Crackle and Pop 4

Everything But The Girl - Native Land

Everything but the Girl are Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt, who met at Hull University though both were already involved in music, Tracey more successfully via the Peel favourites the Marine Girls. The first joint album as EBTG was the very successful "Eden" (1984) a blend of minimalist guitars, vocals and jazzy influences. But they were never a group to stick to just one sound.
Its now late 1984 and Margaret Thatcher is possibly the most hated (by all left leaning folk) PM of all times. Lots of groups started railing against her via songs, but who would have thought that our bossa nova based chums EBTG would have been so radicalized? I suppose their songs had examined the personal politics of relationships so this was a natural progression. The album that followed in 1985 "Love not Money" explored the themes begun in Native Land. EBTG had also by now got over their Getz/Gilberto obsession and had found a new one - The Smiths, the album and this single being much more driven by chiming electric guitars. Here, on Native Land they even got Johnny Marr to play the harmonica!

Native Land (mp3 vinyl single)

David Gedge

David Gedge (Cinerama, The Wedding Present) was the guest on Andrew Collins 6Music show last Sunday.
Listen to the whole show via the BBC, or download the Gedge section below.

David Gedge on 6Music (mp3)

Splinter Magazine: your new best friend

Feel all alone in your musical world?

Mojo and Uncut not covering your interests?

Help is at hand...Splinter is an excellent new music magazine first issue available now.

The magazines aim is

"... to give time, space and adoration to those bands who get misaligned, misinterpreted or criminally ignored all together. We want to cover these bands with insight, intelligence, wit, and passion. It's a simple plan."

That's sounded ok with me and after receiving my copy (£2.75 by post) its born out by the content. Interviews with British Sea Power, Degrassi, Hood, The IK+ ,The Kills, Love Ends Disaster, and David Gedge. Plus features onThe Fall's history, Sarah Records, and The Field Mice. The article and photos on Yorkshires finest Hood are worth the price alone and any magazine smart enough to appreciate the supreme talent of David Gedge deserves your money.

Now if they could only do a feature on The Clientele ...