Hi All, It seems to be OK to discuss the new single even though its not been released yet: so as I was able to overhear someone listening to it the other evening I'll stick my oar in too with a couple of initial impressions. I'll agree with fellow juror Mr Leonard's consistent high scores & would add that the first thing to strike me was how great it SOUNDS: a beautiful recording, crystal clear with every voice & instrument distinct. There's a splash cymbal in Jonathan David that shatters as painfully as a sheet of glass. The most impressive thing about JD seems to be the vocal arrangement & the way it builds between Stevie Reverb, Stuart & (what sounds to me more like Sarah than Isobel, but I'm most probably mistaken). Is it this that has inspired the comparisons with The Zombies? I also caught myself jigging about to it behind the settee in my uniquely clumsy way. As to TYCCASI (yes!) I think its the string arrangement that makes it: someone's getting better at these, from FYHCYWLAP, through Camera Obscura's Eighties Fan & now this - wow! I've been trying not to think about the lyrics too much though as in certain aspects they reflect my own current work experience & I fear that pondering them too closely might make me blub. Pretty pedal steel too, I wonder who plays that? Its really difficult to achieve an objective viewpoint on this now but I suspect that if I knew nothing about Belle and Sebastian and were to hear this on the radio it would have the same effect on me as The State I Am In did in '96. TLOTMDR: is it really 3 and a half years since this was broadcast on Beat Patrol? Great to have a "proper" version available at last. So many instruments! At least 6 guitars, I think, as well as various keyboards, strings, percussion & whistling: you'd probably need chemical help to listen to them all at the same time. Anyway, onto that real list business stuff. Peter Miller asked for a Chris Leonard gig review days ago & never received one. I bet a list Mum or two went, but all Lulou@missspell.org does is snub Peter by consistently calling him "Millar". All I can contribute is a note about The Foxgloves gig last week when they played to a lucky audience of 8 gorgeous people & me (at least two thirds of whom listees) in a smart loft in Clerkenwell. Great sound, welcome, hospitality & atmosphere despite (because of?) the small number present. Joe Brooker/The Pinefox kicked off proceedings with 3 new solo songs before being joined by Stevie "Le" Troussé for another 10 numbers including 2 new Stevie songs & covers of Laura Cantrell & some geezer called ?Lloyd Cole. Excellent: wish you all could have heard it. Jinx followed with a delightful performance but I can't go into as much detail because unfortunately I'm not at all familiar with their material. Thanks to all concerned. Where's Big Gay Mark's right arm in that Primrose Hill picnic photo? http://www.missprint.org/sinister/picnics/May2001-ThePrimrosePath3.html The new Super Furry Animals album is fantastic. I never thought I would read myself saying that. My PC's been busted so I've missed the Dunoon reviews on Sinister: were they any good? Soon be Friday!!!!! Love, David Moore Chelmsford, UK +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister@missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo@missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +-+ Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+