Date: Thu, 14 May 1998 10:28:26 +0100 From: David Thorpe Subject: Re: Arab Strap <> review - non 4AD Andrew Norman: >Talking of Scottish bands, Orange Juice's four major label albums have >just been reissued with extra tracks, quite different to Arab Strap >(witty as AS, but optimistic and bright) but in an odd sort of way >there's a link, perhaps the stroppy individualism. And in another odd geographical link, I've been listening to a variety of singles and EP's from a band called <> who have recently signed to Too Pure. Touted as the next big thing with Belle and Sebastian references [their producer is Tony Doogan] I was impressed by a song on the <> promotional CD but most of the rest of their output to date has been - how shall we put it? - very very scrappy. But they certainly have potential, and I'm sure an injection of cash will lubricate the wheels of the recording process, in the same way it's seemed to help Arab Strap. So far there's been two singles <> and one I don't have; a limited edition Too Pure EP <> which is not worth having (other than for <>, the song on W&F); another one released last week on TP called <> which is mildly better. If anyone else has heard this stuff, can they explain to me all the Christian references?? Yours, David Thorpe djt@robots.ox.ac.uk Date: Fri, 15 May 1998 21:06:30 +0100 From: Andrew Norman Subject: Re: Arab Strap <> review - non 4AD Jewish guy, crucified about 2000 years ago, moved to southern France and started a secret cult of Merovingian UFO freemasons or something like that. The missing (debut) single is "A Better Friend" and is better than "Lee Remick" - the B-side is "Christian Girls" which also crops up in rerecorded form on the first Too Pure release. I think the songwriting's great, but the performances are very, very ragged (the first single says the band was paid in beer). Darren Hayman also has one of those "interesting" voices and a heavy SE accent, the Too Pure releases have been intriguing, there's at least one more single due before an album. www.moptop.demon.co.uk for more details (and some IMMENSE graphics files, so turn off automatic image loading!). Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1998 00:13:07 +0100 From: Andrew Norman Subject: Re: Some new Too Pure releases and news > Another glasgow band - <> - recently released their debut album on > Too Pure called <>. I haven't had the heart to buy > this one. The Times newspaper said something along the lines of "Full > enjoyment of their new album relies upon listeners sharing the same sex, > age and musical ear. Tone-deaf males in their twenties find his voice > endearing and his lyrics detailing love both sensitive and funny." I'm well out of my twenties now, and I find the lyrics both sensitive and funny, but his voice could do with some work. The songs really are excellent, though, so I can forgive the "interesting" vocal technique and occasionally ragged accompaniment. It's nice that a small label like Too Pure can encompass this sort of low-budget indie, Jack's slightly more ambitious and polished sound, and mavericks like Long Fin Killie, Laika and Mouse on Mars. The unifying thing, I suppose, is that none of the bands on the label sound as if they are making music because they think it's a good career or a great way to pull chicks. There's passion in it all.