Falling And Laughing. The Shambolic Birth Of Indie Pop!
7 Comments Published by Augustus Payne on Monday, October 29, 2007 at 23:05.
Coon Skin Hats, Unabashed Innovation, Boy Scout Uniforms, Drumming Kittens and some of the greatest songs never heard!The Birth of Indie Pop can arguably be traced back to two visionary men Edwyn Collins of Orange Juice and Alan Horne founder of Postcard Records. In 1979 Postcard was founded by Mr. Horne in Glasgow as an outlet for Edwyn’s Revolutionary jangle funk band Orange Juice.
They were known to wear racoon skin hats and wear boy scout uniforms but most of all they were known as the most innovative and campy band of the post punk generation, Influencing everyone from The Smiths to most of the C-86 movement in the process. Edwyn and Alan were influenced by Andy Warhol’s Factory, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Classic Ballads, Punk and Soul music in equal measure. There was defiantly not another band like Orange Juice in 1980, the bleak days after punk. Just like the sweet drink from which they took there name they were a ray of light in an otherwise dull musical climate. Along the way Postcard released some of the best singles of the post punk era Josef K’s Radio Drill Time, Aztec Camera’s Just Like Gold, The Go-Betweens I Need Two Heads and of course the song that kicked off Indie Pop Falling and Laughing by Orange Juice.
These were singles of incredible depth and innovation packaged in 7’inch sleeves decorated with pictures of the old west and drumming kittens. Postcard’s motto was “The Sound of Young Scotland”, a play on the old Motown catchphrase. These four Postcard bands brought together the jingle jangle of the Byrds The three chord melodramas of The Velvet Underground the funk of Chic (except the Go- Betweens who had there own striped sunlight sound) and the heart and independent soul of punk. Orange Juice injected an unstoppable combination of beautiful naivety, enthusiasm and depth into there music that makes you really feel connected with the music they created. Just like The Velvet Underground, Orange Juice may not have sold many records during there time but there influence is still being felt to this day. There are many modern day bands that took note of the Postcard aesthetic they include Franz Ferdinand, Belle and Sebastian, Afternoon Naps and Bears. Long Live Postcard Records and Orange Juice!
Essential Indie Pop Albums
Orange Juice The Glasgow School
Josef K Entomology
The Go Betweens Black Diamond And The Liberty Belle Express
Aztec Camera High Land Hard Rain
CD 86 48 Tracks From The Birth Of Indie Pop
Rough Trade Shops Indie Pop 1
Great OJ photo. Is it okay to use it in my own blog? I think it's from the 'transitional' line-up, between the first Polydor album and 'Rip It Up.
Super informative post. Thank you for continually providing such a quality music blog.
Good first post! No Fire Engines though. I think what was going on in Edinburgh at the same time also contributed to the birth of indie pop.
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I like the nod to Factory/Velvets - I think that combined with the beatles and some post punk/punk stuff (Subway Sect, TV Personalities, Buzzcocks etc) was part of the early indie pop melting pot. Along with the Postcard label. Great post, Augustus, welcome onboard.
Your right about the Edinburgh Scene. Fire Engines for sure had a big hand in the birth of indie pop.I was just focusing more on Orange Juice and the amazing singles that postcard released
Excellent article. You make a strong argument for Scotland kickstarting the whole thing we now call indiepop. It's set me off thinking about bands/records that would fit into the indiepop aesthetic before the 'Postcard' brand became the template. I thought of the early Go Betweens singles, for example or people like Chris Stamey in the US who aren't punk or post-punk. Look forward to reading more articles like this.