SOUNDS YOU MIGHT NEVER HEAR.... : FELT

When writing this blog I must admit that sometimes I have the time of my life, but sometimes it all feel hopeless too.
For years I write about the tiniest bands ever but there are moments that I’m aware that so called beloved “big bands” are obscure as well.
On this evening for instance, I wanna share some thoughts about Felt. This duo are in my opinion a well respected band but if you walk on the street and if you meet within 24 hours one person who has ever heard of time, you can drink yourself to death on my costs.
So I guess you agree with me that they’re obscure…
Despite having released 10 albums, despite being hailed by Alan McGee who gave them a 2nd chance on Creation or despite the fact that Belle & Sebastian name them as a major influence…Felt are unknown territory.
Keymember from this romantic troubadourband is one Lawrence who had a crush on the songwriting skills from one Tom Verlaine (at least I hope this f*** world knows who Television was) and on the mighty Cherry Red-label Lawrence composed one album after another with drummer Gary Ainge being the sole vast member of the band.
The “highlight” of their career came when Cocteau Twins’ guitarist Robin Guthrie produced their “Ignite the seven canons”-albums with even the vocal help from madame Elizabeth Frazer.
Twenty years later I suppose no one buys their cd’s even if they are priced as 1 Euro and regarding all the dumb bullshit we hear day after day, it’s another shame this world has to face…a cultural shame, don’t get me started about the rest…

SOUNDS YOU MIGHT NEVER HEAR.... : THE HOLY SISTERS OF THE GAGA DADA

Picked this one up at a local fleamarket as the women on the sleeve were gothic dressed and you never know that some unopened gem might turn out intosomething like Siouxsie & The Banshees.
They're a bit goth but this all female band formed in 1981 are playing a sort of batcavething with 80's synths, I mean if you can ever imagine how Christian Death would sound if they cover an album by The Slits I guess you have a picture how this California based band sounded.
Makes me wonder how this album got here as it seems to be a very Hollywood undergroundthing, let alone how insane it is that it ended up being on some Belgian fleamarket!
Makes you aware that you better keep your eyes open there, I won't start writing a hymn about fleamarkets but unbelievable what I found there in my life and even more what people are leaving behind.
If you look on You Tube you can see their "Neighbor's Scream".
Strange but good, but then again I love strange music....

SOUNDS YOU MIGHT NEVER HEAR.... : LITTLE NEMO

I know that dedicated fans will kill me for including this genius band into this section but I guess they must be the first to admit (even if it is with regret) that there are only a handful of people in the world who know this band.
You have to switch back to the mid 80's, early 90's in France as there was a movement named "touching pop".
Never liked the description that much but then again there was just no other word available for the marriage between cold wave and synthpop.
This movement was a French thing only and the label responsible for it was Lively Art.
One of the "leading" bands on the label was the mighty Little Nemo from Paris.
After having released dodgy (but genius) tapes they finally found a home on Lively Art.
I know enough from music to understand that pure technically they sucked totally, even the voice from singer Olivier Leymaire is far from being perfect.
But so what?
Little Nemo are one of the most honest and touching (ha!) bands I heard in my life, the sort of synthpop that gives you the feeling only a Chameleons-song can.
Still can't decide if their highlight is "Sounds in the attic" or those tapes.
By the way, there's no need to seek the tape on Parisian fleamarkets as the wonderful Infrastition-label released them on cd (check out that label by the way).
And what's more : since some months they're back and we're not talking about that nice fish from the Disneycartoon but our Parisian heroes themselves.
After having played some gigs, being featured on a Joy Division tribute-cd, we can even tell you that a new album by Little Nemo will be soon a fact!

www.myspace.com/touchingpop

SOUNDS YOU MIGHT NEVER HEAR.... : VICE VERSA

Kind of found new inspiration for The Original Sin with some new items (I kid you not, you have to thank Stephanie de Monaco for that, I'll send the kisses though).
So in this section I wanna introduce you to some stuff most of you have never heard of.
Vice Versa were a band in the 70's that came from Sheffield and anyone who cites that town knows that it will be something industriallike cuz after all this city breeds the likes of Human League, Cabaret Voltaire and million others.
Vice Versa were such a band.
Musically it was a lo-fi minimal synththing with vocals that were close to Ian Curtis.
With regular (genius) saxophone-interludes you might think of a band named Clock DVA.
They only released a tape named "8 Aspects of" which was produced by the once to be legendary Trevor Horn.
Vice Versa would be legendary too one day as some years later they stood on Top Of The Pops, but this time they were called ABC and they were shooting poison arrows to our hearts!!!