Wye o Wye...

It's long since been irrelevant in terms of aquisition but the business of which non-UK albums get picked up for an 'official' release over here remains a vaguely mystifying, random-seeming process. Out of nowhere recently, for instance, have come a couple of old-ish records which someone somewhere has been energized to re-release: the slightly over-rated Snow tires by Unbunny [reviewed by this blog back in July04] and the slightly under-rated last from Rivulets, You are my home [see rr Feb07]. How? Why? They might get a second wind if it puts them under the noses of press journalists [see the Sunday Times recent 4/5 review for Rivulets] but that can't be guaranteed. The Postmarks peachy pop debut made this blog's top 10 for '07 and came out here in June; no-one noticed.
Maybe a licensing deal doesn't cost very much, but then why isn't everyone doing it instead of just, er, blogging about it? And what would be on reallyrather's roster? Well, Amazon still has matt pond PA's Several arrows later [this blog's best for '06] down as an import which is a chuffin' scandal, so that for sure. Rather less of an outrage but apparently also still an import, The Go Find's Stars on the wall from last year. (But at least Boomkat are having a sale so steal it here.)
Stuff on Kranky seems to be put out & distributed over here tho' you'd never know judged by the way Benoit Pioulard's Precis was totally ignored in the prints; re-launch definitely required. And then there's Gentleman Reg's Darby & Joan, another underexposed pop cracker ... and Shelley Short's lo-fi debut ... and Bunky's bonkers Born to be a motorcycle ... and...whoops, is that the bank manager on the phone?...

At least Jet black, Gentleman Reg's belated follow-up to Darby & Joan [see rr Nov04] would seem to stand a better chance of European exposure since it's been picked up by Arts & Crafts (Broken Social Scene, Feist, The Dears etc): 'One of the most exciting aspects of [the] new deal is getting the chance to release his music outside of Canada — an opportunity that's evaded him up till now. Arts & Crafts plans to release Jet Black in Europe and the States as well as our home and native land, where it’s slated to hit store shelves Oct. 14.' [Toronto Eye feature]
[Gentleman Reg]

Duo Wye Oak's debut If children came out in April in the US and being on Merge should give a fighting chance of getting heard when it's released here in October. And it is worth hearing. 'Like taking a master class in indie rock,' reckons Allmusic; this blog knows what they mean but is more than happy to do the revision.
There's a great moment in the opening Please concrete where the attractively bobbing girl-on-a-bike-in-the-sunshine vibe abruptly hits a wall of thrilling electric noise. And just when you think/hope its going to happen again it..doesn't, which is also great. Instead, bounding forth like a young dog let off the leash in the park, comes Warning which calls to mind - quelle surprise! - Superchunk.
Family glue sounds like Lovers' Carolyn Berk having a Stevie Nicks moment. (Actually, make that the Lovers we've known thus far - sounds like there are big changes afoot on upcoming release I am the west; hear here.) Fans of The Trolleyvox will enjoy Orchard fair's dynamic guitar-driven pop which could've been even better if the mix wasn't so condensed and the components given a bit of space as on the prettily pattering Keeping company. And picks of the bunch are the swirling, shimmering I don't feel young and closer Obituary, like a one-man-band-does-jangly shoegaze...

...and reallyrather hopes to in attendance Nov 4 at The Borderline when Jenn & Andy open for the distinctly over-rated Dr Dog (not v special at all at The Windmill a couple of years back). Note that date: if its going to, at least the Obama bubble won't have burst 'til after the show's over...
[wye oak]

And so to the End of The Road...