Artist: Talulah Gosh
Album: Backwash
Release: 1996
Label: K
Tracklist:
1. Beatnik Boy
2. My Best Friend
3. Steaming Train
4. Just A Dream
5. Talulah Gosh
6. Don't Go Away
7. Escalator Over The Hill
8. My Boy Says
9. Way Of The World
10. Testcard Girl
11. Bringing Up Baby
12. I Can't Get No Satisfaction (Thank God)
13. The Girl With The Strawberry Hair
14. Talulah Gosh [Radio Session Version]
15. Do You Remember
16. Looking For A Rainbow
17. Sunny Inside
18. My World's Ending
19. Be Your Baby
20. Break Your Face
21. In Love For The Very First Time
22. Spearmint Head
23. I Told You So
24. Pastels Badge
25. Rubber Ball
For me, there are several women who rule over indie pop-- Pam Berry, Rose Melberg, and I'd probably rank Amy Linton among them as well. Reigning supreme over the bunch, however, is Amelia Fletcher. She is the perfect andro-geek representative of the genre, and, along with her brother Mathew, Amelia has helmed two of my all-time favorite bands-- Heavenly and Talulah Gosh. As much as I love the polished gems of Heavenly, sometimes I need the slightly grittier pop of Talulah Gosh, more along of the lines (but preceding) of Strawberry Story, which Adam recently posted.
Whereas I find quite a bit of 1980s C-86-style indie pop somewhat tiresome after a while, Talulah Gosh sped up and reenergized the genre. Yet even their slower songs, like "Just a Dream," don't bore. I think this variation really relates to the original intent of the group-- Amelia and Elizabeth Price sought to form a band that was their interpretation of a '60s girl group (though they failed and had to recruit Amelia's younger brother and boyfriend). Even within songs, you get a change of pace. For example, the band's self-titled track (they took their name from a made up TV/pop star), alternates between whimsical pop laments and a more punk-inspired chorus. These moments, the faster, punkier ones, are ultimately what I think set Talulah Gosh apart from the pack of other 1980s pop bands-- those upbeat love songs like "Steaming Train," "Don't Go Away," or the shriekier "Testcard Girl." Still, the gaps gaps between such songs remind me of why I place Amelia Fletcher above all other indie poppers. Let's not forget, for instance, The Softies' (a Rose Melberg band) cover of Talulah Gosh's perfect pop hit "I Can't Get No Satisfaction (Thank God)."
As far as compilations go, Backwash is quite thorough, collecting nearly all of the band's recordings, from records to live performances and even a radio session. While there definitely is variation in the qualities of recordings, they are all lo-fi enough (but not too lo-fi) that nothing feels out of place. The most dodgy recording, a live version of "Pastels Badge" might feel a little incohesive, but it's a necessary ode to the band's beginnings. This compilation was released by K in 1996 but is seemingly out of print now. Good luck finding Talulah Gosh records, but perhaps this download will serve as an inspiration to do so.
Download Here
-Catherine
Album: Backwash
Release: 1996
Label: K
Tracklist:
1. Beatnik Boy
2. My Best Friend
3. Steaming Train
4. Just A Dream
5. Talulah Gosh
6. Don't Go Away
7. Escalator Over The Hill
8. My Boy Says
9. Way Of The World
10. Testcard Girl
11. Bringing Up Baby
12. I Can't Get No Satisfaction (Thank God)
13. The Girl With The Strawberry Hair
14. Talulah Gosh [Radio Session Version]
15. Do You Remember
16. Looking For A Rainbow
17. Sunny Inside
18. My World's Ending
19. Be Your Baby
20. Break Your Face
21. In Love For The Very First Time
22. Spearmint Head
23. I Told You So
24. Pastels Badge
25. Rubber Ball
For me, there are several women who rule over indie pop-- Pam Berry, Rose Melberg, and I'd probably rank Amy Linton among them as well. Reigning supreme over the bunch, however, is Amelia Fletcher. She is the perfect andro-geek representative of the genre, and, along with her brother Mathew, Amelia has helmed two of my all-time favorite bands-- Heavenly and Talulah Gosh. As much as I love the polished gems of Heavenly, sometimes I need the slightly grittier pop of Talulah Gosh, more along of the lines (but preceding) of Strawberry Story, which Adam recently posted.
Whereas I find quite a bit of 1980s C-86-style indie pop somewhat tiresome after a while, Talulah Gosh sped up and reenergized the genre. Yet even their slower songs, like "Just a Dream," don't bore. I think this variation really relates to the original intent of the group-- Amelia and Elizabeth Price sought to form a band that was their interpretation of a '60s girl group (though they failed and had to recruit Amelia's younger brother and boyfriend). Even within songs, you get a change of pace. For example, the band's self-titled track (they took their name from a made up TV/pop star), alternates between whimsical pop laments and a more punk-inspired chorus. These moments, the faster, punkier ones, are ultimately what I think set Talulah Gosh apart from the pack of other 1980s pop bands-- those upbeat love songs like "Steaming Train," "Don't Go Away," or the shriekier "Testcard Girl." Still, the gaps gaps between such songs remind me of why I place Amelia Fletcher above all other indie poppers. Let's not forget, for instance, The Softies' (a Rose Melberg band) cover of Talulah Gosh's perfect pop hit "I Can't Get No Satisfaction (Thank God)."
As far as compilations go, Backwash is quite thorough, collecting nearly all of the band's recordings, from records to live performances and even a radio session. While there definitely is variation in the qualities of recordings, they are all lo-fi enough (but not too lo-fi) that nothing feels out of place. The most dodgy recording, a live version of "Pastels Badge" might feel a little incohesive, but it's a necessary ode to the band's beginnings. This compilation was released by K in 1996 but is seemingly out of print now. Good luck finding Talulah Gosh records, but perhaps this download will serve as an inspiration to do so.
Download Here
-Catherine
5 comments:
One of the first twee bands I got into! Love them so much.
-Adam
Boy, i love you.
Are you going to upload more twee? Or if you're interested i could see and upload what I have got.
The riff in The Girl With Strawberry Hair is killer, in the sense that it will actually sleigh you with awesomeness.
Yup yup. Rose Melberg! Have you heard the latest album on K?
Looking forward to this, I had the singles of beatnik boy and my personal fav steaming train at the time.. long gone.
Post a Comment