Retrosonic Podcast with Music Photographer Paul Slattery on The Smiths, Joy Division, Thee Headcoats, Penetration, KaS Product and more...

Welcome to this special edition of Retrosonic Podcast where we talk to the legendary music photographer Paul Slattery about some of the recent books and records to use some of his iconic pictures. There's Johnny Marr's new book "Marr's Guitars" and Paul pays tribute to The Smiths' bassist Andy Rourke who sadly passed away recently. There's news of Paul's recent meeting with Mona Soyoc from KaS Product in France and their new compilation album. Penetration and Invisible Girls frontwoman Pauline Murray has included some of Paul's photos in her promisong forthcoming autobiography "Life's A Gamble". Then there's the comprehensive Subhumans book "Silence Is No Reaction" by Ian Glasper. The shortlived but influential band Empire featuring Bob Derwood Andrews and Mark Laff of Generation X used Paul's pics for their "Expensive Sound" album which was a favourite of Johnny Marr and John Squire and was an inspiration on Fugazi and the Washington DC Hardcore scene. Damaged Goods Records will reissue Thee Headcoats' classic album "Heavens To Murgatroyd" with new cover photography by Paul. Then we discuss the upcoming Joy Division walking tour and talk in Stockport which coincodes with Paul's book "Joy Division at Strawberry Studios". Paul also picks his favourite Joy Division track which also happens to feature on the most expensive record in his collection. Then Paul discusses his love of the German Electronic and New Wave 'Neue Deutsche Welle' scene and looks back on a special night in Blois in France with The Flamin' Groovies and local Pub Rock heroes Sharpers. Please kindly support the Bands, Artists and Authors by clicking on the highlighted links or images below to find out further information and details on how to buy the books, records and tickets to events discussed in this episode. Thanks! Listen in below...

Retrosonic Podcast · Music Photographer Paul Slattery Part 1: The Smiths, Joy Division, Penetration, Subhumans & More...

Tracklisting and Links

Pauline Murray

1. Penetration "Stone Heroes" 

 2. Penetration "Beat Goes On"

Penetration, Pauline, Robert, Neale, Willesden Cavern, 27 March 1978

 Pauline Murray "Life's a Gamble" (Omnibus Press) 

3. KaS Product "Fever Lust"

Kas Product, Spatsz and Mona Soyoc, 18th Arondissement Paris, France 7 August 1982

4. Sharpers "Nobody Knows"

Sharpers, Joe and Simon at Maison de Begon, Blois, France, 17 June 2015

5. Empire "All These Things"

6. The Smiths "Girl Afraid"

Johnny Marr "Marr's Guitars" (Thames & Hudson) 

Paul Slattery "The Smiths: The Early Years" (Omnibus Press)

7. Joy Division "Dead Souls"

Stockport Music Map Walking Tour & Joy Division Talk with Paul Slattery

Paul Slattery "Joy Division at Strawberry Studios" (Legends Publishing) 

8. Fehlfarben "Gott Sei Dank Nicht In England"

9. Subhumans "Terrorist In Waiting"

Subhumans, Dick, Trotsky, Grant, Bruce, Warminster, 1 May 1982

Ian Glasper "Silence Is No Reaction - 40 Years of Subhumans" (PM Press/Earth Island Books)

10. Thee Headcoats "We're Gone" (Damaged Goods Records)

Look out for Part 2 coming soon where Paul discusses some of the early local gigs he attended in 1960's West London by The Yardbirds, The Others and Stevie Wonder, then he pays tribute to David Crosby of the Byrds and Jeff Beck. He talks about his musical hero Link Wray and how he fianlly got to meet and photograph him and explains about his photographic contributions to the new Grammy winning box-set from The Grateful Dead and plays his favourite Dead track. Please support the Artists, Musicians and Authors featured in his episode and if you like what you hear please click the highlighted links and photos above to find out more information and buy the products. All photos copyright Paul Slattery. Don't miss an episode - you can subscribe to Retrosonic Podcast for free at SoundCloud, Spotify or Apple Podcasts/iTunes.

The Courettes, Oh! Gunquit and The Paul Groovy Pop Art Experience at the Wedgewood Rooms Portsmouth, April 6th 2023

The Courettes, living up to their reputation as the hardest working Garage Rock 'n' Roll band in showbiz, were back in the U.K. again for a short headline tour. These gigs were sandwiched between their first ever visit to America and their appearance at the Roskilde Festival which then leads onto a full Danish tour. There really is no rest for the wicked as yet more tour dates have been pencilled into Martin and Flavia's diary so it won't be long before you get the chance to see the band play again, no matter where in the world you are. They were so busy that I didn't even have chance to arrange an interview with the duo at their stunning Portsmouth show. I wanted to discuss their acclaimed mini-tour of Japan in the Autumn of last year but hopefully, we can speak to them soon about their experiences for a future Retrosonic Podcast. We decided to go down to Portsmouth to see the band, mainly as they have often claimed that they get the best crowd reaction there and also, another of Retro Man Blog's favourite bands Oh! Gunquit were supporting. 

Opening up proceedings on the night were local band Paul Groovy & The Pop Art Experience, who we have played on Retrosonic Podcast before but never managed to see play live. I'm glad we did in the end though as they proved to be the perfect appetiser on a tasty looking bill promoted by the enthusiastic Chris Abbott and his team at Pompey Punk N' Roll. The Groovies, led by the charismatic and energetic frontman Mr Groovy himself, treated us to some impressive original songs and a selection of cover versions of a few Nuggets classics that went down well with the crowd and really set the tone nicely. Their "He's a Liar" single is a big favourite here, more so as it was released by our good friends at Spinout Nuggets, I'm looking forward to some more records soon.

Of course, Oh! Gunquit never let you down with their nice 'n' sleazy Bop, Rock & Soul, guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a bounce in your step. Their voodoo infused swampy gumbo sound blends a mix of influences into their very own unique style. Vocalist Tina is wearing a rather risqué outfit that might need a bit of photo-shopping to pass the social media censors and is her usual live-wire self. Juggling the trumpet, hula-hoop, maracas and for "Whiplash" a scary looking cat o' nine tails that she brandishes at bandmates and audience alike, she is a constant blur of high-kicking knee-dropping energy. Tina spends a lot of time down among the crowd and if she's not literally whipping them into shape, then she is crawling between their legs or encouraging them to "Dance Like F*ck". Someone really should make a Monkees style cartoon series about Oh! Gunquit as all the band members are charismatic characters in their own right. There's the sultry Veronica on bass, Erg powering away behind the drums, Luciano straddling the barrier between stage and audience as he adds some soulful sax to the mix and of course there's Simon Wild, who must be one of the most innovative guitarists on the scene right now. Their distinct and individual personalities really do add to the colourful eye-popping explosion of an Oh! Gunquit live show. The band have been in the studio working on new material, so that's certainly something to look forward to.

Then, it's the turn of The Courettes and they are probably one of the very few bands who could follow on from Oh! Gunquit - surely a daunting task. But, follow on they do and considering there is just the two of them, husband and wife Martin Couri on drums and Flavia on guitar and lead vocals - they do indeed raise the ante and treat the packed out Wedgewood Rooms to a visceral wall of sound and vision. Despite the recent critically acclaimed album "Back In Mono" concentrating more on the Phil Spector/Beach Boys harmonies and layered production - live, on stage, The Courettes have lost none of their original energy and fuzzed-up Garage Rock  assault on the senses. It's great to see a band on the up, from the first time I saw them at a Weirdsville Club Night at the Fiddlers Elbow in Camden, to the Louisiana in Bristol, a matinee at The Prince Albert in Brighton - then their biggest London show at the Lexington but now they are packing out the 400 capacity Wedgewood Rooms - it'll be interesting to see where they will play next time they are over here.

The set is packed full of great tunes, Martin is a phenomenal drummer - a non-stop blur of energy, managing to provide impressive backing vocals even if the non-stop touring is messing with his timing, although luckily not the drumming kind - "It's Friday night, let's go crazy Pompey!" he keeps shouting, until the crowd and Flavia remind him politely that it's actually Thursday night. Flavia hops, skips and jumps about the stage in between singing and peeling off some blistering guitar. ""R.I.N.G.O.", "Edge of My Nerves" and "Night Time" are stand-out tracks and they only slow the pace for "Daydream", which Flavia sings in faultless Japanese. Yes, Damaged Goods Records released the Japanese version on 7" vinyl especially for the band's Japan tour dates and we were honoured to get a dedication on the night for our help with the cover art, translation and hooking the band up with friends in Tokyo, not forgetting recommending Poor Cow, run by Fifi of Teengenerate and easily the best Punk Rock 'n' Roll bar ever. During the last song "All About You", Flavia leaps over the barrier to crowd-surf while impressively still managing to play guitar, it's a great moment. Then finally for the encore The Courettes are joined onstage by all the bands, promoter Chris Abbott and the irrepressible driver, roadie and cheerleader Patrice, for a great run through of "Hop The Twig".  It was a thoroughly entertaining time - great venue, great crowd and of course great bands - all in all just what a perfect night of live music should be all about.

All photos copyright Retro Man Blog 2023. You can check out more videos from the night by subscribing to our Retromanblog65 YouTube channel. Don't forget our Retrosonic Podcast interview special with The Courettes is still available in our archives at Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts or direct from Soundcloud below.

Retrosonic Podcast · Presenting the fabulous Courettes

Please check out the following links for further information. 

The Courettes

Damaged Goods Records

Oh! Gunquit

Paul Groovy & The Pop Art Experience

Paul Groovy Radio Show

Spinout Nuggets Records

Pompey Punk N' Roll Promotions

Wedgewood Rooms Portsmouth 

Retro Man Blog YouTube channel

Retrosonic Podcast

Retrosonic Podcast Episode 48 "Why Don't You Smile Now?" with Special Guests Buddy Ascott & Rob Green of The Fallen Leaves. Features Exclusive New Unreleased Song by Thee Headcoats Sect

Steve from Retro Man Blog welcomes special guests Buddy Ascott and Rob Green from The Fallen Leaves into the studio to discuss their upcoming tribute and fundraising show in the memory of Deerstalker hat wearing guitar legend, Don Craine of Downliners Sect at The Half Moon Putney on Sunday August 21st. To help raise awareness of this very special event, Damaged Goods Records have very kindly granted us an exclusive unreleased new song by Thee Headcoats Sect featuring Billy Childish, Bruce Brand and original Downliners Sect band member Keith Grant. This episode also features news of Buddy's recent recording sessions with Speakeasy, The 79'ers and The Fallen Leaves and another charity show with Vox Pop. Steve chats about some of the gigs he's attended since the last episode including Baby Shakes at the Pump It Up Power Pop Weekender and The Undertones at the Camden Electric Ballroom where we also praise the merits of vocalist Paul McLoone. Then there's the stunning performance by Love Revisited with Johnny Echols at the Garage and The Gruesomes first ever U.K. show at Weirdsville. Steve also talks about his visit to Spinroad Vinyl Factory studio and pressing plant in Sweden and the problems for small bands and labels getting their vinyl pressed. There's music from The Masonics, The Undertones, Downliners Sect, Baby Shakes, Vox Pop, The 79'ers, Love, The Gruesomes, The Fallen Leaves and of course, that very special Thee Headcoats Sect exclusive! You can subscribe to Retrosonic Podcast for free at Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts or direct from our SoundCloud site below:

Retrosonic Podcast · Episode 48 "Why Don't You Smile Now?" with special guests Buddy Ascott & Rob Green

For tickets to the Don Craine Tribute Show at The Half Moon Putney on Sunday August 21st, please contact the venue at this link. Tickets and info for the Sound of Woking event can be found here. Here's the full track-listing to this episode, please click on the highlighted links for further information on the featured bands and how you can purchase their music.

The 79'ers "Maybe Tomorrow" (Live)

Vox Pop "Cor Blimey"

The Undertones "Dig Yourself Deep"

Baby Shakes "Really, Really"

The Gruesomes "Stop It, Girl"

Downliners Sect "Why Don't You Smile Now"

Thee Headcoats Sect "The Baker Street Irregulars" EXCLUSIVE NEW SONG

The Masonics "When You Cry At Night"

The Fallen Leaves "Green Eyes F.C."

Love "She Comes In Colours"

With sincere thanks to Buddy, Rob Green, Rob Symmonds and Ian at Damaged Goods Records. 

Podcover star: Amy K-B.

The Courettes at The Louisiana, Bristol, June 1st 2022

The Courettes at The Louisiana Bristol by Retro Man Blog

The Courettes, probably the hardest working couple in show business, are back again. It doesn’t seem like five minutes since I was down the front of a packed out Lexington in London witnessing another mind-blowing performance from Martin & Flava Couri, the Danish husband/Brazilian wife duo. However, here I am again down the front of another packed out Courettes show, this time at The Louisiana in the fabulous city of Bristol. It’s a music city and there are members of bands and DJ’s all around me. I see Mimi & The Miseries, Ananda and Glauco from AlterModerns and Craig & Alex from the Frathouse among other familiar faces from many Hipsville and Weirdsville events; it’s a very friendly and welcoming crowd to us out of towners. The Courettes seem to be on one never-ending tour, Bristol is the first date of an 18 shows in 18 nights jaunt around England and Scotland following hot on the heels of a phone book length list of dates in Europe and Scandinavia. “We hate days off”, Flavia told me in our thoroughly entertaining Retrosonic Podcast special, which ironically, had to be recorded on two separate occasions as they were so busy. 

The Courettes at The Louisiana Bristol by Retro Man Blog

The Courettes at The Louisiana Bristol by Retro Man Blog

It was great to catch up with Flavia and Martin again, after all they are two of the nicest and most positive people you could wish to meet. Of course, they look fabulous too. When we meet for breakfast in a café the next morning, they both appear looking as if they are going to step on stage and they draw admiring, awestruck glances from people tucking into their pastries and cappuccinos around us. Tour van driver, cheerleader and general fixer Patrice Picard of Raw Fun and The Cannibals is also present and he shows off his leather jacket emblazoned with The Courettes logo. Both Martin and Flavia have similar jackets and they presented one to Fabrice as a gift at the start of the tour but underneath his logo Martin had added ‘Cannibal’. A nice touch, and as I help them with their luggage and gear I wonder when I will qualify to wear a leather Courettes jacket? I’m not sure that I would look a fraction as cool though!

 

The Courettes and Patrice at The Louisiana Bristol by Retro Man Blog

The Courettes at The Louisiana Bristol by Retro Man Blog

So why are they back so soon? Well, they’ve only gone and released another album haven’t they – the stunning collection “Back In Mono: B-Sides and Outtakes”. Most bands stick these kind of records out unheralded, often due to contractual obligations but not The Courettes, no chance, they go and build yet another tour around the release. You thought their wall of sound masterpiece “Back In Mono” was great. Well, yes so did we, as it was Retro Man Blog’s Album of The Year 2021. In fact, it was so great that they had to leave off eight superb songs all now handily collected in yet another beautifully packaged Damaged Goods Records release. There are not many bands I can think of who can release an album of B-Sides and unreleased material of such quality. Swedish Psych-Rockers, The Soundtrack of Our Lives spring to mind and their immense “A Present From The Past” which was far superior even to the record company rush-job “Best of” compilation “Golden Greats Part 1”. After that, I’m struggling. So yes, “Back In Mono: B-Sides and Outtakes” does deserve its own tour. 

 

The Courettes at The Louisiana Bristol by Retro Man Blog

The Courettes at The Louisiana Bristol by Retro Man Blog

Back to The Louisiana, Martin and Flavia take the stage, unfortunately, the lights don’t seem to be working and it’s apparent after the high-octane opening double hit of “Hoodoo Hop” and “The Boy I Love” that the air-conditioning isn’t working either. It’s like a sauna and they’ve only played two songs. The temperature rises even higher as the hits keep coming, “I’ve Been Walking” and the classic ode to Richard Starkey “R.I.N.G.O” are fantastic. Around me, people are dancing and fanning themselves with T-Shirts at the same time. Patrice asks me if I want a beer from backstage but all I can think about is water. Sweat is dripping off the walls and someone shouts out to the be-suited Martin “take your jacket off!” He declines, always the cool dude. Martin is a superb drummer and the perfect foil for Flavia who leaps into the crowd and revels in the adoration. She encourages the girls to get to come forward and comments that more bands and venues should encourage a safe space at the front. More great tracks crank up the pressure cooker atmosphere such as “Edge of My Nerves” and then the ultimate fuck-it-let’s-dance nihilistic statement “We’re Gonna Die”, which is very apt as I think I am going to die, only from heat exhaustion, not from excessive partying. 

The Courettes at The Louisiana Bristol by Retro Man Blog

The band deliver a faultless set-list crammed full of their classic Phil Spector meets The Cramps meets The Shangri-La’s meets the Ramones nuggets. “Boom Dynamite” and “T-C-H-A-U” are perfect call and response crowd participation party pieces and they end with a blistering “Hop The Twig”, Flavia giving her guitar to a member of the audience to have a bash on. It’s a beautifully chaotic ending to another quite magnificent Courettes show and I would urge you to check the remaining tour dates and get out and see them if you can. Chances are though; if you miss them this time round, I’m damn sure they will be back very soon. Let’s bloody hope so. Check out the official Courettes website here for tour dates, further information and merchandise. “Back In Mono: B-Sides and Outtakes” can be ordered from Damaged Goods Records here. More videos from the show can be found at our Retro Man Blog YouTube channel here. Finally, don’t forget our special “Retrosonic Podcast presents the Fabulous Courettes” episode, which is available at our archives on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iTunes and SoundCloud or directly below:

Retrosonic Podcast · Presenting the fabulous Courettes

"A Little More Time With…The Senior Service" with guest vocalist Rachel Lowrie. Ms Sheringham-Boom reviews the new 10" Vinyl E.P. out now on Damaged Goods Records

"Instrumentalists find their voice" by Ms Sheringham-Boom (January 2022)

Happy 2022 anyone, anyone? This year has gotten off to a shaky start, and like everyone else, I am totally over this pandemic. It is however shaping up in one respect due to the release of some much-anticipated new music. Hopefully more widespread live events going ahead will follow across the UK and further afield in the not-too-distant future. Hat’s off to the fortunate ones who have managed to continue with their music throughout this time. There is a very welcome return to one band who managed to do just that at Ranscombe Studios in June last year. They are of course our favourite instrumentalists, The Senior Service (who feature Medway musicians Graham Day, Wolf Howard, Darryl Hartley and Jon Barker) whose much anticipated mini-LP is due for release on the Damaged Goods label this Friday 14th January. The band cordially invite us to spend "A Little More Time With…" Don’t mind if I do. But wait, there are vocals you say? 

The story goes that around year ago, The Senior Service (on a drunken night out) decided that they wanted to add a ‘little more’ to their instrumental sound. Enter Rachel Lowrie a local singer/songwriter who has previously recorded with a fair few fellow Medway stalwarts. Cited as their best work to date, four of the tracks on "A Little More Time With…" were written with Rachel in mind, and in a recent interview with Glenn Prangnell for the Groovy Uncle Podcast she declared that it’s ‘probably the best recording I’ve ever done.’ Who are we, readers, to argue with that? So, I put the question to Rachel about the collaboration 

Q: How did you feel about being approached by the band to sing vocals for them? 

Rachel: We were at Mr Unswitchable’s Open Mic night at Rochester Social Club in 2019 and I sang "24 Hours from Tulsa" (me and my ukulele) with some level of intensity. Jon Barker approached me about singing on their album that evening. I wasn’t sure the recording would happen until it had. And it’s a thing because they have made instrumental music and now vocals. I wondered what the songs would be like. I felt like I got a sneak preview.

Q: Were you familiar with the band’s sound, the individual band members, and their musical heritage?
Rachel: Yes of course, but I’m lazy with the details. I have grown up and lived in Medway most of my life, so I knew their names and band names. I’ve been to various gigs over the years, Graham Day & The Forefathers, The Daggermen, The Buff Medways, and The Senior Service etc.

Q: What was it like to be part of the recording process?
Rachel: I got the tracks and lyrics and turned up and sang to be honest, and it was all quite nice. As a bunch they were kind and welcoming and they laughed a lot - they have been mates for years so it felt like a relaxed space to come into. I was excited-nervous of course. I really like the songs they wrote. And I enjoy being at Jim’s studio (Jim Riley, Ranscombe Studios).

Q: What can we expect from you at the launch at the end of January, are you excited about it?
Rachel: I’m just looking forward to singing the songs live, should be fun.

Then there’s Darryl Hartley. As well as playing bass he also designed the fabulously evocative artwork for the cover sleeve. I asked him about his inspiration for this… 

Darryl: The sleeve artwork follows the previous designs we’ve had. I really like the Saul Bass posters of the sixties, so we’ve adopted that look as we believe it suits the music. I think with this record we were going for a jazz/lounge type feel to the whole package, so it ties in nicely with that too. It’s important that the artwork compliments the music and the 10" format also helps with this.

…and whilst he was there, I asked him about his song, the cool and collected "Just A Little Time".

Darryl: "Just A Little Time’ was written some years ago when I was going through a bit of a Bacharach phase or at least trying to go a bit Bacharach (I’d never claim that I’d ever reach those lofty heights). Years later when we decided we were going to do this record I remembered the song and thought it would work well with a female vocal. I had in my head a Dusty Springfield big ballad type of thing, a bit of brass, a dramatic chorus. It has come out pretty successfully. There are some unintentionally Carole King elements to it, which I’m not going to complain about!

Indeed. In fact, each band member has contributed to the writing of the songs on this EP, and it is difficult to choose a favourite, so I won’t. As well as the originals the band have included two covers of more obscure instrumentals: John Schroeder’s "Lovin' You Girl" and "Mysterious Land" by The Chris Lamb Orchestra. With this mini-LP you can expect the sublime, the nonchalant, and music of cinematic proportions; Hammond draped around brass, a sometimes-explosive guitar complimented by a driving rhythm section, and the stirring voice of a cool chanteuse.

You can hear a song from the new E.P. in our latest episode of Retrosonic Podcast.

Retrosonic Podcast · Episode 45 "Waking Up The Band"

"A Little More Time With…The Senior Service" the new 10" Vinyl E.P. with guest vocalist Rachel Lowrie is available to order from Damaged Goods Records here. For more info on The Senior Service please check out their Facebook page here. With thanks to Ms Sheringham-Boom. Ms Sheringham-Boom is the bassist in Edinburgh's premier purveyors of Garage Rock, Thee Girl Fridays.

Retrosonic Podcast Special Episode "Presenting The Fabulous Courettes"

Photo by Steven Tagg-Randall

Welcome to the brand new Retrosonic Podcast "Presenting The Fabulous Courettes". In this comprehensive and highly entertaining episode, I talk to Flavia and Martin of The Courettes as they reflect on their hugely successful seventeen date U.K. tour and the amazing reaction to their latest album "Back In Mono". In part one, backstage at The Lexington, we cover the pressures of dealing with the lockdown, livestreams, the story behind their own Starr Sounds studio, the influence of a fifteen year old singer in Japan and why the album was mixed in Tokyo and the hunt for that elusive wall of sound. In part two I catch up with the couple just after their return home to Denmark and we reflect on the U.K. tour and dealing with COVID restrictions and Brexit. We discuss their favourite shows and crowds, the people who helped them along the way, working with Damaged Goods Records, their stunning artwork and design and imaginative, humorous (and sometimes bizarre...) merchandise, their songwriting process and how personal tragedy has informed the emotional depth of "Back In Mono" and finally, there's the Courettes' Rock 'n' Roll High School! If all that wasn't enough...the episode is generously sound-tracked by wonderful songs from "Back In Mono" and a personal selection of some key tracks in The Courettes career. So, pour yourself a drink, flick the switch to mono, sit back and enjoy the fabulous Courettes!

Retrosonic Podcast · Presenting the fabulous Courettes

Please check out the feature at Retro Man Blog here for a full report on the Lexington show, backstage interview, review of "Back In Mono" and exclusive photographs.

Podcast Track-listing

R.I.N.G.O. from "Back In Mono" & 7" Single

Twinkle Heart by Soleil from "Soleil In Stereo"

Hop The Twig from "Back In Mono" & 7" Single

Trash Can Honey from "Back In Mono"

Want You! Like a Cigarette from "Back In Mono" & 7" Single

Edge of My Nerves from "Back In Mono"

Night Time (The Boy of Mine) from "Back In Mono"

I've Been Walking from "Here Are The Courettes!"

I Wanna Be Your Yoko Ono "Here Are The Courettes!"

The Boy I Love "Here Are The Courettes!"

I Can Hardly Wait from "Back In Mono"

Too Late To Say I'm Sorry from "Back In Mono"

Hey Boy from "Back In Mono"

Misfits & Freaks from "Back In Mono" & Forthcoming 7" Single

With sincere thanks to Flavia and Martin Couri. Podcover Photo by Steven Tagg-Randall, the Archivist of London. For full video of The Courettes at The Lexington please check out the Archivist of London YouTube channel here. For more information on The Courettes please check out their official web-site here. Records and merchandise can also be bought on-line at their official Bandcamp site here. Please also visit Damaged Goods Records for their wonderful Courettes releases and news on the new single. Retrosonic Podcast is on Soundcloud, Spotify, Mixcloud, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts/iTunes. Subscribe now at your favourite platform so you don't miss an episode!

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.

Retrosonic Podcast Episode 39: Be Seeing You - with The Clash, The Courettes, Jetstream Pony, The Prisoners, Fleur, Eight Rounds Rapid and more!

Podcover Star: Flavia Couri/Photo by Martin Couri

Welcome to Episode 39 of Retrosonic Podcast and you can probably tell that we've been watching a lot of TV during the lockdown as there are some musical montages inspired by two of our favourite shows (the original) Star Trek and The Prisoner. So, we have tracks by The Clash, Ron Grainer, The Vapors, The Prisoners, SpizzEnergi, The Times, The Galileo 7, The Wedding Present and William Shatner, yes indeed, Captain Kirk singing The Cramps no less...seriously! Then there's a round-up of some fantastic new releases from Damaged Goods Records with the new single from The Courettes, Bickerton Records give us some superb Dutch Ye-Ye from Fleur and also The Colour Collection and then our busy friends at Spinout Nuggets have yet more great stuff out now from Paul Groovy & The Pop Art Experience and The Hurricanes. The Plastic Pals provide their cinematic new single, there's a track from the excellent debut Jetstream Pony LP and a blistering unreleased taster from the forthcoming album by Eight Rounds Rapid. My original Podcast colleague Adam is back with Sam, the singer/guitarist of his old band The Jetsonics, in a new duo called Keller Machine and there's a track from the first of three EP's by The Cult Figures. Then there's some rip-roaring Punk Rock from The Anabollic Steroids and one of Sweden's first Punk bands, GLO. I hope you enjoy this episode, if you are interested in finding out more information on the bands/artists/record labels or would like to buy any of their music, then please click on the highlighted links below to take you directly to their web-sites. Thanks to all the featured bands and you for listening, be seeing you!

Full Tracklisting:

Ron Grainer "The Prisoner opening sequence"

The Clash "The Prisoner" (Studio version)

The Prisoners "Be On Your Way"

The Vapors "Prisoners" 

The Times "I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape"

The Clash "The Prisoner" (Live version from the Rude Boy movie)
SpizzEnergi "Where's Captain Kirk"

The Galileo 7 "Too Late"

William Shatner "Garbageman"

The Wedding Present "Shatner"

Jetstream Pony "The Very Eyes of Night"

The Cult Figures "Under The Overground"

Fleur "Petit Homme de Papier"

Eight Rounds Rapid "Passive Aggressive"

Paul Groovy & The Pop Art Experience "He's a Liar"

The Hurricanes "Baby Move On"

The Courettes "Want You! Like a Cigarette"

Keller Machine "Mystery Bag"

Anabollic Steroids "Abnormal"

GLO "Bajs!"

The Plastic Pals "Hangin' In The Louvre"

The Colour Collection "Ne Decide Pas Pour Moi"

Podcover Star: Flavia Couri, Photo by Martin Couri (The Courettes). Ms Debbie Sheringham-Boom from the fabulous Thee Girl Fridays has reviewed the latest Spinout Nuggets releases featured in this episode - you can check out her feature here. Retrosonic Podcast has a valid PRS Licence. You can listen/download/stream directly below or via our main Retrosonic archive on Soundcloud or subscribe for free on iTunes so you don't miss an episode!

Retrosonic Podcast · Episode 39 "Be Seeing You!"

Retrosonic Podcast Episode 36 "I've Got Some Action To Give For Free"

Retrosonic Podcast Episode 36 is out now - We're not all retro at Retrosonic...in this episode we feature a Brexit-busting selection of brand new releases from our favourite International, multi-cultural and multi-talented bands and artists, including both sides of the great new single from former Missing Souls frontman Ian Kay. There's superb new material from The Sensation Seekers, Refused, The Schizophonics, Las Aspiradoras, Goodbye Victory Road, Gatuplan, The Flaming Sideburns, Pablo Matisse, Råttanson, The Limiñanas & Étienne Daho, John Hoyles, Then there's a spotlight on new releases from Damaged Goods Records including King Salami & The Cumberland 3, Billy Childish & CTMF, Fabienne Delsol, Graham Day & The Gaolers and The Shadracks. Turn it up!

If you enjoy the music featured in this episode then please do click on the highlighted Band/Artist names below for further information, news on upcoming gig and details on how to buy their music. Here's the track-listing, enjoy!

The Sensation Seekers - "Monkey Paws"
Ian Kay - "A Man Like Me"

The Flaming Sideburns - "Trance Noche"

King Salami & The Cumberland 3 - "Bayou Fever"

The Shadracks - "Things I Hear"

Billy Childish & CTMF - "The Used To Be"

Graham Day & The Gaolers - "Just a Little"

Fabienne Delsol - "So Many Could Not" 

The Limiñanas & Étienne Daho - "One Blood Circle"

Nika - "Good Sunday"

Gatuplan - "Millennial Blues" 

Refused - "Damaged III"

Pablo Matisse - "Human Warmth"

John Hoyles - "Leavin' Tonight"

Råttanson - Small Venue Concerts"

Las Aspiradoras - "Vaya Chapa"

The Schizophonics - "Nine Miles"

Goodbye Victory Road - "We Are The New Wave"

Ian Kay - "Ain't Coming Home" 

Retrosonic Podcast has a valid PRS licence. This Episode's cover star Ian Kay. Photo courtesy Ian Kay. Our full archive is available at our Soundcloud site, featuring all regular episodes 1-36 along with our special dedicated interview episodes with Artists such as Billy Childish, TV Smith, Damian O'Neill from The Undertones, The Fallen Leaves, Graham Day & The Forefathers, That Petrol Emotion/The Everlasting Yeah, Chris Wilson from The Flamin' Groovies, Mattias Hellberg, Ian Person, Fredrik Sandsten, Paul Slattery on Joy Division, Ebbot Lundberg from The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Harley Feinstein from Sparks, Buddy Ascott from The Chords and many more.

The Galileo 7 "There Is Only Now" - Ms Sheringham-Boom in praise of the band's latest LP

The Galileo 7 "There Is Only Now" - Cover by Darryl Hartley

Album number 6 indeed, and I’ll be honest, I have only recently been introduced to The Galileo 7. I’ve been a fan of Crockford and Lambert’s many other bands for a long time, but it was their live performances that really turned me on, so to speak. I was lucky to catch them twice last year; at full velocity at the Fratcave in Hastings, and then at The Lexington in December supporting their mates Graham Day & The Gaolers. They blew me away both times, and I’m happy to say that they are no longer a band on the periphery of my awareness or musical tastes. I was also pleased to hear keyboardist Viv Bonsels taking the lead vocals for their single "Too Late" released in April this year; which is also included on this LP. It’s great to hear Viv adding much more than melodic backing vocals and adept keyboard skills (I remember her singing a brilliant cover of Shocking Blue’s "Send Me A Postcard" in Hastings). In fact the whole band have a shot taking lead vocals over the course of the LP (and not one of them a dud!) the multi-tasking bunch that they are. What I really like about this album is that they produce unselfconscious and unashamedly uplifting ‘60s power pop psych. The songs are all well thought out and multi-layered. There are, upon first listen, overtones of XTC/The Dukes of Stratosphere, the whimsy of early Pink Floyd, The Beatles circa ‘66/’67, possibly lazy comparisons on my part. However they also have a solid underpinning of ‘60s rock driving them forward. Every track is like an injection of sunshine, followed swiftly by a punch. Knockout. 

- Ms Sheringham-Boom, June 2019

The Galileo 7 photographed at The Half Moon Putney by Paul Slattery

Ms Sheringham-Boom is the bassist in Edinburgh based Garage Rock band Thee Girl Fridays. "There Is Only Now" is out now on Damaged Goods Records. You can hear a track from the LP in the latest episode of Retrosonic Podcast which is available on iTunes or directly below.