer, when Flavour Of sound released the new Gentle People record "Simply Faboo" in Japan. Now, several months later, Rephlex has put out a UK version of the record, which we now have for our collection. It is a great disc, well worth the wait, showing growth, sophistication, style, and a bit of humor. 'Groovin' with You' uses 'The Theme from a Summer Place' as it's basis, and 'Hungover' is a great love song where the boy is lovesick waiting for an email from her. 'Shopping World' role calls fashion excesses for the impulse buyer before its"buy it -charge it" back and forth vocal hook. 'Mr. Whiskey' sounds like a merger with Stereo Total and a french cafe accordianist. I really hope you get to listen to this record, because you are definetely missing something great if you do not.

---Carl, Nov.16 1999

All I knew was that Rough Trade had called Mint Royale's debut full length "the best independent dance release of the past year". By today's broad definitions of "dance" that could mean just about anything, but nonetheless I was intrigued. When I saw this CDEP reduced in price from $9.99 to $6.99 I had to take the chance. Mint Royale play an Indian (Bollywood) type of sound with a contemporary English slant. The second of the three songs here ('Diagonal Girl') starts with an instructor telling how to defend yourself against an attack with a club. In Mint Royale's hands, it has a dual meaning as they play a 'club' music. The song is my favorite here, with a strong bass lick and a good beat, reminding me of the French band Rinocerese. The EP's title song (which is presented in 'edit' and 'version' forms) contains samples from John Mayer's "Acka Raga" from his 'Indo Jazz Fusions' LP.

---Carl, Nov.16 1999

The latest form this Newcastle England band who have out a CD and several singles on the Ferric Mordant label out of Newcastle, a single on the Parisian label Orgasm Records ('Melter Twine' b-w 'Waster I'm'), and a single on the Guided Missile subsidiary Plastic Cowboy Records ('Starry Eyes' b-w 'Slug Knacker'). Spraydog have a sound reminiscent of early Delgados, with male/female vocals in a guitar, bass, drum setting. Even with the traditional lineup, Spraydog manage to entice with winning songs and consistent releases on some of the best labels around. Stupid Cat is a new label that has put out only 4 singles, all of which we have at WZBC. The first was a split between Freeboy and Mercedes, then a 7" by Cato ('Feng Shui'), a recent split between Jullander and Billy Mahonie (see Oct 12 Gull Buy), now this new Spraydog 7".

---Carl, Nov.16 1999