Pete's Right To Cry Over Spilt Milk

Last year I saw a gig at the Old Fire Station in Stoke Newington, headlined by Slowcoaches. I bumped in to fellow Brisbanite Susan Milanovic, who used to drum for the excellent Feathers (which also featured Roku Music/Deafcult/Tiny Spiders/Thigh Master/etc genius and all round dude Innez Tulloch). She mentioned she wanted to get back into playing, and was jamming with this guy who used to be in a few indie bands some time ago. That guy is Pete Astor, of The Loft and Weather Prophets fame, and the result is Spilt Milk, coming out on Fortuna Pop. It's a classy affair all round - recorded by James Hoare (Veronica Falls, Ultimate Painting) and playing most of the instruments, ably supported by Pam Berry (Withered Hand, Black Tambourine), Robin Christian (Male Bonding), Alison Cotton (The Left Outsides) and Jack Hayter (Hefner). The first sip at the chalice is 'My Right Hand'. Spilt Milk promises to have a pastoral motorik undercurrent driving Astor's esoteric guitar pop stylings. 'My Right Hand' is an ode to all best friends, through thick and thin, with a twinkle in the eye. Flying Nun and McLennan/Forster shines brightly in the background.

Grass Widow pass the time easly

Yet another west coast lo-fi girl band? Maybe, but one of the finest in my opinion. For me the Grass Widow have always pushed there lo-fi guitar pop in a more modest manner than the other lo-fi all girl group we've seen recently and after last years two self-titled E.P.s the lack of new material from the San Franciscan trio was starting to make me worry, too many other band doing the same thing maybe? but Grass Widow's debut L.P, Past Time, feels more like a lesson in the missed opportunities of that other girls bands missed.

Wonky vocal harmonies rule this three piece, not the fuzz that others rely on, and that's braver in my book. There's a light heartedness to Grass Widow that has more to do with sixties influences like The Move or The Kinks than the obvious Delta 5, Raincoats and Black Tambourine comparisons. Easiest way to move on from the lo-fi garage DIY sound? Harmonic pop polish apparently and they've got a Upset The Rhythm gig coming up at The Old Blue Last at the end of the month. That news cheered me up.

Grass Widow - Shadow
Grass Widow - 11 of Diamonds

Common, Rough, Black Tambourine

Brendan posted about Whirl recently, a softer sided shoegaze slice, and with all the rough around the edges garage pop kicking about I couldnt help but be reminded of Black Tambourine, the influential indie-pop band form the early 90s. It probably also helped jog my memory that Slumberland Records put out a new compilation, self titled Black Tambourine, back in March. Considering the band only ever put a small handful of releases in their day, its an extensive overview of the short but influential life span of the band and even includes new additions to 1999's Complete Recordings. So next time you're listening to a new band high on a feedback-enshrouded collision of blissed out noise and pop, aka Vivian Girls, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, Wavves or Dum Dum Girls, just remember that these bands owe at least a nod or two to Black Tambourine... oh, and probably The Vaselines too, but who's counting!

Black Tambourine - For Ex-Lovers Only
Black Tambourine - Throw Aggi Off The Bridge
Black Tambourine - Pack You Up

Check the priceless Super-8 footage below, shot by Daniel Searing Jr back in the day, at the band's WMUC radio session, 1990, and just to prove a point the Dum Dum Girls cover of Throw Aggi Off The Bridge.


Black Tambourine "For Ex-Lovers Only" from Slumberland Records on Vimeo.

Dum Dum Girls - Throw Aggi Off The Bridge