Skep Wax, the label that brought us the extraordinary LPs of Swansea Sound and The Catenary Wires, has now released a compilation of new songs for fans of perfect indie pop, as an ode to Sarah Records (1987-1995). The Under The Bridge album re-introduces several of the bands / band members who released records on the influential British independent record label, showcasing new material by 14 of them. With contributions from so many bands – Even As We Speak, Jetstream Pony (ex-Aberdeen), Useless Users (ex-Action Painting/Secret Shine), Tufthunter (ex-Heavenly), St Christopher, The Luxembourg Signal (ex-Aberdeen), Boyracer, The Wake, Leaf Mosaic (ex-Sugargliders), Sepiasound (ex-Blueboy), Soundwire (ex-The Sweetest Ache), Secret Shine, The Orchids, and The Catenary Wires (ex-Heavenly) – there’s plenty of variety in sound, yet it feels like a cohesive package. The common denominator is that the music is as pure, heartfelt and idealistic as ever, fitting effortlessly into the impressive Sarah tradition. This is a successful reunion that leaves you wanting more, also a good reason to (re)discover the other work of the featured artists.
The Orchids’ Chris Quinn: “It ended up going from a Simple Minds-type riff to something kind of African sounding, like Vampire Weekend might come up with. It developed in lots of ways.”
Tufthunter’s Peter Momtchiloff: “The song is about thinking back about what happens to attachments from the past.”
Jetstream Pony’s Beth Arzy: “The song starts with the quote that’s tattooed on Billy Childish’s ass, as that’s the best place to start.”
Under The Bridge is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP trough Skep Wax. All tracks are new, most of them previously unreleased.
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