It is nice to be shown to be right, every so often on 17 Seconds.

Back in February 2009, I wrote a feature on a band just about to release their first single, called Help Stamp Out Loneliness.

At the time I commented that I thought their best song was ‘Record Shop.’ Well, fast forward just over two years, and that same song (which wasn’t a single but I was so enamoured of it that the band sent me an mp3 of it, bless ’em!) is now a free download fron the rather fine wiaiwya (Where It’s At Is Where You Are). I also commented that there were several lazy comparisons that people would make about their music; but I think about from two well-known Glasgow bands, It’s like an androgynous-voiced Nico fronting Stereolab. Oh yes indeedy…

Help Stamp Out Loneliness – Record Shop by wiaiwya

Not only that, but the band are shortly to release their debut album, the tracklisting for which is as follows:

Cottonopolis + Promises
Angelyne
Record Shop
Ghost With A Hammer in His Hand
Biergarten
Palma Violence
My Window
Me, Sola & C
Cellophane
S*W*I*M
Tracy Tracy
Split Infinitives

The album is due out in May, the free single is available now.

Record Shop Day is April 16. That means support your local indie shop, do not download it from iTunes or buy ity from a big conglomerate, yes? More about this shortly…

‘Could you review our single?’ say so many email requests. It’s hard to be hurtful, when you like what you hear (and are still getting emailed requests from people going ‘You said you’d feature us…whne are you going to do it?!?!). Sometimes, it may be just chance but there are bands that -even without an mp3 to post, I figure, sod it, I have to feature them.

And one such band are Help Stamp Out Loneliness. Hailing from Manchester (but of course!), they are another fine reminder of how much gorgeous underground c-86 influences there are out there. Citing 4AD legends Colourbox as their main inspiration the band comprise D. Lucille Campbell (vocals, tambourine); Louise Winfield (organ, vocals); Katherine McMahon (piano, vocals); Bentley Cooke (guitar); Colm McCrory (bass); Ben Ambridge (drums, maracas); Ana Log (70’s drum machine & general sex appeal; it says here). Lazy comparisons will be drawn with B*l*e and S*b*s*i*n and C*m*r* O*s*u*a; for me, it’s Stereolab, not because this sounds like space age bachelor pad music, so much as it sounds very european, and I mean that as a compliment.

Their debut single ‘Torville and Dean’ will be out soon on Papiloons Noirs, and you can hear it on their myspace page. For me their standout track is ‘Record Shop.’

You’ll have a favourite Help Stamp Out Loneliness song soon too…