Our Pledge Campaign is going well. We have previously revealed the tracklisting; we now have more information on each of the individual tracks that will appear that will hopefully show you how special a collection it is!
PylonSays Al
Recorded by Chris Charlton in Saltaire, February 2012. A brand new version of a classic Pylon track, originally released on their debut EP in 1999 but re-recorded especially for this album. The story of Rhubarb Bomb couldn’t start anywhere else. Pylon were a huge influence on many Wakefield bands, including the majority which follow. This recording features contributions from the band members now spread across the world, including vocals sent over from Stockholm and piano and organ direct from Bangkok.
The Cribs Things Aren’t Gonna Change (Demo)
Recorded by Jamie Lockhart and Lee Smith at Greenmount Studios, Wakefield, 2004. Whilst working on songs for their second album The New Fellas the Jarman brothers recorded some demos with their old friends Jamie and Lee at their home studio in Wakefield (that’s Jamie you can hear at the start). The recording is of startlingly good quality, considering Greenmount Studios was built on the landing of a staircase in an old tower. The outro was recorded one night in a pub in Netherton around the piano with many of the bands’ close friends in attendance. The Cribs returned to Greenmount Studios, now based in Armley, in 2012 to record the track Better Than Me which is the flipside to the 7” version of Chi-Town.
The Old House Loud Noises
Recorded by Jamie Lockhart at Greenmount Studios, Wakefield, 2006. The Old House were a ridiculously good band that grew from the same fertile soil as The Cribs and The Research. Including members that would later go on to play in bands as diverse as Mi Mye, Tiny Planets, Last Gang and Piskie Sits theirs was a rawkous but hook filled take on pop and though their ‘career’ was all too short (split in 2008), they were a major influence on the bands of Rhubarb Bomb’s era.
The Research Make No Plans For Me
Recorded by Jamie Lockhart at Greenmount Studios, Wakefield, 2007. This track was recorded as part of the sessions for the bands’ second album The Old Terminal which, after the band having many major label headaches, ended up being recorded in Wakefield. It’s a rather beautiful, understated track that perfectly highlights the twee beauty and sighing whimsy of a truly wonderful (and much missed) band that seemed destined to become Wakefield next great export after The Cribs, before their split in 2008. This track was intended as a B-side but due to that split was never released.
Piskie Sits Waiting For The Dance Of Death
Recorded by Jamie Lockhart and Rob Slater at Greenmount Studios, Leeds, January 2012. Long serving Wakefield legends Piskie Sits kindly hand Rhubarb Bomb their first new recording since a run of amazing singles and EPs released in 2010. Although the band have been around A LOT longer than Rhubarb Bomb (no-one really remembers how it started, or where, or when…) line up changes have constantly reinvigorated the band and currently, as they work on their second album, they look stronger than ever. Traditionally they have been the proudest wearers of the Pavement Appreciation Society badge that most Wakefield bands seem to have and it is almost inevitable that analysis of their sound comes back to that same point, but hey, Pavement were awesome so what’s the harm?.
The Spills Cylinder Windows
Recorded by Rob Slater at Greenmount Studios, Leeds, February 2012. The Spills have grown alongside Rhubarb Bomb over the last five years. They played at our first ever issue launch back in 2007 when their Nirvana indebted rock was turning a few heads. However, their slow gestation period has been a blessing; their first EP in 2010 Smoke Signals was an absolute breakthrough but it was their album Occam’s Razor released late in 2011 that really shone; a genuine work of brilliance. It’s kind of the Wakefield way, to get your head down and plug away. The Spills are a great example of this and they will surely now reap the rewards. This is the first new recording from them since the release of their album.
Tiny Planets Incredible
Recorded by Rob Slater at Irene Cottage Studios, Wakefield, 2010. Tiny Planets rose from the ashes of The Old House and feature Craig and Paul from that band. Joined by Spills singer Rob Slater on drums and guitarist Ash they continued that band’s skewed take on pop, releasing their debut EP The Trick Is To Keep Breathing in January 2012. This is an earlier recording but perfectly showcases their wonderful grasp of dynamics and that special little hook. A little known fact is that when they first formed a certain Ross Jarman occupied the drum stool. But then he ended up being quite busy with his side project, The Cribs…
Lapels How I Killed The Magnethead (Demo)
Home Recording. 2007. Lapels were a special band to a lot of people, none more than former Rhubarb Bomb editor Rob Dee, for whom this is his personal choice. Rob left Rhubarb Bomb to form Philophobia Music, home to a lot of the bands here. His first release was the debut single by Lapels. The song featured here is one of their earliest demos and is a track that appeared on their first EP. It’s a ragtag recording that gives hints of the antagonistic but charming approach to songwriting that made the band standout; a mix of pop structures and bizarre alt-universe storytelling. Upon the bands split, singer Tim went on to form St Gregory Orange whilst the majority of the rest of the band became IMP.
The Whippets This Town
Recorded by Dan Hayes at Mind The Gap Studios, Leeds, late 2007, remixed February 2012. This was originally recorded towards the end of 2007 whilst the band geared up for the launch of its debut single It’s Nice To Pretend. Never released, it is, rather coincidentally, a song about growing up and living in Wakefield. It was recorded by drummer Dan Hayes as he got to grips with home recording. He went back to it and polished it up best he could for inclusion on this compilation and some new vocals were added. The song is a fair representation of the kind of melodic alt-indie The Whippets were producing at this time, before their eventual split in 2008.
The Passing Fancy Escobarred
Recorded by Dean Freeman at Follow The Drum Studios, Wakefield, February 2012. The Passing Fancy has been playing gigs in Wakefield for five years now, yet, by some massive oversight, had not featured in Rhubarb Bomb until April 2012. This is perhaps because his brand of folk pop whimsy (now fashionable, of course) never quite fit in with the Pavement indebted pop produced elsewhere in the city. But his inclusion here is at the request of current editor Dean Freeman. The Passing Fancy has always been around, supporting the DIY ethic, whether it be compering at gigs, running doors, promoting, getting people excited, or simply just playing. Also, this song, originally released in 2008 but re-recorded afresh for this compilation, is a little nod to the former Wakefield venue Escobar which was central to the creation of Rhubarb Bomb. Anyone who ever visited will appreciate this tale of a totalitarian barman overseeing a drunken crowd of revellers.
Skint & Demoralised Lucifer’s Cardigan (Demo)
Recorded by MiNI dOG at 6x7 Studios, Sheffield, September 2011. Skint & Demoralised (Matt Abbott) performed spoken word at the launch of the first ever issue of Rhubarb Bomb. In those early days he was central to the exciting DIY buzz that was taking place in the city. Can’t play an instrument? Doesn’t matter; record your spoken word ponderings and upload ‘em to MySpace. It got him a major label record deal and a whole heap of supporters. Five years and a very interesting journey later, Matt is back in Wakefield after some time away and is promoting his second album This Sporting Life.
Protectors Cauliflower
Recorded by Chris Charlton in Saltaire, March 2012. Protectors formed in 2008 and bring together members of some great Wakefield bands of the past, namely Pylon, Dugong and Nathaniel Green. The result is supremely melodic and energetic music that shares the transcendent nature of those previous bands and earned them a number of fantastic support slots, including The Cribs. The track here is absolutely brand new and is a change of direction from the sounds showcased on their excellent EP The Stem and Leaf released at the end of 2011.
Middleman Hate Yourself
Recorded by Lee Smith at Greenmount Studios, Leeds, January 2012. Third and final former editor Captain Benno simply insisted that Middleman be included on this compilation. They are a truly exceptional band and one that is much loved in Wakefield. Although probably considered more of a ‘Leeds Band’ they actually formed in Wakefield and bassist Lee Smith setup Greenmount Studios with Jamie Lockhart here, living in our Merrie City for an awfully long time. This is a brand new recording from the band as they begin work on the follow up to their debut album Spinning Plates which was released in 2011.
Runaround Kids Undress
Recorded by Jamie Lockhart, Lee Smith & Rob Slater at Greenmount Studios, Leeds, January 2012. Runaround Kids’ first ever interview was in Rhubarb Bomb in 2008. Since then we have followed their progress closely, including some amazing appearances at Leeds and Reading Festivals and a quickly expanding set of super fans across the country. One of our proudest moments was seeing The Hop, Wakefield, packed to the rafters for their appearance at our Long Division Festival. After releasing their mightily impressive debut album Linked Arms in 2011 the band have an ambitious set of releases penned in for 2012, including splits with The Spills and We Are Losers. Taken from the first recordings since their album, Undress gives the first hint of the new direction they will be following.
St Gregory Orange Nights In The Drunk Tank
Recorded by St Gregory Orange, Wakefield, February 2012. Originally the bedroom based project of former Lapels Tim Metcalfe, St Gregory Orange is now a duo, also comprising of Harry Rhodes, who plays guitar in Piskie Sits. The debut album Things We Said In Bedrooms was recorded by Tim alone and is still one of the greatest albums to come out of Wakefield EVER. Simple as that. But since becoming a duo in 2010, they have been working on the follow up. Whilst not quite being in the Chinese Democracy ranks of ‘overdue’ it has been a long time coming. Yet, as this track shows, it has been time well spent; the mix of wordy, exploratory story-telling and electronic based pop is rather magnificent and completely their own. That second album will be released in Spring 2012 (hopefully).
One Day, After School…. Nova Scotia
Recorded by Rob Slater at Greenmount Studios, Leeds, January 2012. A brand new recording of a song originally released on the first Rhubarb Bomb compilation Sounds Of The Rhubarb Triangle in 2007. It was also the first ever song written or released by One Day, After School… though this version features brand new lyrics as well as instrumentation. They are another band that has always existed in Wakefield, half behind the scenes but always there, experimenting in a home studio and releasing a wealth of tracks on compilations. One Day, After School… released their debut EP The Future Is Not Ours, Comrade in February 2012 showcasing a spiky, wordy take on early ‘90s indie and Sonic Youth squall, much in contrast to the sound here.
Little Japanese Toy At 21
Recorded by Jamie Lockhart & James Mabbett at Greenmount Studios, Wakefield, sometime in 2001. A demo from the band that would, once split, go on to form the wonderful and much loved Mi Mye (Jamie) and Napoleon IIIrd (James). The sound here is a rather epic mix of both of those artists and a rather sweet insight into the roots of both of their sounds. The band released a number of EPs and singles on various labels all over the country but called it a day before an album could be released. However, the remnants of many songs can be found across the back catalogues of Mi Mye and Napoleon IIIrd.
IMP & Mi Mye Jamie Says He Wishes You Well
Recorded by Jamie Lockhart at Greenmount Studios, Leeds, January 2012. The album closes with a very special collaboration between IMP and Mi Mye which took place in the early hours of a very cold January morning. IMP have existed in many forms for a long time but really got themselves together in 2009 and since then have released two exceptional EPs Just Destroyer and Sewerpop! (How The Castle Was Stormed). They are an amazing live band too, far too odd and individual for me to try and explain. Just trust me on that one. Mi Mye, of course, is the moniker under which Jamie Lockhart works. As a musician and producer, his hallmark is ALL OVER this album and he is a constant source of inspiration for many in Wakefield. Odd considering he isn’t even from Wakefield (the soft Scottish tones give it away). But that’s a whole other story, one of many covered in the accompanying book version of The City Consumes Us.
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