Dora Maar : 'Dora Marr' - tape

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
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Listen to 'Dora Marr' below

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