I just came across this excellent band, The Magick Heads, on the Mira El Pendulo blog tonight, and can't wait to post about it. I can't read a word on that website, but I gather this from other sources: The band was formed in New Zealand in 1991, and was led primarily by guitarist Robert Scott and singer Jane Sinnott. They released two albums on the Flying Nun label, Before We Go Under in 1994 and Woody in 1997. Soon after the latter album the band disbanded. Robert also played in the bands Clean and Bats, of whom I know nothing, but both seem to have been released by Flying Nun also.This song has been on repeat the whole evening, while I've been struggling to no avail networking two computers at my home. Jane's lovely vocals and the jangling guitar eases the pain somewhat.
The Magick Heads - Before we go under
Oh my goodness... please do yourself a favor and hurry into the jangle-pop Flying Nun-iverse -- The Clean and The Chills and The Bats and The Verlaines to get started, and then moving beyond the pure jangle to Look Blue Go Purple and Tall Dwarfs and the 3Ds and so many other excellent records. Flying Nun was an integral part of the late 80s and early 90s on US college radio, just as much as "Wanna Buy A Bridge" and C86.
The Bats are great. As are The Clean. And The Chills. Not overly acquainted with much else on Flying Nun.
and my first ever post on here was about The Bats. October 2005. :-)
Cool, always learning something new! ;)
This sneaky bastard at Mira El Pendulo is just plagarizing my blog! Oh well, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
¡viva la revolucion!
I just used the MP3s you uploaded, is that plagiarism? I can upload them myself too, no problem. :)
I used to have 7 CDs by the Bats (including a couple of EPs and a single]. I enjoyed the melodies to most of their songs and the strummy guitar work. But, I don't really like Mr. Scott's voice and their lyrics never did anything for me. Ultimately, I donated the CDs to the local library.
On the other hand, I've always liked the Clean and Mr. Scott's role in it. Well, I'd never previously heard of The Magick Heads and I'd like to thank you for bringing them to my attention. They sound something like The Bats with a Maddy Prior/Anne Briggs/Sandy Denny-style vocalist. She's wonderful, and that eliminated one of my complaints about Mr's Scott's music. I think that Mr. Scott recycled a couple of Magick Heads melodies and some lyrics with the Bats. No complaint there, it's just that some of the songs sound so familiar that it actually has put an end to my missing some of the Bats tunes. [No, I didn't rip the CDs before donating them.] Now, I haven't listened to Woody, Before We Go Under or Lazy Ways enough yet to comment on the lyrics.
The Chills have some moment of genius. Cakekitchen has a couple as well. And, while we're talking about Kiwi bands, give Dead Famous People a listen. Especially the songs Barlow's House and Clean Hanky.
Lastly, as far as Cakekitchen goes, try the song Silence Of The Sirens on the Time Flowing Backwards album as an example.