A guest posting by flimflamfan
It’s often proposed that when life throws you lemons, the positive way forward is to make lemonade, from said lemons. In 2024 my partner and I were awash with oversized lemons and drowning in zingy-fresh lemonade until the only thing left to do was gasp (in utter disappointment and, of course) for air. It seems we were not alone in our lemon-fest; our small circle of friends wondered what they could do with their own unrelenting lemons.
I can therefore confirm that 2024 was a brutal, exhausting bastard. I’m content to be gazing at it in the rear-view mirror.
For the most part I found it difficult to find productive, enjoyable time to search out or listen to new music. That’s not to say I didn’t have any time – laziness and apathy played their parts too.
Perusing the New Vinyl Villain introduced me to new bands and also new-to-me bands. I even went as far as making some purchases based on these recommendations. Blimey!
However, it wasn’t until mid-2024 when, I’ll be honest, matters were shite, that I was introduced to Humdrum by a local pop-picker who indulges in using a shoe moniker.
From my perspective I think it fair to say that there was nothing ‘new’ being offered by the band – a knowledgeable pop person may be able to list each and every influence. I have no such knowledge. What I can say with some confidence is that each song, when played for the first time, felt like an old, cherished friend who’d bought some swanky new clothes and wanted everyone to feel the quality of this new, robust material.
This, for me, was indie pop by numbers – balanced, knowing and yet, naive. The LP Every Heaven went on repeat rotation. It played out 2024 and welcomed in 2025.
The familiarity. The comfort was exactly what I needed. It seems some of that familiarity may be borne from the fact that members of Humdrum had previously been in a band called Star Tropics – a band I’m almost certain I was introduced to via the same shoe-monikered fountain-of-pop knowledge.
Every Heaven is an LP I whole heartedly recommend. It can lift the most weighted of spirits
mp3: Humdrum – There And Back Again
An album that was a constant companion in 2024 was the twenty year old, sole LP by Language of Flowers, Songs About You (2004). A trip from Glasgow east to west by train accompanied by this LP and The Darling Buds Peel Sessions is one of my most pleasant memories of 2024. Imagine my delight when Daydream Records announced that Songs About You was to be released on vinyl for the first time (in a tiny run of 200) and that the running order of the LP would change to accommodate the reduced time available on the vinyl pressing. I ordered my copy from the specific limited edition of 25 and… paid more for postage than I did for the LP, only to learn many months later that Monorail (a rather wonderful record shop in Glasgow) would stock very limited quantities. It’s very likely one of the most expensive new LPs I have ever bought, and I look very much forward to receiving it – some 6 months, and counting, after it was supposed to arrive.
In other good news, Language of Flowers is recording new songs. Hurrah! If pop-bliss is your thing, then do seek them out.
mp3: Language Of Flowers – If It’s Not You
As if the above snippets of pop were not enough, there was one more nugget to feed my indie pop hunger. Heavenly, as you may or may not know, reformed for some shows in London in 2023. My tickets were bought immediately. Unfortunately, as is often the case these days, I failed to attend. It was, it has to be said, all very predictable, but still it smarted. When the band announced they would play Glasgow as part of GlasGoesPop (2024), a ticket was once again purchased – except it wasn’t, which is a whole other story in itself.
As the gig date approached, so did my pre-gig nerves. In swooped one that walks these halls to lessen my anxieties and, in fact, make the gig a reality.
As I stood in a corner watching Heavenly play so many familiar songs (except two I had heard snippets of from the London gigs) I was transported back to a time when I was younger. A time I had more confidence. A time when I’d most likely still be standing in a corner watching a band.
It was a superb night of music, with the band doing what it does so incredibly well – making it all look so darn effortless. Approx. ten years since my previous gig. It was more than worth stepping out for.
mp3: Heavenly – Cool Guitar Boy
You may be asking yourself ‘what on earth is the point of this post?’. I know I am.
I think the purpose is that there is often lemonade in our lives – we often can’t see it for the lemons (except when the lemons are drowning in vodka), obviously. Much of the positive ‘distractions’ I’ve needed have been found in these pages – either posts, or replies. There’s a real sense of positivity, and dare I say it, ‘community’? I guess this could be described as a thank you to JC and the many contributors. I guess it could. I guess it could?
flimflamfan
JC adds…….
Regular readers and visitors will know just how much FFF has contributed to this blog over many years; he hasn’t gone into any detail, but I know that the past twelve months were incredibly difficult for him for all sorts of reasons, but as he mentions in his piece, he’s aware that many others have had awful experiences in recent times.
I really hope that him finding precious time and having the energy to offer up a guest posting after such an extended absence is an indication that the coming weeks and months will prove to be better for him.
And it also allows me to again say to everyone that this little corner of t’internet is a place where, if you want to offer your views, thoughts and opinions on any subject matter under the sun, I can almost certainly guarantee it will be posted – the usual caveats about not being provocative/offensive will apply! The email address can be found on a sidebar or below the main body of the text, depending on which sort of device you use to access the blog.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 