The Rosslyns

Still WAY too excited that we heard our 90-sec tambourine/guitar pile-up “There’s always next year“ on Carl Thien’s magnificent show on WZBC last night.

Really appreciate the support!

(And I think I have a Pale Man Made cd-r… on Cloudberry, obviously)

I’m going to have to crash out soon but thank you again!

Carl definitely chose a ‘deep cut’ of ours and was very kind. I was touched he dug the title of our comp!

Super radio.

Blimey. I wasn’t expecting that! Thanks so much, Wally for letting me know.

Tuning in!

Thank you, fascinating. Played vol 1 to death, every song made an indelible mark.

And that explains why my vol 3 is MM-branded but not the first two!

If you only read one thing today! The spirit of adventure, the joy of discovery, the bravery of open heartedness, the thrill of being a listener - it’s all in this short archived piece about the terrific @therosslyns.bsky.social

Stupidly forgot to provide the link to the full (and indexed) online archive of Incite!

All 30 issues of the fanzine, from 1985 to 1998. A treasure trove of US and UK alt-music history, and much more:

albornincite.commons.gc.cuny.edu

Sleeve of “Paperchase” / “Kirsty” cassette single by the Rosslyns, recorded at Howard’s house in Heybridge, Essex and self-released in summer 1990 in a limited edition of… low single figures. Expect the photo came from a Sunday supplement. It’s black and white in part because they didn’t do colour photocopying at the local library. I think my dad had an electric typewriter which I typed the band name on before glueing it on to the sleeve. Both tracks (much) later appeared on the compilation CD “All We Ever Did Was Try” on Harriet Records (available from all good stockists and streaming services etc).

TIm showed up with the first three Harriet 7"s: High Risk Group, Linda Smith & Fertile Virgin.

And we gave him a copy of our summer single, “Paperchase”, which he played on his Walkman on the train home.

Here’s the sleeve, sourced from Tim's YouTube. Cost 10p per photocopy at Billericay Library 😊

Photograph of the Rosslyns interview in issue #18 of Incite! fanzine, from Cambridge, MA. This issue arrived in November 1990. Still incredible to us that not all that long after Tim had taken out Galaxie 500 for a pizza, and on the same trip to England that he met up with indiepop superstars like Gregory Webster & Liz Price, he came round to my parents’ house (they were away) and interviewed us. I said a few (mildly) idiotic things, but that’s the passion of youth for you… The interview would actually be pretty much the last thing that particular Rosslyns line-up ever did! We played Tim a number of new tracks, also giving him a copy of our severely-limited edition “Paperchase” cassingle which (like some of the other tracks) would eventually get released by Harriet Records in 2022, on SPY 16. Forever respect to Tim, obviously.

Back one last time to the 35th anniversary thread, with the final act of The Rosslyns mk. I: our interview with Incite!

When Tim from Harriet Records came round for tea and toast, and listened to the new songs that he would release 32 years later.

I’m releasing an EP today, with new versions of some earlier Sunny Intervals songs, including Sixty Seconds To Fall in Love.

It’s on Spotify here:
open.spotify.com/album/5pxxUs...

And part of a deluxe Bandcamp version of my new album here:
sunnyintervals.bandcamp.com/album/swept-...

#indiepop

Photo of section of sleeve of Goodbye Wudaokou / Assistant split 7”, with extract from insert saying: “I don’t know how the story ends / I don’t know if the arc is going to break / or just bend” - Sunny Intervals

@sunnyintervals.bsky.social 😺

Alt: Answering today’s door knocking produced (photo shows): Islington Labour Working for You leaflet Goodbye Wudaokou / Assistant split 7” (Laurie Records / YYZ) Lightning In A Twilight Hour “Colours Yet To Be Named” CD (Elefant Records)

All fine in the end, as not one but two fine records appeared (pictured here, with said councillor’s leaflet). Cake, and icing!

The vinyl, & the whole package, really look stunning, so well-curated.

The shout-out is so kind too - thanks to you, and to @assistant.bandcamp.com 👏

Better Fiction, by Last Days of Rome track by Last Days of Rome

My new single is out now!

To all of you who send your music / art out into the ether in the hopes of brightening somebody's day: this song is for you.

'When the truth sounds bleak / we'll make better fiction / something to get lost in on a rainy day'

lastdaysofrome2.bandcamp.com/track/better...

The limited edition compilation CD from NEUCLOUDS will be available to individually preorder from 30th November. Watch this space for further updates.

Thank you!

By coincidence my local councillor was just doing some door knocking and she could see my disappointment when I opened it!

Thank you. I am. Yes, I started with “Biochemistry Revision Can Wait”…

I see that posties across the country have been delivering a certain 7”, so now anxiously waiting for mine!

Literally listening to them this morning too, Mat!

Know exactly what you mean. Hood remain the perfect soundtrack to (a) autumn; and (b) all other seasons.

All bands that need to be formed.

“Sea Orchids” would be quite the supergroup ;)

You'll like my radio show if you are the sort of person who likes The Go-Betweens, Broadcast, Felt, The Field Mice, The Lemonheads, St. Etienne, Huggy Bear, Robyn Hitchcock, Kevin Ayers, Can, The Chills, Suga Free, Orange Juice, Keel Her, The Pastels, Heavenly, The Wedding Present, Lloyd Cole & The Commotions, The Church, The Clean, Tim Burgess, Style Council, Television Personalities, Françoise Hardy, Durutti Column, Stereolab, Young Marble Giants, Josef K, Aztec Camera, Shopfires, Wave Pictures, BMX Bandits, The Rosslyns, Boyracer, The Fall, Blue Orchids, Lovejoy, David Lance Callahan, Zenxith, James, Lee Morgan, Happy Mondays, Sassyhiya, Shapes Like People, Last Days of Rome, Sea of Days, Humdrum, Pavement, Sunny Intervals, Tony Molina, Lightheaded, Laughing Chimes, Jackie McLean, Ballboy, Cornershop, Autocamper, Nap Eyes, Sea Orchids, The Sweetest Ache, Goodbye Wudaokou, John Cale, Helen McCookerybook, Wayne Shorter, Saul Bellow, Rachel Love, Perennial, Sneaky Feelings, The Felt Tips, EPMD, The Raincoats, Brighter, The Flatmates, The Bhundu Boys, Roxy Music, McCarthy, Razorcuts, Nico, Teenage Fanclub, Muriel Spark, Lunchbox, Northern Soul, The Cords, The Caretaker Race, Action Painting, Airport Girl, Masta Ace, Horowitz, Field Music, Poppycock, Smokey Robinson, David Hockney, Lindy Morrison, Electrelane, Blur, Bright Islands, The Reds, Pinks and Purples and lots lots lots lots more

From this Sunday at 7pm onwards I'll be hosting a regular show on @untidyradio.bsky.social. I'll be playing indie pop & adjacent stuff & am, as always, here to help if you have jangly stuff to share. The first show features The Felt Tips, Hazelene, The Lovely Basement, Armstrong, R.M.F.C & others x

Fair point! I have a strong feeling that (like Bubblegum Lemonade who were also on the label) Matinee Recs discovered them on MySpace.

Those were the days.

Thank you. Delight is the word.

God knows what the neighbours made of our racket (it was recorded in H’s parents’ sitting room). Best not dwell.

Inordinately thrilled that our clattering, anorak-clad tune “Charmtrap” got a spin on Christchurch’s 8K.NZ this week!

Our thanks again to the talismanic CNQ - any recognition means a huge deal to a little band like us.

Ooh, this was on my shortlist! Came from almost nowhere yet sounding so refined.

I saw them play in a north London basement venue once and they were great, even though the place was unaccountably not full…

Harriet Records I ran Harriet Records between 1989 and 1998 out of Cambridge, MA. There are 16 "new" releases so far, most recently a CD by Hussy and the debut CD by The Lookout Honeys. Out now: the third CD by The E...

Major thanks to Jen @nstop.com for global first play of a track from 'Nadine', out on Nov 23, on this week's impressive Cycles Per Second show on @khuh.bsky.social -- 'I Want To', a previously unreleased studio recording. I was able to listen live...

Splits 31-36 of our celebration of the forthcoming Goodbye Wudaokou split 7" on Laurie/YYZ: Birds of California / Kristin Mess split (555 Recordings 55549) “555 FLAGSTAFF AZ”. Possibly limited to 100 copies. Kristin: “thankyou to anyone who has ever broken my heart”. Also found a lovely handwritten note from Stewart which included an Elvis Costello quote: “fame usually disappoints but music rarely does”. Amen The Shop Assistants / The Chesterf!elds split flexi (GPV 007). “Home Again” / “Nose Out Of Joint”. “33 1/3 RPM Brought to you by: THE GOLDEN PATHWAY THE SUBWAY ORGANIZATION (and) THE LEGEND!)” Overpowering / Looking For An Answer split (Power It Up / Lokos Records / Victim Records / Controversy / Colapso Inminente) 5 tracks from each band on gold-ish vinyl. LFAA one of my favourite Spanish grindcore bands Slow Down Tallahassee / Standard Fare split (Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation SPC 024), on cherry red vinyl Roughneck Jihad / Lex Boogie From The Bronx split (Boot Records) Both tunes featuring Senz Beats. “Catastrophe” [DJ Jazz T remix)” b/w “War Of The Worlds”. Still one of the best British record labels out there Kano / Vybz Kartel “Buss It Up” (no label or other info). On now listening to this I realise it isn’t a split 7” at all but a one-sided Kano/VK collaboration. Still, nobody’s going to read this and notice?

Splits 31-36 of our celebration of the forthcoming Goodbye Wudaokou split 7" on Laurie/YYZ (even though one of them is a one-sided flexi and another isn't actually a split at all, more a collaboration). This second pic shows the 'back' covers. Birds of California / Kristin Mess split (555 Recordings 55549) “555 FLAGSTAFF AZ”. Possibly limited to 100 copies. Kristin: “thankyou to anyone who has ever broken my heart”. Also found a lovely handwritten note from Stewart which included an Elvis Costello quote: “fame usually disappoints but music rarely does”. Amen The Shop Assistants / The Chesterf!elds split flexi (GPV 007). “Home Again” / “Nose Out Of Joint”. “33 1/3 RPM Brought to you by: THE GOLDEN PATHWAY THE SUBWAY ORGANIZATION (and) THE LEGEND!)” Overpowering / Looking For An Answer split (Power It Up / Lokos Records / Victim Records / Controversy / Colapso Inminente) 5 tracks from each band on gold-ish vinyl. LFAA one of my favourite Spanish grindcore bands Slow Down Tallahassee / Standard Fare split (Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation SPC 024), on cherry red vinyl Roughneck Jihad / Lex Boogie From The Bronx split (Boot Records) Both tunes featuring Senz Beats. “Catastrophe” [DJ Jazz T remix)” b/w “War Of The Worlds”. Still one of the best British record labels out there Kano / Vybz Kartel “Buss It Up” (no label or other info). On now listening to this I realise it isn’t a split 7” at all but a one-sided Kano/VK collaboration.

Apparently I now have to “put those records away” so six last split 7"s (sorry struggling to find many pic sleeves).

All artists + labels [alt text] well worth further investigation though 😉

Addendum to our split 7"s post-work trawl. A Nothing Clean special (as split 7”s were something of a speciality for them). This pic shows the front covers Nothing Clean / Higgs Boson split (MMXVI FHED Records / Glass To The Face Records / Samizdat Records / SuperFi Records). 17 tracks all told. Nothing Clean / Ona Snop split (Gronk! Records / Repulsive Medias / Vleesklak Records / Samizdat Records). A mere 14 tracks Nothing Clean / Art of Burning Water split (Repulsive Medias / Samizdat Records / SuperFi Records / Vleesklak Records). 10 tracks all in. AOBW are Mike Air Max, K-Dog and Grief and their side is titled “Debt To Fake Vower Piolence” Nothing Clean / La Letra Pequena split (Vleesklak Records / Samizdat Records / Circus Of The Macabre Records). 12 tunes Nothing Clean / Exorbitant Prices Must Diminish split (Choothar Records / Circus Of The Macabre Records / Here and Now! Records / I Feel Good Records / No Bread! / Repulsive Medias / Samizdat Records). Think I counted 16 tracks. Less enamoured with this sleeve Jesus Of Spazzareth / Hammers split (label unclear). 3 tracks each with sticker, patch and fetching pic of Chas & Dave on the JoS side

Back sleeves of our Nothing Clean split 7"s with 5 other top bands (plus a Jesus of Spazzareth / Hammers one): Nothing Clean / Higgs Boson split (MMXVI FHED Records / Glass To The Face Records / Samizdat Records / SuperFi Records). 17 tracks all told. Nothing Clean / Ona Snop split (Gronk! Records / Repulsive Medias / Vleesklak Records / Samizdat Records). A mere 14 tracks Nothing Clean / Art of Burning Water split (Repulsive Medias / Samizdat Records / SuperFi Records / Vleesklak Records). 10 tracks all in. AOBW are Mike Air Max, K-Dog and Grief and their side is titled “Debt To Fake Vower Piolence” Nothing Clean / La Letra Pequena split (Vleesklak Records / Samizdat Records / Circus Of The Macabre Records). 12 tunes Nothing Clean / Exorbitant Prices Must Diminish split (Choothar Records / Circus Of The Macabre Records / Here and Now! Records / I Feel Good Records / No Bread! / Repulsive Medias / Samizdat Records). Think I counted 16 tracks. Less enamoured with this sleeve Jesus Of Spazzareth / Hammers split (label unclear). 3 tracks each with sticker, patch and fetching pic of Chas & Dave on the JoS side

And a Nothing Clean split 7” special (we do miss them - pulverising fastcore/PV from Leicester, alumni now in Thumbsucker & Sex Germs) with bonus Jesus of Spazzareth disc.

Each single features two bands, between 10 and 20 tunes and was released on 3, 4 or more different labels #realmusic

Totally. Martin Whitehead actually paid for a copy of our tape, fair play to him for that.

As nothing came of it we can legitimately say we were rejected by the Subway Organization…

Well we do have a super rough 2-track recording somewhere!

Maybe one day we can put it out as the most lo-fi CDr ever :)

That’s wonderful, must have been amazing.

I remember ordering my missing Rosehips 12”s from Rocker complete my collection! And a Flatmates legend too.