Laura Branch - Reviews
Francis Albert Machine
Maudlin indiepop on new solo album from Airport Girl member Francis Albert Machine, unfortunately marred by hard-to-hear lyrics
Lovejoy
Sophisticated, fun electro pop on one-off 7" single on the new Unpopular label from much-acclaimed twee popsters, Lovejoy
Clientele
First release on new indiepop 7" llimited edition label, Unpopular Records, which features two live tracks from the Clientele
Loves
"Conciously retro", but "insanely catchy" indiepop on long-awaited debut from Cardiff's the Loves
Pipas
"Eerily bittersweet" and "nerve-wracking" indiepop from much acclaimed Pipas
Loves
Familiar, but comforting indiepop on new single from Cardiff group, the Loves
Set Designers
Ramsackingly "charming and cute" bedroom indiepop from new act, the Set Designers
The King Of Luxembourg
Entertaining, if a little idiosyncratic indiepop on coloured vinyl from former él sigining Simon Fisher Turner, aka the King of Luxembourg
Foxgloves
First-rate indie pop from new British duo the Foxgloves, who have drawn early comparisions with the Smiths and New Order
Liberty Ship
Perfect "jangly indie pop with harmonicas" from exciting new Nottingham-based group, Liberty Ship
The Guild League
Debut album from Lucksmiths' voclaist and percussionist Tali White's side project, the Guild League, which, despite chirpy sing-a-long nature contains a surprisingly dark edge
Paper Moon
Spectacular "pristine pop" on "Impressive debut" from new Winnipeg group
Various
Thoroughly enjoyable new sampler from the diverse Darla indiepop label, that fields a "wealth of new, slightly off the beaten track music"
Various
"Delightful" debut compilation from new indie-pop label, Heavenly Pop Hits, which, co-run by Pennyblackmusic writer Tommy Gunnarsson, includes tracks by Remington Super 60, Nixon, Sodastream and ballboy
Pipas
"Sophisticated" debut release on Matinee label by new London girl/boy duo Pipas
Michael Carpenter
"Classic " power pop release from under-rated Australian multi-instrumentalist Michael Carpenter that compiles together tracks from his previous two albums, Hopefulness' and 'Baby' , but which also features several new songs
Various
'The soundtrack to an imaginary film – the soundtrack to your internal monologue", 'The Politics of Disappearance' is the latest compilation from Radio Khartoum, "one of the few truly innovative record labels of the moment."
Motormark
Some would say sacrilegeous, others brilliant reworking of the old Go Gos hit.
Various
The French – they’re suave, they’re chic, they invented pain au chocolat – and for this I salute them. They also excel at making rather fine but largely ignored pop music, although fear not because “
Lollipop Train
This is the penultimate instalment in a series of fantasy pop concept albums which have come on the Siesta label offshoot – Reverie. The albums, released between September 1998 and September 2000 , c