Saloon - Peel Sessions 21.08.01 • 16.04.03

  by Dave Goodwin

published: 1 / 2 / 2025

Label: Precious Recordings of London
Format: N/A

intro

In our Re:View section, in which we look back on recordings from the past, Dave Goodwin examines two John Peel Sessions from early 2000's indiepop band Saloon which have just been released by the always reliable Precious Recordings of London on 12" vinyl.

Reading just happened to be the home of British indie band Saloon, who were formed in late 1997 by Adam Cresswell (bass/synthesisers) and Michael Smoughton (drums). In early 1998, they added Alison Cotton (viola) who came from another Reading band, British Air Powers, who incidentally, went on to become British Sea Power They also coerced Amanda Gomez (lead vocals) and Matt Ashton (guitars) into joining the fold. As a band, Saloon drew on a range of influences of both electronic and more guitar-based acts, and developed a futuristic pop sound that incorporated Cotton's viola playing, Cresswell's interest in Moog synthesisers, and Ashton's feedback-tinged guitar style, along with samples and more exotic instrumentation, such as stylophone and glockenspiel. Five days after the death of John Peel in 2004 the band split, with its members going on to form other groups. In 2010 Michael Smoughton tragically died with his wife in a car accident in Canada. The lovely folk at Precious Recordings, who have released a plethora of 10” vinyl EP’s of late, have gone one step further and released this on 12 inch. This houses two sessions recorded for John Peel back in the rarely noughties. Saloon were not only Peel favourites but were also regulars in the legendary DJ’s Festive 50 countdown with their distinctive and languid lo-fi sound. They draw regular comparisons with Stereolab and Belle and Sebastian This release features in their entirety both the studio sessions they recorded for John Peel in 2001 and 2003, which are now released for the first time in any format. IT includes a wonderful version of ‘Girls Are The New Boys’, the melodic ‘Make It Soft[‘and the slower “I Could Have Loved a Tyrant’. As is the norm with their releases. Precious treat us to a printed inner with many hitherto unseen images, sleeve notes from Adam Cresswell and Matt Ashton, plus download codes. Incidentally, Saloon are no strangers to this magazine either. If you get into your DeLorean you can travel back to the time when Saloon released their debut album, ‘(This is) What We Call Progress’ and were interviewed by Gary Wollen back in 2002.

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