The Cleaners From Venus give us the news from July on their new EP.

 By Henry Lipput

"I read the news today" sang John Lennon in "A Day In The Life."

Martin Newell, of the long-time British band The Cleaners From Venus, has been reading the news as well and wants to share it with us on the Cleaners’ latest EP July (Bandcamp). 

Newell, a well-respected iconic/ironic DIY legend, is known as the Jangling Man, a song from his great 1993 album The Greatest Living Englishman as well the title of an in-the-works documentary of his career funded by a Kickstarter campaign.

And he doesn’t disappoint on July fronting The Cleaners From Venus although he may not be fronting as much as being a one-man band. As the Bandcamp page notes, Newell  is both “muse and Word-sick“ and he recorded the tracks at Chez Martin “between tea-breaks and sleeping.“

The lead-off track “Statues” blends the jangle with the rattle of today’s news. The line “A virus brings a planet to its knees” makes it clear where Newell is going and he continues with “protests on the breeze” and statues tumbling. The light-hearted popster is nowhere to be found and the guitar solo is full of crunch. 

The dazzling “Golden Lion Of The Sun,” however, is the sound of classic Newell and would have found a fitting spot on his wonderful The Off White Album, the follow-up to Englishman. “King Inglorious” is the tale of a cad trying to make his case for not being hit in the head with a pan yet again. When he’s told “You are a fraud / Strutting around like a lord” it’s hard not to think how the description might fit any number of politicians. And the instrumental “Tricky Customer, Johnny Tomorrow” is the theme song for the sci-fi television series that has yet to be pitched to a streaming service.

Next time: Willie Nile x 2

On his debut solo album Gary Olson is trumpeting his indie pop credentials

 By Henry Lipput

Gary Olson could have named his solo debut album Swoon but it was already taken by Prefab Sprout. So he named it after himself but the self-titled release (Tapete Records) is an absolutely gorgeous collection that will make you swoon upon hearing it.

Olson was one of the founders and mainstays of the Brooklyn-based indie pop legends Ladybug Transistor. Since that band ceased operations Olson has worked as an engineer recording other artists. He released a single two years ago (the song “The Old Twin” is included on Gary Olson) and the self-titled album came out earlier this year.

Olson worked on the album over a period of eight years in his home studio in Brooklyn as well as another in Hayland, Norway, where Ole Johannes Åleskjær and his brother Jorn Åleskjær have the Tune-J studio. Basic tracks were recorded in Norway and then brought back to Flatbush for added vocals, horns, and strings.  The recordings would then return to Norway for producer Ole to finish the tracks. 

It’s fitting that the first song, “Navy Boats,” on Gary Olson mentions the past (“What a season / 1890”) because the whole album have a feeling of being from another time. 

The arrangements for “Navy Boats” are a template used throughout the album with a gently strummed guitar, a delicate vocal from Olson, wonderful string arrangements (George Martin fans take note), and Olson’s trademark trumpet playing. There are also lovely backing vocals by Suzanne Nienaber of Pale Lights which give some of the songs a Prefab Sprout (yeah, I went there again) feel. 

In addition to "Navy Boats" other highlights include the gems“Giovanna Please,”  “Postcard From Lisbon, and "All Points North.” The whole album has a lightness of touch than makes it a joy to listen to.

“The Old Twin” is one of the few out-and-out upbeat songs on the album; it doesn't rock as much as sway gently from side to side. “Afternoon Into Evening” and "A Dream From A Memory" are two tracks that sound like they are being played by a full band and the closest to being Ladybug Transistor songs. 

Next time: The Cleaners From Venus give us the news from July on their new EP.

A New Single From The Shop Window

 By Henry Lipput

The very cool pop tune “Evacuate” is the fourth single from The Shop Window, a band from Kent in the UK that consists of Carl Mann (vocals/guitars), Simon ‘Syd’ Oxlee (vocals/keys), Martin Corder (bass), and Phil Elphee (drums). 

“Evacuate” opens with a single finger on a synth keyboard and the vocals begin with the song’s chorus (not unlike the arrangement for “She Loves You”): “Everything I do, I do for you / So calm down, calm down / Evacuate this anxious state and keep calm.” Described by the band as “evoking nostalgia” it’s a "warm hug sounding like today from yesteryear.” 

After the chorus, the band is in full swing and it’s a joyful noise. One of the sounds this song recalls is the music of the land Down Under. Carl Mann has spent nine years in nine different places including New Zealand and the sound of that country has rubbed off on him. I’m thinking specifically of The Chills but there’s also some fine jangle from around the world that can remind you of bands from The Smiths to (insert the name of your favorite current jangle band here.)

Three of the four singles The Show Window released in the past months, including “Evacuate,” will be on their forthcoming album The State Of Being Human. 

Next time: On his debut solo album Gary Olson is trumpeting his indie pop credentials.