The Stone Roses - She Bangs The Drums [12"]

This 12" EP of SHE BANGS THE DRUMS by THE STONE ROSES is obviously not from the original year of release, 1989. This particular version was released in 2005 and features besides the original version also the Elephant Remix. Not really my cup of tea to be honest, but hey, i picked it up cheap in a record store in London last year. They had at least 20 more standing of this, and i'm not surprised of that actually because of the poor quality of the remix. But what a great tune, the original version!

Label: S12
Year of release: 2005
Cat.nr.: S12DJ-194

SIDE A
01. She Bangs The Drums (Original Mix)

SIDE B:
01. She Bangs The Drums (Elephant Remix)

Cocteau Twins - Love's Easy Tears [7"]

This LOVE'S EASY TEARS single by COCTEAU TWINS has been released a few months after the Victorialand album, in 1986. The A-side is really good, but the B-side is simply gorgeous Those Eyes, That Mouth is probably one of my favourite Cocteau Twins songs ever. Although like usually i don't understand a word of what Liz is singing here, i just love it. Heavenly.

Label: 4AD
Cat.nr.: AD 610
Year of release: 1986

SIDE A:
01. Love's Easy Tears

SIDE B:
01. Those Eyes, That Mouth

Smashing Orange - Not Very Much To See [7"]

Came across this 7" by SMASHING ORANGE recently for a cheap price and i decided to take my chance and buy it, because i liked the other 7" i have by this band. And just like with the other single, i wasn't disappointed. Pretty cool shoegazy guitar rock. Noisy stuff, and just like on the other single, wah pedals all over the place again on the A-side. Not in an annoying way though. While NOT VERY MUCH TO SEE has this typical early 90s groove, Collide on the B-side is more uptempo and for that matter has more in common with for example Sonic Youth, than My Bloody Valentine. A cool band that existed in the first half of the 90s, and definitely worth checking out if you never heard of them.

Label: Ringers Lactate
Cat.nr.: RL 03
Year of release: 1991

SIDE A:
01. Not Very Much To See

SIDE B:
01. Collide

Swirlies - Didn't Understand [7"]

This DIDN'T UNDERSTAND 7" is the first release by SWIRLIES, from 1992. All 3 tracks appeared later that year on their What To Do About Them EP as well. Clearly influenced by My Bloody Valentine (especially Sarah Sitting sounds a bit like a mix between Soft As Snow and Slow) but definitely not in a bad way - totally the opposite! The purple vinyl edition that i have is the second pressing from the same year and it just sounds as lovely as it looks. Quite a gem.

Label: Slumberland Records
Cat.nr.: DRYL 015
Year of release: 1992

SIDE A:
01. Didn't Understand

SIDE B:
01. Sarah Sitting
02. Chris R.

The Charlatans - Modern Nature [12", 2LP, Limited Edition]

MODERN NATURE by THE CHARLATANS is the first album from 2015 that i've bought this year. And i like it so much it wouldn't surprise me if it will eventually appear in my Top 10 list of this year - even though we've still got nearly 11 months to go for that. But what a great record it is. Mostly uplifting soulful songs with a pretty summery vibe, despite the fact that the circumstances for making this album after the tragic death of their drummer Jon Brookes were not so bright at all. It's got hammond organs, funky guitars, catchy hooks and basslines. More than once it vaguely reminded me of both New Order and Primal Scream, until i realised that this album actually simply sounds like The Charlatans, 25 years after their debut album Some Friendly. The edition i have is the double LP on heavy gold vinyl; the second disc contains 4 bonus tracks. It also includes a fold-out poster insert with lyrics on the other side. The whole package looks gorgeous.

Label: BMG Rights Management
Cat.nr.: 538014171
Year of release: 2015

SIDE A:
01. Talking In Tones
02. So Oh
03. Come Home Baby
04. Keep Enough
05. In The Tall Grass
06. Emilie

SIDE B:
01. Let The Good Times Be Never Ending
02. I Need You To Know
03. Lean In
04. Trouble Understanding
05. Lot To Say

SIDE C:
01. We Sleep On Borrowed Time
02. Walk With Me

SIDE D:
01. As Long As You Stick With Me
02. I Will Never Leave You (Demo)

Secret Shine - After Years [7"]

SECRET SHINE has been around since 1991, with a hiatus between 1996 and 2004, and this AFTER YEARS single is one of their very first releases. It's on the legendary Sarah Records. Not so much dreampop or shoegaze like they'd release later on. More like gentle indie / twee pop in the vein of House Of Love or  the quiet moments of the Stone Roses. And The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart have obviously been listening to this Bristol band as well. I was extremely happy to find out that one of our local record shops had this copy standing in the shop. It wasn't exactly cheap, but well worth the purchase.

Label: Sarah Records
Cat.nr.: Sarah 53
Year of release: 1991

SIDE A:
01. After Years
02. Snowfall Sorrow

SIDE B:
01. Grey Skies

Revolver - Venice [7"]

A cheap crate-digging find at the latest record fair in Utrecht, this blue 7" single by REVOLVER. The songs VENICE and B-side Red All Over are typical early 90's indie rock tunes. Not mindblowing for sure, but certainly not bad either. Always happy to run into stuff like this that i somehow overlooked back in the days.

Label: Hut Recordings
Cat.nr.: HUT 14
Year of release: 1992

SIDE A:
01. Venice

SIDE B:
01. Red All Over