Over the space of four albums, the sadly overlooked  group, Downy Mildew went from

cryptic folk-pop to alternative rock powerhouse

finally settling for shimmering folk-pop on their last release, 1994s Slow Sky.

While the music on their two earlier releases, Broomtree and Mincing Steps, was shrouded in mystery (REM’s Murmur comes to mind here) 1992’s An Oncoming Train dispenses with the mystery in favor of a more accessible sound.

Some critics felt that the band lost more then it gained with this change in the band’s sound, but also conceded that the album wasn’t without it’s highlights, notably, "Elevator", a complete pop gem, and the vocals of

the sultry Jenny Homer… (whose) vocals are at their peak throughout this album, and she assays a wide variety of moods with success.

Building on the strengths of An Oncoming Train Downy Mildew goes out on a high note on their final album, which is

highlighted by hook-laden gems such as "Left Foot Down," "A Liar Needs a Good Memory," and "Them That Dream."

Not everything on Slow Sky is bright and breezy as the somber darker 

A Polka-Dot Scarved Woman" and "Release" balance out the jangle. 

as do the haunting, yearning songs "Girls by the Lake" and "Them That Dream."

DISCOGRAPHY

Albums

Broomtree (LP) Texas Hotel 1987
Broomtree (LP) Glass Records 1987
Broomtree (CD, LP, MP3) High Street Records 1993
Mincing Steps (Cass, LP) Texas Hotel 1988
Mincing Steps (CD, LP, MP3) High Street Records 1993
An Oncoming Train (Cass, CD, MP3) High Street Records 1992
Slow Sky (Cass, CD, MP3) High Street Records 1994

Singles & EPs

Downy Mildew (12" EP) Texas Hotel 1986
Elevator (CD Single, MP3) High Street 1992

Miscellaneous

Left Foot Down (CD) High Street Records 1993

Compilations

"Frown Song" All Ears Review 1 (Cass, CD) ROM Records 1988
"An Oncoming Train"  Spin This (CD) Spin Magazine 1992
"An Oncoming Train" Musician Magazine’s New Music Sampler: A Little on the CD Side, Volume 5 (CD) (Musician Magazine’s) 1992
"Frown Song" All-Ears Review, Volume 1: The Hottest New Sounds from African to Jazz to Rock to Zydeco (CD) ROM Records 1992
"The Kitchen" The Best of the Fest 1993: A Sampler of Great Music (CD) BMG Music 1993
"Left Foot Down" We Sing to Open Ears (CD) High Street Records

An Oncoming Train (1992)

Playing Time: 42:36

1. An Oncoming Train (3:51)
2. A Borrowed Chant (4:50)
3. Trading Jewels (4:14)
4. Elevator (3:40)
5. Twice Told Tale (3:46)
6. Six Months Is A Long Time (3:53)
7. Seconds Protest (4:33)
8. Melissa, I Know the Difference (5:41)
9. Sleep! (3:59)
10. Child (4:09)

Slow Sky (1994)

Playing Time: 48:22

1. Your Blue Eye (3:17)
2. Left Foot Down (4:14)
3. Release (4:34)
4. A Polka Dot-Scarved Woman (3:34)
5. Girls By The Lake (5:49)
6. A Liar Needs A Good Memory (4:19)
7. That He Wrote (4:27)
8. Them That Dream (3:36)
9. Machine (4:02)
10. Sidewinding Home (4:10)
11. Don’t Change Your Mind (3:54)
12. I Remember Yesterday (2:26)

Downy Mildew – Left Foot Down

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On 1996’s Tales Of Great Neck Glory Sammy substitutes the influence of Pavement with the influences and sounds of 25 years of Punk; beginning with the 60’s Velvet Underground (Lou Reed in particular) and concluding with mid 1990’s highly influential Sonic Youth. 

DISCOGRAPHY

Albums:

Debut Album (aka Sammy) (CD, LP) Fire Records 1994
Debut Album  (aka Sammy) (CD, MP3) Smells Like Records 1994
Debut Album (CD) Time Bomb Records 1994
Tales Of Great Neck Glory (Cass, CD, LP) Fire Records 1996
Tales Of Great Neck Glory (CD, LP, MP3) DCG / Geffen 1996

Singles & EPs:

Babe Come Down (7") Smells Like Records 1993
Babe Come Down (7") Fire Records 1994
Kings Of The Inland Empire (CD EP) Smells Like Records 1994
Kings Of The Inland Empire (7", CD EP) Fire Records 1994
Hi Fi Killers (7", CD EP) Fire Records 1994
Majik Man Fire (7", CD Single) Records 1995
Chili Lite / Kohut (Little Darlings) (7") Hep-Cat  1995
Encyclopedi-ite (7", CD Single) Fire Records  1996
Neptune Ave. (Ortho Hi Rise) (7", CD Single) Fire Records 1996
Leopard Skin Swatch (7", CD Single) Radiation Records 1996

Appears On:

Albums:

"Encyclopedi-ite" Buy-Product 2: Brief Encounters (CD) DGC  1996

Compilations:

"Hi Fi Killers" The Day We Exhumed Disco (CD) Caroline Records (Spain) 1994
"Neptune Ave. (Ortho Hi Rise)" Swag Volume 1 (CD) MCA Records (Canada) 1996  
"Possibly Peking" CMJ New Music June – Volume 34 (CD) College Music Journal 1996
"Babe Come Down" I Wouldn’t Piss On It If It Was On Fire (2xCD) Fire Records 1998

Writing & Arrangement:

"Room N° 8" Mini-Krautrock (Cass) Mini-Drivers Records 1999 

Tales of Great Neck Glory (1996)

Playing Time: 42:45

1. Possibly Peking (4:14)
2. Encyclopedi-ite (3:06)
3. Slim Style (4:34)
4. Neptune Ave. (Ortho Hi Rise) (3:55)
5. Buckle-Up Sunshine (4:02)
6. Blue Oyster Bay (4:43)
7. Chilling Excerpts (4:18)
8. Red Lights Flashing (2:32)
9. Anything (3:30)
10. Horse or Ballet? (3:15)
11. Kings Pt. vs. Steamboat (4:36)

Tales of Great Neck Glory (Part 1) (Part 2)

http://d.yimg.com/m/up/fop/embedflv/swf/fop.swf

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Following the demise of Small Factory, two of that band’s members, Alex Kemp and Phoebe Summersquash went onto form the short lived The Godrays. I’ve also refreshed the links to that band’s 4 song EP Promo disk, 4 Songs Beginning with the Letter C.

Ask and you shall receive so here’s the link to the refreshed post . Enjoy

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To all my American readers, Happy Thanksgiving.

Remember the words of the late columnist and humorist, Art Buchwald,  who concluded a column explaining Thanksgiving to French by stating

And so, on the fourth Thursday in November, American families sit down at a large table brimming with tasty dishes, and for the only time during the year eat better than the French do.

To my other readers I hope your day is just as nice.

In the States tomorrow is Black Friday, the single biggest shopping day of the year. They’d have to be giving things away before I’ll go out and put up with that madness.

Many independent record stores will be running specials tomorrow, so go out & buy a CD or two.

Don’t know if there’s an participating independent record store near you? Ozzy does, check it out.

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Almost unknown outside of New England Scruffy the Cat was part of Boston’s  1980’s highly hyped music scene. 

One of the last survivors of the ‘80s roots-rock movement

the group consisted of Charlie Chesterman (vocals/guitar), Stephen Fredette (guitar), Mac Paul Stanfield (bass), Randall Lee Gibson IV (drums), Burns Stanfield (piano, organ), and multi-instrumentalist Stona Fitch.

While their

" raw, back-to-basics arrangements appealed to campus DJs who couldn’t get enough of the Replacements"

the group never achieved

the legendary cult status of neighbors, the Pixies and Throwing Muses.

On the strength of the toe-tapping "My Baby She’s Allright" the band’s debut LP, 1987′s Tiny Days, would land in the Gavin Report’s campus radio Top 10.

Produced by Bruce Dickinson, the band’s last album, 1989′s Moons of Jupiter

"was the band’s attempt at a crossover hit"

but even cheery-sounding songs like "Capital Moonlight," "I Do" and "Betty Drops In" have a certain melancholy air about them.

Panned by the critics the group split-up shortly afterwards. Charlie Chesterman went onto to form several short lived groups, the Harmony Rockets and Chaz And The Motorbikes. Pursuing a solo career he’s toned down his punk roots for a more country approach and has released several independent albums, most notably 1994′s From the Book of Flames.

This past year the group reformed and played at several benefit concerts (May & October) to raise money in an effort to help defray some of the costs involved with Charlie Chesterman’ s cancer treatments (he was diagnosed with colon cancer).

DISCOGRAPHY

Scruffy the Cat

Albums:
 
Tiny Days (LP) Relativity 1987
Moons Of Jupiter (Cass, CD, LP) Relativity 1988

Singles & EPs:

High Octane Revival (12" EP) Relativity 1986
Never Never / Time Never Forgets (12" Single) Relativity 1987 
Mybabyshe’sallright (12" Promo) Relativity 1987
Boom Boom Boom Bingo (12" EP) Relativity 1987
Scruffy The Cat Vs. Young Fresh Fellows – Love Song #9 / My Boyfriend’s In Killdozer (7") Cruddy Record Dealership 1989

Compilations: 

"Oldest Fire in the World" Let’s Breed Part Two of the Throbbing Lobster Saga (LP) Throbbing Lobster 1984
"Big Fat Monkey’s Hat" Luxury Condos Coming To Your Neighborhood Soon (LP) Coyote Records, Rough Trade 1985 
"My Fate" Mr. Beautiful Presents All Hard (LP) Modern Method Records 1985

Charlie Chesterman

Albums:

Dynamite Music Machine (CD, Digital) Slow River Records 1997
From the Book of Flames (CD, Digital) Slow River Records 1998
Studebakersfield (CD, Digital) Slow River Records 1998 

Appears On:

"You Dirty Rat" (w/Letters to Cleo) Safe And Sound: A Benefit In Response To The Brookline Clinic Violence (CD) Mercury, Big Rig 1996

Chaz And The Motorbikes

Albums:

Chaz And The Motorbikes S/T (CD EP) Hello Recording Club 1994

Appears On:

"New Lease On Life" Hello 1994 Sampler (CD) Hello Recording Club 1994 
"Senioritis Vs. The Sophomre Slump" (as Chaz & The Motorbikes) Have A Piece Of American Pie (CD) Lazy Cat 2002

Moons Of Jupiter (1988)

Playing Time: 48:29

1. Capital Moonlight (2:54)
2. Bus Named Desire (4:01)
3. Betty Drops In (3:11)
4. I Do (2:15)
5. Beg, Borrow And Steal (3:58)
6. Nova SS 1968 (1:50)
7. Kissing Galaxy (2:50)
8. Bucknaked (1:51)
9. Moons Of Jupiter (2:36)
10. Love So Amazing (3:12)
11. Places (3:14)
12. One Bad Apple (2:52)
13. Just Like Cathy’s Clown (3:22)
14. Everything (2:56)
15. 2day 2morrow 4ever (4:23)
16. Keith’s Lament (3:04)

Nova SS 1968 / My Baby She’s Alright

Moons of Jupiter

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Certainly not shy about their influences an ad for Under the Influences in Puncture magazine proudly proclaims

We wear our influences on our sleeves and are not ashamed of it. Cheap Trick, The Jam, Buzzcocks, and Kiss are all embraced by Pop Sickle.

While they may have been influenced by the above bands, and even admit to

filching "Noises in the Dark" from the Beatles’ White Album… "Dear Prudence,"

in truth their sound is closer to 80’s Washington, D.C. power pop-punk bands Gray Matter, Rites of Spring, Marginal Man, Dag Nasty then it is to Cheap Trick or Kiss.

DISCOGRAPHY

Releases:

Under The Influences (Cass, CD, Digital) C/Z Records 1993
"Suffocation" / "Delta 88" (7" Vinyl) -ismist Recordings 1995
Pop Sickle S/T (CD) C/Z Records 1996

Appears On:

"Lost Myself" American Pie: New Sounds From The U.S.A. (CD) Rubber Records 1994
C/Z Records 1996 Fall Sampler (CD) C/Z Records 1996

Under the Influences

Playing Time: 28:43

1. Adrian (3:01)
2. Boise (3:20)
3. Noises in the Dark (4:18)
4. Lost Myself (2:07)
5. All Been Done Before (3:01)
6. Revolver (3:42)
7. Tell Me am I Wrong (3:37)
8. Sleep (5:37)

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With neither of their bands touring, or in the recording studio, New Zealand music scene veterans Martin Phillipps (guitar/vocals) of The Chills and David Kilgour (guitar/vocals) of The Clean,  bassist Noel Ward, keyboardist Alan Starrett and drummer Noel Ward joined forces to create perhaps the closest thing to a “super group” that New Zealand ever had, the one off group, Pop Art Toasters. 

Released in 1994 the group’s sole release, the self-titled Pop Art Toasters,

proffer five fluffy covers of obscure and semi-obscure vintage pop gems

by The Dovers (USA) (“What Am I Going To Do”), The Avengers (NZ) (“Everyone’s Gonna Wonder”), The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band (USA) (“I Won’t Hurt You”), The Squires (USA) (“Go Ahead”) and The Who (UK) (“Circles”). 

DISCOGRAPHY

Releases:

Pop Art Toasters (CD) Flying Nun Records / Mushroom Records 1994

Appears On:

"What Am I Going to Do?" Flying Nun 25 Years (4xCD) (Flying Nun Records) 2006

Video:

"What Am I Going to Do?" Second Season – Flying Nun DVD II (PAL DVD) (Flying Nun Records) 2004

Pop Art Toasters / Pop Art Toasters (1994)

Playing time: 12:32

1. What Am I Going To Do (2:28)
2. Everyone’s Gonna Wonder (2:46)
3. I Won’t Hurt You (2:44)
4. Go Ahead (2:07)
5. Circles (2:27)

What Am I Going To Do

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In thrall to noise and My Bloody Valentine the dream pop band, The Telescopes, formed in Burton-on-Trent, England, in 1986. The original line-up consisted of singers/guitarists Stephen Lawrie and Jo Doran, lead guitarist David Fitzgerald, bassist Robert Brookes, and drummer Dominic Dillon.

The group’s first single, 1988’s, “Forever Close Your Eyes”, was a split flexidisc with space rock pioneers Loop and was issued by Cheree Records in honor of the two groups’ joint New Year’s Eve performance.

1989 was their breakout year. Their debut single, “Kick the Wall” with it’s feedback-laden trance-rock had critics comparing them to the Jesus and Mary Chain and Spacemen 3. In the spring Cheree Records released the single, 7th# Disaster, while summer saw the release of the single “The Perfect Needle” on the American indie label What Goes On. They closed out the year with the release of Taste, their debut full-length.

Following the bankruptcy of the label What Goes On the Telescopes signed with Alan McGee’s Creation label,

where the white noise assault of their early releases gave way to a more ethereal, textured approach.

1991′s Celeste was the first release that showcased their new sound, later that year the gorgeous Flying would reach #79 on the U.K. pop charts. All of which paved the way for their landmark first Creation LP, officially known as Untitled (The Telescopes).

Moody and introspective, the album, produced by Guy Fixsen (Moose & Rollerskate Skinny), with it’s

shimmering guitars, sinuous basslines, and soulful rhythms… garnished with bongos, organs, pianos and all sort of classic instruments… (and) songs with melodies and hooks reminiscent of Love or The Notorious Byrds Brothers-era Byrds

remains a classic of the shoegazer era.

The album’s success would prove the Telescope’s undoing, but the classic sound that they came up with stills lives on in the music of bands like Mojave 3 and the Verve.

Citing creative differences the Telescopes broke-up in 1994.

In 1996 Lawrie and Doran reunited and formed the group Unisex, which also included Nick Hemming (Guitars/Keyboards), Dan (Drums) and Foz (Bass). In 1997 the band released a split single, "TV Cowboy" with Good Morning Canada. They also released an EP, Deadlock, and a full-length, Stratosfear on U.S. indie label Double Agent.   

Lawrie and Doran revived the Telescopes’ name for 2002′s Third Wave.

 DISCOGRAPHY

Albums:

Taste (CD, LP) What Goes On Records 1989
Taste (LP) Capote 1989
Taste (CD) Cheree Records 1989
Taste (CD, LP) Rev-Ola 2006
Trade Mark Of Quality (CD, LP) Fierce Recordings 1990 The Telescopes (CD, LP) Creation Records 1992
The Telescopes (CD, Digital) Intercord Tonträger GmbH 1992
The Telescopes (LP) BOMP! 2004 
Third Wave (CD, LP) Double Agent 2002
# Untitled Second (CD) Rev-Ola 2004
# Untitled Second (CD, LP, MP3) BOMP! 2009
#4 (CD) Antenna Records 2005
You’ve No Idea What This Is Like For Me (CDr) Not On Label 2007
Infinite Suns (LP) Textile Records 2008   
Live: Aftertaste (Vinyl, 2xFile) Static Charge 2011

Singles & EPs:

Loop / Telescopes, The – Soundhead / Forever Close Your Eyes (Flexi, 7") Cheree Records 1988
The Perfect Needle (12") What Goes On Records 1989
7th# Disaster (12") Cheree Records 1989
Kick The Wall / This Is The Last Of Whats Coming Now (7", Single, Ltd) Cheree Records 1989
Precious Little (CD Single, 7", 12") Creation Records 1990
Everso (CD Single, 7", 12") Creation Records 1990
To Kill A Slow Girl Walking (CD EP, 12") What Goes On Records 1990
Flying (CD Maxi, 7", 12") Creation Records 1991
Celeste (CD Single, 7", 12") Creation Records 1991
You Set My Soul (12", S/Sided) Creation Records 1992 
Telescopes, The / Lo Casta – Brian Whiskey 37 (7") Jonathon Whiskey 2001 
Winter EP (7") Hungry Audio 2004
Vibracathedral Orchestra & Telescopes, The - Live At Audioscope 04 (10") Fourier Transform 2005
Telescopes, The / Füxa - Where The Sky Is Low / Electric Sound Of Summer (7") Mind Expansion 2005 
Auditory Illusions (CD EP) Double Agent 2006
Night Terrors (7") Trensmat  2006
Another Whip (7") Trensmat 2007

Singles & EPs:

Psychic Viewfinder (Lathe 7") Trensmat  2007 

Compilations:

As Approved By The Committee (CD, LP, MP3) BOMP! 2003
Premonitions 1989-91 (CD) Midsummer Madness 2003
Altered Perceptions (CD, MP3) Space Age Recordings 2004
You’ve No Idea What This Is Like for Me (CD-r) Not On Label 2007  
Singles Compilation 1989-1991 (CD) Mind Expansion 2008
Singles Compilation #2 (CD) Mind Expansion 2011

Miscellaneous:

Hungry Audio Tapes (CD, MP3) Hungry Audio 2006
Live In San Diego November 8th, 2006 (CDr) Not On Label 2007

Appearances:

Albums:

"To Kill A Slow Girl Walking" Indie Top 20 Vol VIII (CD, 2xLP, VHS) Beechwood Music 1990
"Candy Says" Heaven And Hell Volume One: A Tribute To The Velvet Underground (LP) Imaginary Records 1990  
"Everso" A Palace In The Sun (CD, LP) Creation Records 1991
"Flying" Sorted, Snorted And Sported (CD, LP) Creation Records 1991
"Flying" Sorted, Snorted And Sported (CD) Intercord Tonträger GmbH 1991
"The Good’s Gone (as Telescopes)" Who Covers Who (LP) CM Discs 1993 
"And Let Me Drift Away…" Robots and Electronic Brains -  Bush, 1945 (CDr) Rokit Records 2003
"When They Fear No Death, For They Are Dead Already" Compilation (CD) Involve, Capital Recordings 2004 
"Household Subjective" Noise Research Program: Volume 2 (CD) Burning Emptiness 2005
"Candy Says" Unpiecing The Jigsaw – A Tribute To The Velvet Underground (4xCD) Ozit-Morpheus Records  2009
 
Compilations:

"Precious Little" Indie Top 20 Vol. X (2xLP) Beechwood Music 1990
"Candy Says" Heaven And Hell Volume One: A Tribute To The Velvet Underground (CD, LP) Imaginary Records 1990
"Candy Says" Heaven & Hell – A Tribute To The Velvet Underground – Volume One (CD, LP) Communion Label 1990
"To Kill A Slow Girl Walking" Indie Top 20 Vol VIII (Cass) Beechwood Music 1990
"Morning Dew" Becket House (LP) Porritt’s Hill Records 1990
"Flying" Indie Top 20 Volume 13 (CD, 2xLP) Beechwood Music 1991
"Flying" Sorted, Snorted And Sported (LP) Intercord 1991
"Everso" A Palace in the Sun 1991 (CD) Creation Records
"Flying" Indie Top 20 Volume 20 (Cass, CD) Beechwood Music 1992
"Spaceships" All The President’s Men – A Creation Compilation (CD, LP) Creation Records 1992
"You Set My Soul" Creation Tape (Cass) Select Magazine, Creation Records 1992
"The Good’s Gone (as Telescopes)" Who Covers Who (CD) CM Discs 1993
"Ocean Drive" RCD Classic Collection 7 – Psychedelia (CD) RCD Magazine 1993
"High On Fire" The Patron Saints Of Teenage (CD) TriStar Music 1994
"You Set My Soul" Coming Down – A Creation Compilation (CD) Creation Records 1995 
"Flying" Creation Records • International Guardians Of Rock ‘N’ Roll 1983-1999 (2xCD, 3xLP) Columbia 2000  
"Tesla Death Ray" Double Agent 2001: Take Everything Very Seriously (CD) Double Agent 2001
"Second Darkness" Journeys Without Maps – A Tribute To The Lord Of The Rings (CD) Bearos 2002 
"All A Dreams" Feedback To The Future (CD, LP) Mobilé 2003 
"Should A Tree Fall In A Forest, Where No-One Is Around… Would It Still Make A Sound?" Sympathetic Sounds Of The Wild West Midlands (CD) Brainlove Records 2003
"Italian Air" Fabricate: Remixes of the Album "Worsted Weight" (CD) Audraglint Recordings 2004
"To Kill A Slow Girl Walking" Rare Trax Vol. 41 – Clouds Like Sugar – Shoegazing & Dream Pop (CD) Rolling Stone (Germany) 2005
"Where The Sky Is Low" A Mind Expansion Compilation (2xCD) Mind Expansion 2006
"Winter #7" Psychedelica Volume One (2xCD) Northern Star 2006
"Everso" Like A Daydream – A Shoegazing Guide (CD) Castle Music 2006
"Flying" The Brit Box: UK Indie, Shoegaze, And Brit-Pop Gems Of The Last Millennium (4xCD) Rhino Records 2007
"In Communion With The Bishop" Dream Frequencies Volume #1 (CD) Antenna Records 2007
"Another Sky" Psychedelica Three (2xCD) Northern Star 2008
"Singularity" A Mind Expansion Compilation 2 (2xCD) Mind Expansion 2008 
"Dsm-1v Axis 1307.46 (Night Terrors)" Every Noise Has A Note (CD) Trensmat 2009
"High On Fire (as Telescopes)" Sitar Cerebrations Vol. 16 (CDr) Not On Label 

 The Telescopes (1992)

Playing Time: 39:37

1. Splashdown (3:10)
2. High on Fire (3:11)
3. You Set My Soul (3:43)
4. Spaceships (3:56)
5. The Presence of Your Grace (3:25)
6. And (4:31)
7. Flying (2:51)
8. Yeah (3:39)
9. Ocean Drive (4:39)
10. Please Tell Mother (3:46)
11. To the Shore (2:46)

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