Skittle Alley - the memory of a smile (Dufflecoat)

The latest Skittle Alley EP for Dufflecoat, a collaboration with Richard Earls, continues the sweet twee pop way of earlier releases. A pop sound thats mellow and refined, tones that are acoustic and rich, melodies that glow with summer warmth and relaxed but catchy pop hooks, words that envelop you and sweeten your soul... this EP is a gorgeous production.

"She will not be there when you call" is probably the highlight of the EP with its beautiful pop message but "Noughts and ones" also scores highly with its sweet melody, reminding me of The Field Mice and other Sarah sounds.

In truth all the songs are lovely and should be mega pop hits, maybe they are in a parallel universe somewhere...

Skittle Alley - just a kiss (Dufflecoat)

Skittle Alley's latest EP for Dufflecoat Records continues the wonderful indiepop pleasure of the earlier releases. Blissful and uncomplicated, crafted and heartfelt, joyful and beautiful that is Skittle Alley's hallmark and nothing has changed, you will be glad to know, on this 8 track EP or mini-album.

Tracks like "I did you no wrong" sport a beautiful pop melody, lush chords and a melancholic pop feel that reminds me of the likes of the Field Mice and Brighter. "Just a kiss on your lips" is a simple song if you boil it down, but in the hands of a master a simple song is simply essential as is this. "Sunray" is another example, really its just some guitar strumming and relaxed singing but thats all you need. Its reflective and melancholic sparking a whole load of emotions, reminding you of pleasant childhood memories, peering out of a rainy window in simpler times, lost love... Well for me anyway!

"The end" brings things to a joyful close. Again its a very simple song but works so well, everything is just so well judged such as when the (slightly) harder guitars kick in towards the end. Its just how such a song should end... and it does!

Released on Dufflecoat Records in June.

Sacred Music - the songs of the Trembling Blue Stars (Dufflecoat CD album)

It was about time Dufflecoat Records produced a long player, and here it is, and its brilliant but then again what else could a double album of Trembling Blue Stars covers be? Pop perfection reinterpreted by 20 modern day twee pop bands from around the world, some already familiar to me and already covered on this site and some not. Where to start?

Lets start with Leach Me Lemonade's take on "Slow soft sighs" which will reverberate through your soul with an essential jangly pop rush, maybe the best song on the album though there are plenty of rivals for that crown. "Letter never sent" by Annemarie (which starts off proceedings) bumps along with sheer delicateness. The Arctic Flow's "Until the dream gets broken" effect-pedal driven guitar sonic attack which merges into a glorious pop noise. Sound of the heavens, or should be anyway.

Sundae's "Moonlight on snow" is a sweet pop journey, keyboard driven with tinkly bits. Archaster's "I no longer know anything" is a relaxing smooth track. Skittle Alley's "Abba on the jukebox" is a delicate and intricate pop treat, with a somewhat 70s feel too. Bubblegum Lemonade's "My face for the world to see" is done really well, great playing. Finishing the album off is Pop At Summer's "the sea is so quiet" another great song. You then turn to disk 3... but alas thats all folks!

So many wonderful moments, i've only picked out a few in this review and they are just the tip of the ice berg. A double album of (nearly) never ending pop dreams.

Skittle Alley - on the flight of steps

If i was to sum up Skittle Alley in one phrase it would be modern day classic C86. Skittle Alley produce a joyous and sweet pop noise, catchy melodies and a laid back vocal that reminds me a bit of The Bats. The title track gets things off in style with a juicy fast melody.

Other tracks like "Just for you" bring classic Sarah bands like Gentle Despite and Another Sunny Day to mind with its heavy acoustic relaxing melody, though just as influences and similarities, Skittle Alley is not a pastiche but stands up on its own merits as a great producer of pop. One of the best EPs i've heard for a while, none of the 5 tracks are weak in any way whatsoever.

Skittle Alley / Annemarie

I really do like Dufflecoat Records' multi-national split singles, bringing together twee pop bands from around the world, if you haven't got any of them yet then hurry and do so!

This one brings together 2 songs each by France's Skittle Alley and Indonesia's Annemarie. Skittle Alley first, a mellow and acoustic heavy indie pop on "Its hard to find love", sounds a bit Field Mice which is never a bad thing. "Out of breath" is a bit more jangly but is also good solid C86 indie pop. It reminds me of a NZ band though can't remember the name off-hand. Both songs are really good pop songs.

Annemarie is an ethereal indie pop group with female and male vocals. "Living in my dream" again has classic C86 tones and melodies in the song's DNA but like Skittle Alley its not a copycat but feels like it would not have been out-of-place on Sarah. "We do" has a bigger sound that the first song which is fairly stripped back. Its jingle-jangle pop perfection. Not all globalisation is a bad thing, the globalisation of twee indie pop is truly wonderful.