Girlsville: The Story of The Delmonas & The Headcoatees - The Queens of the Medway Delta by Saskia Holling (Spinout Publications) Review by Ms Sheringham-Boom

 

I have been waiting for this book "Girlsville" for what seems like forever so I was over the moon to find a copy dropping through the letterbox a few weeks ago. Before I go any further, I should declare that I was asked to contribute to the book by the author Saskia Holling. I was thrilled to be asked and it was an absolute honour to be part of a book that so badly needed to be written. Saskia had mentioned that she was in the process of writing a book about women involved in the Medway music scene, one of the main reasons being that unfortunately these women had mostly been ignored or only briefly covered by previous authors. For example, "The Kids Are All Square - Medway Punk and Beyond 1977-85" (pre-Headcoatees times) by Bob Collins & Ian Snowball does mention The Delmonas somewhat in passing yet none of the female voices of the band are heard, Maybe they weren’t asked to contribute, who knows? I haven’t read "Do It Yourself: A History of Music in Medway" by Stephen H Morris, so can’t comment on that, but have sadly heard similar things said. Time to put that right? You bet. Saskia herself has been involved in music since the 1990’s and the book gives the reader a glimpse into her own musical life having made her escape from a small Scottish island to form her Riot Grrl band Sally Skull. She then went onto Lord Rochester and Big Russ & Lightnin' Hollins (with her partner Russ Wilkins of The Milkshakes and The Wildebeests) and latterly The Nettelles. Indeed, not a musical heritage to be sniffed at. 

Sarah (Ludella Black) on stage with Billy Childish & CTMF in 2016

Here she relates the stories of the women of two of the most important bands in post-1960's U.K. Garage & Beat history, The Delmonas and Thee Headcoatees. Meet Hilary, Louise, Sarah, Debbie, Holly and Kyra. The story of these wonderful women (told in two parts) is warm, amusing, dark, joyous, and lots in-between. Saskia has clearly gained the trust of these women and there is a stark similarity in their musical experiences. The frustration, the not being heard and to a certain extent of being controlled. Regrets and resentments can be expected, such is band life. I shed tears when I read these stories because there was a side of their musical lives that I had not anticipated. They were and always will be so much more than the sum of a Billy Childish project. Saskia has evidently carried out her research very thoroughly and has firmly put their stories into context by including musical reviews from those times, not only reviews of their bands, but of a wider variety of female musicians. It clearly shows the pervading misogyny of the male music 'journos' of that era and whatever one’s musical tastes, it makes for very uncomfortable reading. I’m happy that these women found their own ways of being creative. They have all since (and with Debbie The X-Men before) blessed us with numerous musical treasures such as The A-Lines, Ye Nuns, and The Buffets (to name a few) as well as Holly, Sarah and Kyra’s solo careers, in fact a new recording from Kyra is in the offing which is certainly something to get excited about. From start to finish "Girlsville" is an unputdownable read and I must mention the striking cover art provided by Sarah Crouch. Props also to Saskia for including a comprehensive discography, links and references and the book features many previously unseen photos of the band on and off stage, record covers and more.

Kyra on stage with Billy Childish & CTMF in 2016

With many thanks to Ms Sheringham-Boom. Ms Sheringham-Boom is the bassist in Edinburgh's premier purveyors of Garage Rock, Thee Girl Fridays. The book is the first from our friends over at Spinout Publications and you can buy a copy directly from them at their on-line store here. For your listening pleasure don't forget our Medway music related Retrosonic Podcast interview specials with Billy Childish, Ian Greensmith (Vic Templar), Graham Day, Wolf Howard, Allan Crockford & Viv Bonsels of The Galileo 7 and Ian Ballard from Damaged Goods Records. All episodes can be downloaded at our Soundcloud site or streamed/listened to at Spotify or Apple Podcasts all for free.

The Nettelles - Ms Sheringham-Boom Reviews their New Album "Do You Believe In..." (Back To Beat Records)

Being a resident of Edinburgh I’ve been lucky to see The Nettelles play most of their gigs here, and was certainly in attendance at their first and last shows. It was always a pleasure to see this band live because of their contagious energy in doing what they did best; playing trashy girl-gang garage-punk. In this small city they were the band I had always looked up to and the band I wanted to be in. "Do You Believe In..." (released on the Norwegian label, Back To Beat Records) is a fantastically put together LP; artwork by friends Danny Carr & Bruce Brand and the sleeve notes, written by Lenny Helsing, are a fitting tribute to singer/songwriter and guitarist Clare Campbell, who sadly lost her life following a long battle with cancer in August this year. With production by Russ Wilkins plus offspring and partners helping with vocals and photography and recorded at band member Angus McPake’s prestigious Ravencraig Studios, this LP is truly a family affair. Onto the music, and there’s a few choice covers inside the tangerine fuzz forest if you dare to delve in, notably a cracking version of "Get Off The Road" from Herschell Gordon Lewis’s 1968 exploitation flick "She Devil On Wheels" and ‘66 garage-snarler "You Lied To Me Before", originally by The Treez. For me, it’s their self-penned songs where they really shine, and sting. I honestly cannot pick a favourite, but if you like proper garage-punk, then you should go and buy this record because it will not disappoint. Songs like "I Don’t Want To Talk To You", "You Better Go", "I’m Over You" are full of attitude, and I know that Clare was a huge fan of garage big sisters The Brood and The Pandoras (pre-hard rock phase), and I can hear their influence in her songs. Tracks like "Wasn’t Meant To Be" and "Baba Yaga" are both angsty teen rants. The darkly psychedelic sounds (think The Red Crayola rather than Sgt. Pepper) of "The Incredible Disappearing Woman" clearly has a deeper message. Overall, it’s rollocking good Rock 'n' Roll, no frills and no gimmicks required. Get yourself stung!
- Ms Sheringham-Boom, December 2020

You can hear The Nettelles debut single "We Are The Nettelles" (released on Spinout Nuggets Records) in Episode 31 of Retrosonic Podcast. Listen/stream/download directly below:

Retrosonic Podcast · Retrosonic 31 "Rumble In The Jungle A-Go-Go - A Hipsville and New Music Special

All proceeds of the LP will be donated to Clare’s nominated charities, MacMillan Cancer Support and Girls Rock School Edinburgh. You can order the album from The Nettelle's web-site here or from the Back To Beat Records Bandcamp site here. With thanks to Ms Sheringham-Boom. Ms Sheringham-Boom is the bassist in Edinburgh's premier purveyors of Garage Rock, Thee Girl Fridays.

Groovy Uncle "The Man Who Calls The Shots" - Amy K-B on the 8th Album from Glenn Prangnell's Musical Collective

Groovy Uncle "The Man Who Calls The Shots"

The 8th album from Glenn Prangnell's musical collective Groovy Uncle takes its title from the opening track, which, much like 2014's "Persuaded" could be the opening to an alternate universe James Bond film. It's all here, the John Barry-esque strings, the creeping bassline and the majestic purr of Miss Modus' vocals. There's a recurring filmic theme to this album; "Magic Happens" brings to mind Audrey Hepburn swooshing through Central Park in a pastel coloured suit to a Burt Bacharach soundtrack and instrumentals "Guitardis" and "Return to Guitardis" reimagine the same melody though the filter of 60's sci-fi soundtrack and gypsy jazz respectively. As always on a Groovy Uncle album there's a real mix of styles; if you don't like one song (unlikely) there'll be another one along in couple of minutes and it'll sound totally different to the last. Glenn told me that this comes from his appreciation of Beatles albums, and when you think that on Abbey Road "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" nestled snugly in between "Something" and "Oh! Darling" it makes perfect sense. For all that Groovy Uncle isn't limited by genre or style, there is very much a quality control process at work and if it's not right, it doesn't make the album. I asked Glenn if he writes with a specific singer in mind, and he told me that generally the song comes first and he rarely sits down with the intention of writing a particular style for a particular performer. Scottish songstress Miss Modus has appeared on both "Persuaded" and "Meanwhile Back in Medieval Britain" and her songs on this album showcase her voice perfectly, from the theatricals of the title track, to the chirpy, sunny pop song "Hedging my Bets'" and the wistful sweetness of "Heathen Child". She's a fabulously versatile singer and it's great to hear her take on so many different styles. 

 

Poster Artwork by Jonathan Ash

There are as usual lots of other Groovy Uncle regulars involved in "The Man Who Calls The Shots", including Wolf Howard and Mole Lambert on drums, Nick Rice on bass, Bruce Brand sharing guitar duties with Glenn and a host of other musical guests. There's even an appearance from gypsy jazz quartet Lost Revellers whom Glenn invited to play on "Sounds a Lot Like Me" and "Return to Guitardis". Lyrically, "The Man Who Calls The Shots" provides the happy blend of whimsy and acerbic humour that we've come to expect from Groovy Uncle; songs like "Soup" and 'God on a Bike" provide some giggles and balance the bittersweet of "Not a Single Word" and "Sounds A Lot Like Me". Whilst chatting to Glenn about the album I took the opportunity to ask just how the recording process works on a Groovy Uncle song and whilst the personnel may change one thing is always the same; they record together, the old fashioned way. "The Man Who Calls The Shots" was recorded at Ranscombe Studios and Glenn tells me that for him the camaraderie of working together in a studio is all part of the fun. Purchasers of "The Man Who Calls The Shots" also get treated to four bonus tracks on CD and download, three of which are reworkings of Groovy Uncle songs from "Play Something We Know" and "Persuaded", and a new version of "Days I Care To Remember" by The Offbeats, all sung by Miss Modus. 'The beauty of Groovy Uncle, really,' says Glenn, 'is that I can do whatever the fuck I like'. There probably aren't many musicians who can honestly say that; he's not limited by genre, style, choice of vocalist or musicians, and as if that wasn't enough Groovy Uncle records are released on his own label, Trouserphonic. Glenn really does get to call the shots, and with music of this quality long may that continue. Amy K-B, April 2020 

"The Man Who Calls The Shots" is out on vinyl, CD and download via Trouserphonic 11th May. For details on how to order please check out the excellent Groovy Uncle official web-site here. 

Poster Artwork by Jonathan Ash Art - to see more examples of Jonathan's artwork please visit the web-site here.