The remaining members of fan faves Ivy (husband and wife Andy Chase/Dominique Durand) have released a previously unheard outtake from 1997's "Apartment Life," produced by another fave of mine, Lloyd Cole (who also plays some guitar on the track). It's fantastic and I can't believe we haven't heard it until now. If guitar-based, French-accented indie-pop makes you feel some kinda way, you need to give this a listen now. The bandās 2000 albumĀ Long DistanceĀ is also about to get a reissue, which means weāll soon get to hear a bunch of unearthed gems from those days. The 25th anniversary vinyl reissue will feature three bonus tracks, including this gem, while the digital also tacks on a demo of the hit āEdge Of The Oceanā to go along with the remix thatās also included. If you love the late, great Adam Schlesinger as much as I do, you'll also dig the video tribute that Dominique and Andy have put up on the YouTubes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8xISJVl4lQ
a perfect record start to finish. equal parts sunny and subdued, has a 60s softness through a 90s lens. dominique durandās voice is so soothing - sterolab-ish. i could listen to āwhile weāre in loveā on repeat
I Think most people know the La BlogothĆØque video where he sings this song accapella in an alleyway in Paris, but I also love this version he did in Montreal. These live cuts are little time capsules of that era, that exist only on this corner of the internet. Side note: Iām having a fuckinā ROUGH go of it right now, and this album is just one of the things I try to help get through it. As a general rec, the album āFor Emma, Forever Agoā is a 10/10
In Evening Air is a personal all-time classic, but aside from a few singles here and there nothing from these guys has caught me⦠until now! I always described them as āTom Waits fronting a synthpop band,ā which is still true, but thereās a little more emphasis on the synthpop now. āThe Thiefā might be the best pop song Iāve heard in years.
The man responsible for dozens of Teenage Symphonies to God
"Sad songs about happy things" (the first time, as a kid, I can recall the sweet/sour combo of melodies that could make you cry attached to songs about endless, bottomless love)
I've long since lost track of how many weddings and funerals I've attended that have featured this song; suffice it to say, "a lot."
God only knows what we'd been without him šš»
Hey tyler hopefully this doesnāt violate some PI.FYI golden rule
But after nearly two years of writing, editing and arguing, my book about the EP is coming out in May and can be preordered here: https://hozacrecords.com/product/aifl/ The book is about the origins, history and cultural impact of the EP since these little objects first started coming out in the 50s.
Over 50 of my music biz friends then helped me shape the list and review the top 200 ever released, according to us (ha).
For those of you who are into this kind of geekery/snobbery, I canāt wait to hear what you think. A labor of love, as all books are! ā¤ļø