Firestation (previously Firestation Tower), in association with the Clarendon and Bilberry labels, continue to put out their Leamington Spa compilations, in a laudable effort to expose largely forgotten 80s and early 90s indiepop bands to a new and wider audience. Across these two albums, there are a number of bands I previously knew of (Pure, The Morrisons, 1000 Violins, Snowbirds, Honeytrap, The Clouds, Candy Darlings, The Nivens, Hellfire Sermons, The Apple Moths, The Williams, The Church Grims and The Days) and a whole host of bands that escaped even my attention the first time around. Both albums come with extensive liner notes and nostalgic cover collages of fanzines and gig flyers. If you know this genre, you'll know what to expect with these comps, even if some bands aren't already familiar - lots of jangly, at times twee pop (and no, 'twee' is not an insult!), which is either summery or melancholic or a paradoxical combination of the two.
The choice of tracks works well as the bands have a lot in common; in fact the comps sound more complete and coherent albums than do some albums by one band! Even the majority of the tracks that stray from the overall theme still fit in with everything else - for instance Waving At Trains' Sylvie, which is a rock-tinged take on janglepop, but is janglepop nonetheless. C-Saim are the band on vol 3 that are most different from the others, they play a more commercial kind of guitar pop (I mean the sort of stuff that was commercial in the 80s) with a jazz influence. But even they don't sound unacceptably incongruous here due to their strong 80s sound. The same could be said for vol 4's Dislocation Dance, another jazzy and fairly mainstream sounding pop band. Explained Emma (also on vol 4) are more straightforward jazz with little or no indiepop influence, so are really the only band here who seem a little out of place. Everything else is without a doubt squarely within the old-school indiepop sound.
Great to know Start Digging My Grave Sugar is here on vol 3, this is my favourite 1000 Violins track, a real janglepop classic. Vol 3 also includes Snowbirds' Motorcycle Baby, great catchy twee la-la-la janglepop which brings back a lot of memories. Volume 4 reintroduces such classics as The Clouds' Get Out Of My Dream, Candy Darlings' That's Where Caroline Lives, The Nivens' Yesterday, Hellfire Sermons' The Best Laugh I Ever Had and The Apple Moths' Everything, along with loads of other quality old-style jangle. This series is essential listening for anyone with an interest in the indiepop movement. Contact info@firestation-records.de