Tuesday 31 December 2013

Orange Juice - Tour dates, 1982


Orange Juice - Tour dates (NME Jan. 1982)
Original photo ©Harry Papadopoulos

Saturday 28 December 2013

Jim Reid's leather troosers


Jim Reid (The Jesus and Mary Chain)

Source : Tim Sliwinski   -  ©unknown*

*will post credit/link if I find it

Tuesday 24 December 2013

Paul Haig 'Drama' (cassette artwork)


Paul Haig ‘Drama’ (Cassette tape artwork, 1981)
©Paul Haig

Monday 23 December 2013

Primal Scream, London 1985



Primal Scream, London 1985
Image ©Dave Driscoll (from 'A Scene in Between')

The Pastels : A Spontaneous Happening



The Pastels : “A Spontaneous Happening…” (Flyer 1983)
© unknown  - via  80s Fanzines & Ephemera

Saturday 14 December 2013

Dora Maar : 'Dora Marr' - tape


https://www.flickr.com/photos/japaneseforms/11435727603/
Well, as we plod on towards the end of 2013, with everyone and anyone making their -often predictable- end of the year 'best of' lists, it was a nice surprise this week to get acces to two extremely enjoyable recordings hailing from Bonnie Scotland. The first one is a recording from yesteryear; of one of the mighty Orange Juice's very early concerts at Glasgow Technical College in 1980 (more about this at a later date), and the other one is the debut release from Dora Maar.
No, not the Dora Maar, French photographer, poet and painter who is, unfortunately, better known for having been one of Picasso's lovers than for her own work, but a young band from Leith, Edinburgh. A place I don't really know much about except that it's a port/docks area in Edinburgh and that (in)famous Scots novelist, Hibernian F.C. fan, Irvine Welsh grew up there. In fact, the very few times I've ever visited the place it would have been to see football games between the Hibees and Rangers F.C. Way back in the day when I was interested in football. A time when clubs didn't even have sponsors' names on their shirts so you can imagine how long ago that was.
 Anyhow, according to their press release, the band is made up of "two Andrews, an Erika and a Liam". I'm not really sure who plays what in the band but I'm certain that it's one of the male members on vocals. From the very, and wee bit ramshackle, start it's clear whom the band's influences are. In fact, they could have called this release, en hommage, 'A Postcard From Leith' as they sound and appear to be highly influenced by early ('80/'81) Postcard Records' bands Josef K and Orange Juice. Besides the 'Postcard' influence there's also some Monochrome Set, Pastels, Vic Godard shaping their sound. Not to forget the Velvet Undergound which appears to me to be most visible on the opening 'Jessica Says' track. Starting off with jangly guitar, pounding drumbeat, followed by vocals that sound like a hybrid version of Edwyn Collins and Paul Haig, 'Jessica Says' has me thinking of a speeded-up version of VU's 'Stephanie Says'. This is followed by my favourite track 'The 'Fetch'', which commences with a militarylike drumbeat, laid back guitar, before the dulcet tones of the vocalist come to the forefront and, in spite of what sounds like a sorry tale of "punishment", delivers a beauty of a song.  'Anna Karina, 1965' is a close second fave; I'll put this down to it being, in my mind, the most Josef K-like track along with the sublime 'I Won't Be Back' which is the last track on this, too short, tape. Lots of varying influences doesn't mean lack of originality and Dora Marr have the spunk and promise of greater things to come.
At any rate; despite recording/mixing quality, which isn't that great but at the same time is definitely part of its charm, this is a very commendable and exciting debut release. So, if jangling guitars and compelling melodies are your thing, get your hands on a copy a.s.a.p.* (japanese forms)
* ‘Dora Maar’ is limited to an initial run of 50 hand-numbered, hand-stamped cassettes (download included) will be available from the band’s Bandcamp on 11 December 2013 (11.12.13, ya dig?). Further physical stockists TBA.
Dora Maar : Bandcamp
Dora Maar : Website
.................................................
Listen to 'Dora Marr' below

Friday 13 December 2013

Thursday 12 December 2013

Bobby Gillespie on drums in the Jesus And Mary Chain


The Jesus and Mary Chain (with Bobby Gillespie on drums) - 1985

©James Finch (from ‘A Scene in Between’)

Wednesday 11 December 2013

Roddy Frame's Star Choice


Roddy Frame : Star Choice (Smash Hits, Dec. 1983)

via & ©BrainDamage

Tuesday 10 December 2013

Edwyn Collins : Japan Tour 1993


Edwyn Collins : Japan Tour 1993 (poster)

Monday 9 December 2013

OJ '81 (tape)


Orange Juice 'Thrillingly - Live at Stirling' (1981)
Cassette tape : AED Records

Thursday 28 November 2013

Paul Haig : At Twilight


Paul Haig : ‘At Twilight’ (TW1154)
Forthcoming Les Disques du Crépuscule compilation (Jan. 2014)
Photograph : ©Charles Van Hoorick

Wednesday 20 November 2013

The Pastels : The Scala, London


The Pastels live at the Scala, London 8 Nov. 2013

©Alan Fairnie / Sometimes Listening Is Not Enough

Tuesday 19 November 2013

Friday 15 November 2013

Edwyn Collins : The Art School, Glasgow


Edwyn Collins : The Art School, Glasgow (Flyer)

Thursday 14 November 2013

Edwyn Collins (1987)


Edwyn Collins (1987)
Courtesy of and ©Stephen Parker

Sunday 10 November 2013

Orange Juice : Falling and Laughing Poster



Orange Juice: Falling and Laughing, Promotional Poster, 1980.
Design by Robbie Kelly (© 1980), from the collection of Davy Weddell.

Source : lovesick / blueboy

Tuesday 5 November 2013

Postcard Records : "Funky Glasgow Now" poster


Postcard Records Present “Funky Glasgow Now” – Showcase Poster.
Design by Robbie Kelly (© 1980), from the collection of Davy Weddell.

Source : lovesick / blueboy

Monday 4 November 2013

Pale Blue Eyes


Paul Quinn & Edwyn Collins “Pale Blue Eyes” Swamplands Records, 1984
(back sleeve)
Cover photo: ©Alan Horne

Saturday 2 November 2013

Aztec Camera : Smash Hits, 1983


 Aztec Camera : Smash Hits (1983)
Source & ©Brian McCloskey

Edwyn Collins - 'Hope And Despair' - Sounds, 1989


50 Shades of Blue : Edwyn Collins (Sounds, 1989)

Thursday 31 October 2013

The Pastels : Mono Glasgow



The Pastels / Lali Puna - Mono, Glasgow : 7 December 2013

Wednesday 30 October 2013

The Shop Assistants (circa 1985)


The Shop Assistants (circa 1985)
Photo ©Mark Flunder

Friday 25 October 2013

Aztec Camera : Japanese 3" cd single artwork


Aztec Camera : The Crying Scene : Japanese 3” cd single (artwork)

Tuesday 22 October 2013

Orange Juice live in Glasgow, 1980



Orange Juice: Live at The Spaghetti Factory, Glasgow, September 1980.
Photo : ©Peter McArthur
Source : Automatic

Thursday 17 October 2013

Aztec Camera, Valentino's, Edinburgh, 1981



Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera, live at Valentino’s, Edinburgh, 1981.
Photo courtesy of & ©AH McKAy

Saturday 12 October 2013

Orange Juice : Texipop?



Orange Juice : Texipop? (Sounds, 1984)
Source: AndrewK

Thursday 10 October 2013

Tuesday 8 October 2013

The Jesus and Mary Chain, live 1985



The Jesus and Mary Chain, live 1985
Bobby Gillespie bangs the drums while Jim Reid bends the mic stand.
Photo ©Nick Allport
from  'A Scene In Between' ©Sam Knee

Tuesday 1 October 2013

The Pastels with Strawberry Switchblade, 1982


The Pastels with Strawberry Switchblade, 1982
Photo :©Peter McArthur
from Sam Knee’s ‘A Scene In Between’ 
Source : Blasted

The book is an amazing catalogue of pictures through the 1980s..
©Eric Sandberg - More @ racket racket

Monday 30 September 2013

Postcard - Tees & Babygrows


Postcard drumming kitten : Junior tees & babygrows
Available from: AED


Sunday 29 September 2013

MAry Chain : Automatic Tour flyer, 1990



The Jesus and Mary Chain : Automatic Tour Flyer. Hollywood Palladium, 1990

Source

Thursday 26 September 2013

Juice on the loose in Paisley.



Juice on the loose in Paisley.
From Sounds, 1980
Words : Maxwell Park
Photo: Ian Graham.

Wednesday 25 September 2013

Shop Assistants : Shopping Parade EP

http://www.flickr.com/photos/japaneseforms/9930990976/

Shop Assistants : Shopping Parade EP
Subway Organization (1985)
Image ©japanese forms

Tuesday 24 September 2013

Stephen McRobbie - The Pastels, 1986


Stephen McRobbie - The Pastels, 1986
Photo ©Jim Barr

From 'A Scene in Between' ©Sam Knee

Sunday 22 September 2013

A Youthful Jesus and Mary Chain


A youthful Jesus and Mary Chain line up, 1985
(Bobby Gillespie, Douglas Hart, William Reid)
from 'A Scene in Between' ©Sam Knee
Photo ©Valerie Hicks

Saturday 21 September 2013

Orange Juice : Piling on the Juice



Orange Juice : Piling on the Juice
From Melody Maker, April, 1984
Photo: unknown

Thursday 19 September 2013

The Pastels : Summer Rain - A C60 of Pastels music


http://www.flickr.com/photos/japaneseforms/9801589845/

The Pastels : Summer Rain  - A C60 of Pastels music (1995 - 2013)
Released for Cassette Store Day 2013 - Domino Records - WIGMC323
Image ©japanese forms

Wednesday 18 September 2013

the jesus and mary chain darklands ep (10” vinyl)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/japaneseforms/4730049090/

the jesus and mary chain
darklands ep (10” vinyl)
darklands/ rider / here it comes again / on the wall (porta studio demo)
blanco y negro (1987)
neg 29te

From the time when The Jesus and Mary Chain were at their very best. Seems like only yesterday when I bought this but it was actually released all of 26 years ago! The “Darklands" song, as with the eponymously named album, has a much more melodic sound than that of their previous singles but, as far as I’m concerned, it's just as good as anything else they released back in those halycon days . I really like the artwork as well which includes photographs from videos made by Tim Broad and John Maybury and graphic design by Helen Backhouse.

Image © japanese forms

Friday 13 September 2013

Josef K : Heaven Sent 12" ep (back)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/japaneseforms/708502686/

Josef J
Heaven Sent :12” ep [front cover]
Supreme International Editions
Edition 87-7 (1987)
(see previous post for more details)

Image ©japanese forms

Thursday 12 September 2013

Josef K : Heaven Sent 12" ep (front)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/japaneseforms/708502686/

Josef K
Heaven Sent : 12” ep [front cover] 
Supreme International Editions 
Edition 87-7 (1987)

Bit of a rarity this one I suppose. I’ve no idea how many copies of this release were ever pressed or sold. Features one track ‘Heaven Sent’, from a John Peel Session recorded in 1981; a demo version of ‘Radio Drill Time’ as well as two tracks from Josef K’s then unreleased ‘Sorry For Laughing’ album which should have been issued by Postcard Records way back in 1980. Supreme International Editions was a label which was run by former Josef K manager, Alan Cambell -who also handled Paul Haig’s solo career for a couple of years in the 80s. The label also released the band’s ‘Young & Stupid’ album. Frankly, I don’t know much about this label or any of the other stuff released on it. A quick search on the web didn’t bring up much information I’m afraid. A wee look at the official Josef K site is worthwhile and has been recently updated. Anyhow, if you want to know what Paul Haig’s up to nowadays you can check out his Twitter or his Paul Haig Music website. He has some exciting new releases on the agenda.

Image ©japanese forms

Saturday 7 September 2013

The Pastels : ‘London ICA’ + ‘Session, Demos, & Rehearsals’ tapes.


Cassette Store Day 07 September 2013

The Pastels : ‘London ICA’ + ‘Session, Demos, & Rehearsals’ tapes.
Image courtesy of & ©PiperGatesDesign

Friday 6 September 2013

Teenage Fanclub : Star Sign EP - 4-track promo cassette tape


https://www.flickr.com/photos/japaneseforms/9689153437/
Cassette Store Day 07 September 2013

Teenage Fanclub : Star Sign EP - 4-track promo cassette tape

Image ©japanese forms

Thursday 5 September 2013

The Jesus and Mary Chain : Psychocandy (poster)


The Jesus and Mary Chain : Psychocandy (poster)

Wednesday 4 September 2013

Stephen Pastel : ‘Alphaville-esque’


Stephen Pastel : ‘Alphaville-esque’ (Glasgow Subway, 1984)
Image ©Annabel Wright

From Sam Knee’s forthcoming book : ‘A Scene in Between'

Monday 2 September 2013

Edwyn captures some sounds


Edwyn captures some sounds.
(Edwyn Collins, Mojo 1997)
Image ©unknown
Source : Tumblr

Friday 30 August 2013

The Pastels : Ladyfest 2013 Warm-Up show poster.



The Pastels : Ladyfest 2013 Warm-Up show poster.
Based on the same Annabel Wright artwork that featured on the band's 'Slow Summits' album and 'Summer Rain' cassette.

Saturday 24 August 2013

Teenage Fanclub : 'Thirteen' poster


Teenage Fanclub : 'Thirteen' poster, 1993.
Artwork/Graphic Design by The Laird, Mark Brown (?)

Friday 23 August 2013

'Fuck dance, let's art!'

'Fuck dance, let's art!' - Edwyn Collins
From Melody Maker, Oct. 1990
©Paul Lester/Andrew Catlin

Thursday 22 August 2013

All Juice Under The Bridge


Edwyn Collins :  Melody Maker, 1987
Quiff framed by Tom Sheehan