Obscure Indie Chanteuses.

[reith]

Just me who tended to pick unusual indie 'pop' singers - this pair from Glasgow had a small but dedicated following. I first heard Strawberry Switchblade in my earliest teens and this (the B side of their first single held me mesmerised. Tiny voices in gentle, obvious harmony, recorded under less than optimal conditions. Made a change from Siouxsie and the Banshees and it was a couple of years before I got involved in Berg's Lulu!

I already posted the A side in the "Links" thread.

This one, "Go away". Files in public domain for quoting, not selling. For the very young only!

This was all along with Lisa Gerrard in "Dead Can Dance" and Liz Fraser, "Cocteau Twins" with her (in my view) highly symbolist lyrics. Must have been a goth kind-of time.

[Acciacatura]

I posted something in another thread about people who get deeper into classical music who like popular too, will search out the lesser known in pop. You are doing just that, Reith. The only way to describe the production of that music is raw. Pleasant sad singing and a nice change from polished studio productions. Not quite my thing but a side of music to explore.

[reith]

For me, that rawness really humanises the thing. Our perceptions of what music "should be" have been so tempered by recordings over the last century while I've vaguely clung on to live music for a mere fraction of it. I'm happier with live recorded performances even when the audience isn't as well behaved as it should be!

But yes, there was none of the super-slick studio wizardry behind these singers.

If I thought it would generate interest I'd start a thread on how recording has changed our perception of music. It's sad that many younger "classical" fans have never actually attended live music. I have a younger colleague like this in France and promised to find some live music next time I'm over there.

cheers,
reith