Sleeper and the female fronted Indie band !

Indolent Records had many great bands over the Britpop years but my fave were Sleeper no contest!
I remember watching the chart show and watching the video for "Delicious" and finishing work and going straight to our price to buy the single.I had the poster on my wall from the nice people over at Select magazine and the T-shirt from my local record shop (Torre records) and i wore it with pride.Of course this was before the internet so myself and friends set our video recorders to tape Top of the pops, Chart show and the O-zone  for all the goss and Videos ( i secretly had my own sleeper VHS i made!!! ).With Louise and the sleeperblokes in full swing it seemed to open the flood gates for other female fronted bands (I still have the clipping from NME with louise wearing the t-shirt).
Elastica with "Stutter" and "Connection", Echobelly with "Insomniac" and "I Can't Imagine the World Without Me" and Salad with "Motorbike to Heaven" to name just 3 bands were all bought on 12" and getting airplay on Radio 1 and starting the momento for the Britpop revolution!.It was a good time for young British bands and for us kids who thought it would never end!.

They don't make them like this any more !!

Link to Sleepers Debut album "Smart":

http://rapidshare.com/files/366678158/Sleeper_-_smart.rar

1st gig Menswe@r !.... The start of britpop

It was early 95 and myself and a group of mates went to see a little band called "Menswear".
Well that was it for me for the next 3 years, i slept, breathed and ate Britpop.
From that 1st gig i was a Cherry red Doctor Martin wearing Britpoper always searching record shops for that latest coloured vinyl.I remember Menswe@r was supported by either Thurman or Powder or i even think it was both!.Despite what has been said about Menswe@r i always have thought of them as a great band and have great memories of seeing them at the Cavern and then at the Glasto festival later in 95 (More about Glasto 95 to come).
I remember them on the front cover of Melody maker and they didnt even have a single out yet, the article was all about the start of the new mod movement which never really happened ( apart from bands like the weekenders and These animal men amongst others) and basically turned into Britpop.7 singles and 1 album later they disbanded at the same time the scene started to die.They did have a 2nd album in the pipeline which was never released (apart from i think in Japan) called "Hay Tiempo" which had a more trad rock sound to it!.


Ill always remember "Hollywood Girl" being belted in my ears by the huge speakers at the front of the stage and singing the words on the trip home to the train station.

One of the best bands of the era and to whom I dedicate this blog to.....