Capricornia

It's the new single from Allo Darlin'!

Allo Darlin' - Capricornia

First heard this last night on Gideon Coe's 6 Music show and didn't immediately place it as being an Allo Darlin' song, despite the fact that we go back years. But you know those rare occasions when something jumps out of the radio at you (not literally) the moment you hear it? That's exactly what happened to me with this song. And you can imagine what a pranny I felt at the end when Gideon revealed who it was by. (Also quite relieved to know that my critical faculties were still intact.)

It's the debut single from Allo Darlin's forthcoming, second album Europe, which, rather than being a musical tribute to Joey Tempest and his hard-rocking Swedish pals from the 1980s, is actually, as Elizabeth herself puts it, pitched "Somewhere between A New England by Kirsty MacColl and Cattle and Cane by The Go-Betweens. I think this song [Capricornia] is the closest to that.”

The album's not due till the spring but what a great start to the year this song is!

Like a dream

Hello you! Guess what? Allo Darlin' have only gone and released another single from their upcoming debut album. It's called Dreaming, it features guest vocals from Monster Bobby from The Pipettes (I bet he's not a real monster though), it was Record of the Week on a recent edition of Round Table on 6 Music, and it can be yours for just £3 from Fortuna Pop. (They're also very kindly giving it away as a download here, but you don't get the b-side this way, and Allo Darlin' b-sides are often even better than the lead tracks).

Here's the promo video, which carries on a noble tradition of pop videos being filmed in and around London's fashionable West End (cf Feels Like I'm In Love by Kelly Marie, Shaky's What Do You Wanna Make Those Eyes At Me For, Inner City's Good Life and, of course, West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys).

Don't you (forget about this)

Mildly spooky coincidence ahoy! One minute I'm reading about The Breakfast Club on Adam's 1980s film favourites post from earlier today, the next I'm watching the latest, Breakfast Club-inspired video from blog favourites Allo, Darlin'. This is smashing:



I know what film I'll be watching tonight now anyway. Holiday on the Buses.

Order The Polaroid Song 7" here

Picture Perfect

Oh happy happy joy. It's the new single from Allo, Darlin'!



Allo, Darlin' - The Polaroid Song mp3

Allo, Darlin' - Will You Please Spend New Year's Eve With Me? mp3

Allo, Darlin' are currently in the studio laying down some tracks (maan) for their debut album, which is scheduled for release in February 2010. More details as and when we get them!

Buy The Polaroid Song 7" at Fortuna Pop

New Tender Trap free download single

Not the most original post heading ever, I'll grant you, but I think it conveys the whole crux of the message pretty well. Anyway, yes, Amelia and chums are back (back! back!) with a brand new single, Fireworks, and a nifty accompanying video to boot.

Filmed in swanky Margate (in homage to Chas 'n' Dave no doubt) in their own inimitable style, here it is in its glorious entirety. Gercha!



Mildly Interesting Pop Fact: Tender Trap have been busy during the latest transfer window, securing the signings of not only Katrina "Police Cat/Sally Skull/Garden City Project/I've not actually heard of any of these bands" Dixon but also blog favourite Elizabeth "Allo Darlin'" Morris. Fancy!

Download Fireworks (plus b-side Grand National) for free at the Fortuna POP! website.

Allo Allo Allo (Darlin')

The fabulous Allo, Darlin' have a new single out. Henry Rollins Don't Dance (if the title alone isn't enough to make you want to buy the single then there's really not a lot I can do for you) is backed with Dear Stephen Hawking and Heartbeat Chilli. Elizabeth sounds spookily like Frente's Angie Hart on the latter, by the way. Here, have a listen and see if I'm not right!

And while you're over there, you may as well buy the tracks in mp3 form. Be rude not to really. Alternatively, you can buy the single on good old 7" vinyl from the Weepop shop. Now there's lovely.

Three of a Kind #84

I got a great compilation CD-R from that Spike the other week. It features oodles of great tunes I'd not heard before - of which here are but three!

Elizabeth Darling (of The Darlings/Allo, Darlin' fame) is a bit miffed - and with good reason. Her ex has been hassling her by email, Facebook and MySpace, and he just won't take no for an answer. Even when she blocks him he still finds ways of reaching her. What a pain in the arse. And besides, he caused his own downfall in the first place by chasing after other girls behind her back; and he only wants to know her now because she's making a name for herself as a singer. Must have got a hell of a shock when he heard this!

Elizabeth Darling - Oh No! Another Email From You! mp3 (right click)

Juni Järvi wasn't someone I'd come across before but I was instantly taken with the Jens Lekman-esque pop stylings of Looking At You Is Like Looking At The Sun. Hmm... does that mean he has to wear dark glasses every time he squints wistfully into his loved one's mince pies, I wonder? My god, did we learn nothing from Peters & Lee?!

Juni Järvi - Looking At You Is Like Looking At The Sun mp3* (left click)

(*this song originally featured on the Eardrums compilation A Good Crop)

To round things off, here's erstwhile Veruca Salt vocalist Nina Gordon with a lovely, mellow acoustic cover of, umm, Straight Outta Compton by NWA! Makes me laugh.

Nina Gordon - Straight Outta Compton mp3 (left click)

Allo, Darlin's website / junijarvi.com