various: a sunday matinee

A fantastic compilation celebrating the 15th anniversary of California indie label Matinée Recordings. To honor this milestone, the label invited 15 of its artists from around the world to contribute a previously unreleased, exclusive, or rare recording to this collection and the result is a smashing success! Australian collective Bart and Friends start the album off right with the ace autumnal pop of ‘There’s No Place,’ while Danish favorites Northern Portrait turn up the jangle with a brilliant new song called ‘The Young and Hopefuls’ and popular Scottish act Bubblegum Lemonade deliver another pop classic with ‘You Can’t Be Sad All The Time.’ Celebrated Irish fivesome September Girls show off their ace harmonies on the haunting, reverb soaked ‘Danny Wood,’ Simpático delivers the finest in Australian electro pop with the mesmerizing track ‘The Rays,’ and England showcases its first of three bands with the legendary Would-Be-Goods and their magnificent cover of the Martha and the Vandellas classic ‘No More Tearstained Makeup.’ Englishmen Charlie Big Time follow up their recent EP with a positively swinging new song ‘One Step Closer To Enemies,’ while sorely missed Australian hitmakers The Lucksmiths contribute the second cover song on the album with a brilliant version of the Jonathan Richman track ‘When I’m Walking’ and Swedish band The Electric Pop Group break a four-year silence with the ultra jangly new song ‘Parliament Square.’ Scottish duo Strawberry Whiplash return with a fuzzy pop gem called ‘September Saturday,’ Seattle’s Math and Physics Club channel their inner Housemartins with the harmonica-rich pop of ‘I Know It’s Over,’ and Australia celebrates its fourth contribution with the mighty new song ‘Through The Curtain’ from The Steinbecks. Brazil’s Pale Sunday showcases the best in South American pop with an excellent new song ‘In The Hardest Moment,’ while elusive American expats (and former Fairways) Clay Hips contribute great new track ‘Someone Who Wanders’ and English act Melodie Group conclude things in fine fashion with their first song in eight years called ‘Only Forever.’ An extraordinary collection of some of today’s best indie bands, ‘A Sunday Matinée’ celebrates 15 years of sparkling pop and documents the continuing vitality of the Matinée Recordings roster.