C86 Show - Indie Pop

Miki Berenyi - Lush & Piroshka - in conversation with David Eastaugh

In April 2022, Berenyi announced the release of her memoir Fingers Crossed, due out in September.

Lush were an English rock band formed in London in 1987. The original line-up consisted of Miki Berenyi (vocals, guitar), Emma Anderson (vocals, guitar), Steve Rippon (bass guitar) and Chris Acland (drums). Phil King replaced Rippon in 1991. They were one of the first bands to have been described with the "shoegazing" label. Following the death of Acland, the group disbanded in 1996.

Keeley in conversation with David Eastaugh

KEELEY was formed in 2020 by former Session Motts singer, guitarist and songwriter Keeley Moss.

New single - “Where The Monster Lives” is the second single from the album, and continues Keeley’s quest to memorialize Inga-Maria Hauser, the teenage German backpacker who was murdered in Northern Ireland in 1988. Dedicated to Inga-Maria Hauser, the murdered teenage German backpacker that Keeley has steadfastly memorialised in song and spirit for the past five years. 

Read The Keeley Chronicles for more info. 

Dunstan Bruce - Chumbawamba - in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://www.aiiy.co.uk

Chumbawamba formed in Burnley in 1982 with an initial line-up of Allan "Boff" Whalley, Danbert Nobacon (born Nigel Hunter), Midge and Tomi, all four previously members of the band Chimp Eats Banana, shortly afterwards joined by Lou Watts

Justin Currie - Del Amitri - in conversation with David Eastaugh

On 2 March 2020, drummer Ash Soan revealed that work on Del Amitri's seventh studio album had begun at Vada Studios, Worcestershire. On 8 April, Justin Currie confirmed that the band finished recording the album "the night before the UK-wide lockdown" began on 24 March

Del Amitri are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in Glasgow in 1980. Between 1985 and 2002, the band released six studio albums. Their 1995 single "Roll to Me" reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Five Del Amitri albums have reached the Top 10 in the UK.^[6] Globally, Del Amitri have sold six million albums.

Tim Pattison - Prolapse - in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://preciousrecordingsoflondon.bandcamp.com

In 1993 the band released two EPs on Cherry Red Records, Crate and Pull Thru Barker, followed in 1994 by the single "Doorstop Rhythmic Bloc" and album Pointless Walks to Dismal Places, which won critical acclaim. The band gained attention for their live performances, particularly for songs like "Tina This Is Matthew Stone", which depicted a dialogue between two furious partners. The songs were not as much sung as they were acted over a musical accompaniment. After leaving Cherry Red records, they then went on to release a variety of singles and EPs on a number of different labels.

Will Carruthers - Spacemen 3 and Spiritualized - in conversation with David Eastaugh

BOOK - Playing the Bass With Three Left Hands

https://willcarruthers.squarespace.com

Will Carruthers is a bassist who has played music with Spacemen 3, Spiritualized, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, Spectrum, and others. 

Tobi Vail - Bikini Kill & The Real Distractions - in conversation with David Eastaugh

The Real Distractions is a co-release between Perennial and K this is international pop underground vol. CXLVIII. Featuring Tobi Vail (Bikini Kill, Frumpies, Spider and the Webs and MODs) as well as scene stalwarts Ricky Meyer (Rik and the Pigs), Peter David Connelly (the mona reels, Bangs, Quayde le Hue) and newcomer KT Ballard.

Bikini Kill is an American punk rock band formed in Olympia, Washington, in October 1990. The group consisted of singer and songwriter Kathleen Hanna, guitarist Billy Karren, bassist Kathi Wilcox, and drummer Tobi Vail. The band pioneered the riot grrrlmovement, with feminist lyrics and fiery performances. Their music is characteristically abrasive and hardcore-influenced. After two full-length albums, several EPs and two compilations, they disbanded in 1997. The band reunited for tours in 2019 and 2022, with Erica Dawn Lyle on guitar in place of Karren.

David Westlake - The Servants - in conversation with David Eastaugh

New album - My Beautiful England - out autumn 2022

David Westlake formed indie band the Servants in 1985 in Hayes, Middlesex, England. The Servants appeared on 1986’s NME-associated C86 compilation, and the band was from 1986 to 1991 the original home of Luke Haines. Haines describes David Westlake's first solo album, 1987's Westlake, as "a minor classic".

Westlake's second solo album, 2002's Play Dusty for Me, was released in a limited issue that quickly sold out but was never re-pressed.^[5]Captured Tracks reissued Play Dusty for Me in LP format on Black Friday, 2015.

Rudy Tambala - A.R. Kane - with David Eastaugh

British musical duo formed in 1986 by Alex Ayuli and Rudy Tambala. After releasing two early EPs to critical acclaim, the group topped the UK Independent Chart with their debut album 69 (1988). Their second album, "i"(1989), was also a top 10 hit. They were also part of the one-off collaboration MARRS, whose surprise dance hit "Pump Up the Volume" was released in 1987. Ayuli is believed to have coined the term "dreampop" in the late 1980s to describe their eclectic sound, which blended distorted guitars, drum machines, and dub production.

The group broke up in 1994. Though their work fell into relative obscurity in subsequent years, they have been characterised by critics as among the most innovative and underrated groups of their era, and recognized as an influence on styles such as shoegaze, trip hop, and post-rock. In 2012, One Little Indian released Complete Singles Collection, which compiled the group's single and EP releases.

Gordon King  - World of Twist - in conversation with David Eastaugh

New book - When Does The Mind-Bending Start? by Gordon King

A short lived 1986 version of World of Twist featured Gordon King (vocalist and co-songwriter), Tony Ogden (co-songwriter), Andy Hobson (Bass, Keyboards), Neil Drabble (visuals).

The 1989 version of World Of Twist featured Ogden (now vocalist and co-songwriter), King (guitar and co-songwriter), and Hobson (synthesisers) joined by Alan Frost (visual effects, synthesisers), Julia aka M.C. Shells (swirls and sea noises) and Angela Reilly (visual effects). Nick Sanderson (drums) joined some time later.

A demo tape (featuring "The Storm", "Blackpool Tower Suite", "The Spring", and "She's a Rainbow") released in early 1990 drew attention to the band, and a recording contract with Circa Records followed. The record label issued the singles "The Storm" (produced by Clif Brigden) that same year with "Sons of the Stage" also (produced by Clif Brigden) and "Sweets" following in 1991. A cover of The Rolling Stones' "She's a Rainbow", originally issued as the B-side of "The Storm", was reissued with new dance mixes by Fluke in 1992. The original B-side version had been one of the last tracks produced by Martin Hannett, who died in 1991.

Nige Tassell -Whatever Happened to the C86 Kids?: An Indie Odyssey - in conversation with David Eastaugh

In 1986, the NME released a cassette that would shape music for years to come. A collection of twenty-two independently signed guitar-based bands, C86 was the sound and ethos that defined a generation. It was also arguably the point at which 'indie' was born.

But what happened next to all those musical dreamers?

Bid - The Monochrome Set - in conversation with David Eastaugh 

The Monochrome Set was formed in London in 1978 from the remnants of a college group called The B-Sides, whose members had included Stuart Goddard, later known as Adam Ant. Their first live gig was on 15 Feb 1978, at Westfield College in London. The original line-up consisted of Indian-born lead singer and principal songwriter Bid (real name Ganesh Seshadri), Canadian guitarist Lester Square(real name Thomas W.B. Hardy), drummer John D. Haney (formerly of The Art Attacks) and bass guitarist Charlie X. The band had two more bassists, Jeremy Harrington and Simon Croft, before Andy Warren of the Ants, a childhood friend of Bid, joined in late 1979.

Nick Evans - Elemental Records & Dawn Song - in conversation with David Eastaugh 

Has a new album out - Dawn Song & the album is titled 'For Morgan'.

Elemental Records Was a division of Workers Playtime Music Co. in the early 1990s, then became a subsidiary of One Little Indian.

Lawrence - Felt, Denim & Go-Kart Mozart - in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/lawrence-of-belgravia-blu-ray.html

Felt released ten albums in the 1980s, and Lawrence was the only constant member of the band from its inception in 1979 to its dissolution in 1989, though he doesn't appear at all on the band's penultimate album, Train Above The City, despite being present at the recording sessions. During his time in the band, he served as lyricist and co-songwriter, together with then-lead guitarist Maurice Deebank, who left the band in 1985.

In 2006, Lawrence began working on a new Go-Kart Mozart album entitled On the Hot Dog Streets that was eventually released in June 2012 to coincide with the nationwide premiere of Lawrence of Belgravia, which documented the making of the record. Though once again a commercial failure, the album has received the most acclaim and attention of any Lawrence related project since Back in Denim.

Pleasant Gehman in conversation with David Eastaugh

https://pleasantgehman.com/tarotreadings/

Pleasant Gehman is a true renaissance woman. A lifelong multi-disciplinary artist, she is a writer, professional dancer, actor, psychic, musician and painter; she has  often been called “a force of nature”.

A Hollywood rock ‘n’ roll icon, during the 1970’s, she was one of the first punks in Los Angeles, documenting the scene she helped create in her fanzine Lobotomy, which lead to writing for the top mainstream rock publications. During the 1980’s, she toured fronting her three bands, all of whom released multiple recordings: The Screaming Sirens, The Ringling Sisters and Honk If Yer Horny. Concurrently, she was the talent booker for the seminal Los Angeles “alternative” clubs Cathay De Grande and Raji’s.

Dave Trumfio - The Pulsars - in conversation with David Eastaugh

kingsizesoundlabs.com

American record producer, mixer, engineer and musician, best known for his production work with artists such as Wilco and his recordings with his own band The Pulsars.

Trumfio was the frontman in the 90's new-wave band The Pulsars, in which he did "everything but play the drums", his brother Harry acting as the band's drummer. After releasing their debut single, the band signed to Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss's post A&M venture Almo Sounds in 1995, and released an album and two EPs.

Greg Jarvis  - The Flowers of Hell - in conversation with David Eastaugh

The Flowers of Hell are a transatlantic experimental orchestra made up of a revolving line-up of 16 or so independent musicians based in Toronto and London. Their mostly instrumental sound builds bridges between classical music and post-rock, shoegaze, space rock and drone music, often resulting in their being described as an orchestral extension of the work of The Velvet Underground and Spacemen 3. They are led by synesthete composer Greg Jarvis. Much of their repertoire is an exploration of the timbre-to-shape synesthesia that causes Jarvis to involuntarily perceive all sounds as floating abstract visual forms.

Vince Rogers - Testcard F - in conversation with David Eastaugh 

Norwich, experimental synth pop band formed in 1981 -  formed in the early 1980s at the UEA. Famously had an indie chart hit with Bandwagon Tango. They completed a second EP and also did a Peel Session. 

Before releasing solo material as alpha seven, Pete used to be in Testcard F, an early experimental synth pop outfit based in Norwich, reaching the dizzy heights of a Peel session in 1982 and two singles on the Backs record label.

Instrumentation included electronic percussion built from Maplin kits, augmented with a coat rack and waste bins to give a human feel. There was a borrowed EDP Wasp, 1960s Farfisa organ, Casio VL-Tone and a drum machine that held a single song, hence they used backing cassettes

Paul 'Bee' Hampshire - Into A Circle, Futon, Getting The Fear, & Panache in conversation with David Eastaugh 

thebeenow.com

Anne Mari - The Field Mice, Lightning In A Twilight Hour & Trembling Blue Stars - in conversation with David Eastaugh

Lightning In A Twilight Hour is an alias of The Field Mice and Trembling Blue Stars’ frontman Bobby Wratten, one of indie-pop’s most undervalued cult figures. The project’s second album ‘Overwintering’ was co-produced by Ian Catt, with Field Mice lieutenants Anne Mari Davies (vocals) and Michael Hiscocks (bass) featured throughout the album.