Hey Paulette - Long Ball into Nowhere

by Dixie Ernill

published: 30 / 9 / 2006

Label: Firestation Tower
Format: CD

Appealing collection of old singles, Peel session tracks and live recordings from long lost Dublin-based C86 group Hey Paulette

Review

Back in the mid 1980’s indie-pop bands sprang up in the provincial cities of Manchester, Glasgow and Bristol with guitars in their hearts and heads awash with lyrics about girls and boys and unrequited love. It was with a little surprise that I learned that Hey Paulette hailed from Dublin, but it didn’t stop those workaholics from Firestation Records from tracking them down and rounding up a collection of old singles, Peel session tracks and live recordings to create yet another top notch indie-pop compilation for their already impressive roster. Sounding something like a cross between the Waltones, the Desert Wolves and the Man From Delmonte, Hey Paulette are certainly a quality example of classic C86. ‘I Really Do Love Penelope’ is probably their best known track, but there are plenty of other fine moments to be enjoyed, such as old B-side ‘I Don’t Want To Be A Male Bardot’, ‘Pebbledash’, ‘Our Immeasurable Differences’ and a great cover of ‘I Must Be In love’. It’s hard to say much more about this release. If you like C86, you’ll love this.

Track Listing:-

1 I Really Do Love Penelope
2 Our Immeasurable Differences
3 Erstwhile Wet Blanket
4 A Pet Day
5 Mad Into the Rollers
6 Another Poet
7 Give Up
8 I Will Line the Streets
9 Inconsequential
10 Pebbledash
11 Commonplace
12 I Don't Want to Be a Male Bardot
13 My Half of the Pillow
14 Happy to Be Here
15 Smalltown Reel
16 I Must Be in Love
17 My Half of the Pillow(Live At the Underground)