Shrag - Huw Stephens Session 08.12.10 and Marc Riley Session 21.03.12

by Dave Goodwin

published: 8 / 7 / 2025

Shrag - Huw Stephens Session 08.12.10 and Marc Riley Session 21.03.12

Dave Goodwin praises the release by Precious Recordings of London on 10 inch vinyl of two radio sessions by Brighton-based indie pop outfit Shrag,

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So, here’s another great offering from those lovely folk at Precious Recordings of London. Precious Recordings have been releasing some wonderful BBC sessions from current and now broken-up indie outfits for quite a while now. Apparently there is more to come in the shape of further classic BBC sessions on vinyl including The Motorcycle Boy, The Primevals, Silver Biplanes, The Twinsets, The Loves, Hefner, The Lovely Basement, ATV and more. But here we are concentrating on two of their latest outings - catalogue numbers 046 and 047 which showcase two radio sessions with Brighton-based and personal favourites of Precious Recordings’ founder Nick Godfrey, Shrag, who were leading lights of the UK indiepop scene towards the end of the Noughties. Their own inimitable sound referenced the likes of Riot Grrl, Life Without Buildings and Prolapse and in doing so showcased the very literate and emotionally compromising lyrics of Helen King, the band’s main singer. They recorded several singles and three albums for iconic labels WIAIWYA and Fortuna Pop! And also recorded several sessions for the BBC, including a four-song gig for Huw Stephens at the famous Maida Vale Studios - a gig that sports an impressive version of a string-drenched ‘Coda’, the closing track from their second LP, ‘Life! Death! Prizes!’ As with all the Precious Recordings vinyl, this limited-edition ten-inch comes with free downloads, a printed inner sleeve with new images and brilliant sleeve notes from Helen. The EP itself has ‘More Than Mornings’ - a fast raucous punk track, ‘Erratic Fictions’ - a melodic indie gem, ‘Gutless Wonder’ - a mix of punk ethos and indie vibes which includes some lush violin from about halfway in to the end, and just when you think it is done it starts up again with the classy ‘Coda’. It sounds like everyone is having a go at this one but is also another string-laden indie gem to get hooked on. By the time the BBC recorded the next Precious outing, a session for Marc Riley in 2012, Shrag’s sound had developed considerably, and it features scintillating early versions of four songs destined to appear on their third and final LP ‘Canines’. This was the last session recorded before they split in March 2013 with a final show at The Lexington in London. Again this EP is a ;imited-edition ten-inch and the vinyl comes with free downloads, a printed inner sleeve with more unseen images and this time sleeve notes from Russell Warrior. You can also access bonus downloads of another session for Marc Riley which houses four songs from their second LP, ‘Life! Death! Prizes!’ by buying the said vinyl. The sounds on this one are ‘Tears Of A Landlord’ – which has a fuzzed-out start and joint male/female vocals, ‘Tendons In The Night’ - curiously titled rockabilly punk with everyone’s input on it, ‘Show Us Your Canines’ – q bass packed Dexy’s style stamper, and ‘You’re The Shout’ - a fantastic headshaking, arm-throwing piece of indie bliss from srart to finish. I must admit that I never caught Shrag at the time but having heard these two wonderous offerings from Precious I am hooked. Marvellous!