Jingle. Chug. Jangle. Chug. Jingle jangle. Chug chug chug…
Yes, once again it’s time to look forward to the delightful collision of indiepop music and good ol’ fashioned 1950s steam trains in the idyllic Derbyshire countryside. All aboard the twee train – Indietracks returns to head the small festival surge this July.
Taking a glance at the festival’s line-up, two of this year’s acts stick out as the big names. Edwyn Collins hardly needs an introduction anywhere or to anyone, and it’s great to see the former Orange Juice man back on stage. The Hidden Cameras are also well established, thanks to the quirkiness of Joel Gibb’s chamber pop across five remarkably consistent studio albums. However, while line-ups over the past number of events have largely been headed by a who’s who of indiepop pioneers from the past twenty-five years, this July Indietracks looks set to be more firmly rooted in the fringes of its constituency; the new, the obscure, and the international. Because of this, I felt it would be most fitting to laud four of the less familiar acts, all of whom could steal the show from the more established headliners…
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#1: Help Stamp Out Loneliness
…having said that, Help Stamp Out Loneliness have received such zealous acclaim over recent months, I was provided with a quandary over including them in such a feature. Their debut album was declared by this very webzine to be the best indiepop album of the year to date (https://godisinthetvzine.co.uk/index.php/2011/05/13/interview-help-stamp-out-loneliness/), and they have gained plaudits for their eclectic mix of C86-styled indiepop with more leftfield influences, such as the ‘Krautrock’ bands of the 1970s as well as The Velvet Underground (markedly the early with-Nico era). Indeed, HSOL have found themselves in the fortunate position as certified darlings of the online indie community, a popularity that has seen their status rise in the music press from that of a new oddity to a going concern. We can look forward to a set containing the spiralling, kaleidoscopic single “Record Shop” and the almost lachrymose despondency of “Cellophane”.
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#2: The Garlands
A more typical outfit for the festival, The Garlands continue in the grand Scandinavian tradition of fine indiepop. The Swedes’ titular debut E.P., released in 2008, was quintessentially twee, brimming with all the necessary traits of joyfully melodies, charming rhythms, chiming guitars, and soft vocals courtesy of Christin Wolderth. With slight changes of line-up since, the consolidated Garlands now look to win over legions (well, maybe not legions exactly – it is little Indietracks, after all!) of
revellers and elevate their stature to that of so many of the Scandinavian bands that have played at the festival since its inception in 2007. The Garlands fit the bill for this festival to a tee; a sure-fire success.
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#3: Crystal Stilts
Providing the antithesis to the buoyancy of the festival’s established twee ethos, Crystal Stilts are a post-punk collective who have crafted one of the most exhilarating albums in recent months. The brooding and atmospheric songs of In Love With Oblivion have gained them considerable attention this year alone, not least for their catchy hooks and guttural yet intricate sounds. The New Yorkers’ sophomore record firmly establishes their noise pop credentials and disseminates their ambitious
qualities (see the funeral march of “Alien Rivers”, clocking in at over seven minutes). Outsiders amidst the tweeness, the melancholic Slumberland band are likely to be one of the surprise packages of the festival in their prominent slot, and are sure to leave with many new Crystal-converts in tow; flowery shirts and cardigans swapped for black attire, shades, etc.
#4: Heroes of the Mexican Independence Movement
Rounding off this collection of exuberant and fresh faced bands are some rather more experienced hands. Heroes of the Mexican Independence Movement are the nearest thing to an indiepop supergroup at this year’s festival, with members drawn from Fonda 500, The Rocky Nest and Indietracks alumni The Loves. At the time of writing, we can’t be too sure what to expect from the affectionately dubbed HotMIM; they only formed in January, and are yet to release material (though we may get something before the festival, so fingers crossed). One glance at that colourfully scribbled logo (below right) tells you all you need to know about how (under)developed this new band is right now! However, with their experience, a tendency for an almost exotic pop style, and the promise displayed by glowing reviews for their first handful of live showings, HotMIM are an exciting prospect, and they could very well become long-term favourites once Indietracks is under
their belt.
Potential #5s: The orchestral indiepop of A Little Orchestra (truly charming!); the versatile and leftist singer-songwriter Chris T-T; the massive-smile-inducing Spanish pop of Guatafán; minimalist Parisian veterans Herman Düne; Jonny, the super-duo (Teenage Fanclub, Gorky’s) to HotMIM’s super-trio; and the wonderfully antiquated and sparse punk-folk (or ‘skiffle-twee’!) of the resurgent Milky Wimpshake.
With the above bands, as well as other top acts – the likes of jovial anti-folkster Jeffrey Lewis and loyal Indietracks stalwarts Pocketbooks and Horowitz – the Derbyshire festival is once again poised to be the major success story of the minor summer festivals. Moreover, Indietracks provides a real platform for those under-the-radar gems, as well as old hands.
“All aboard,” the twee train is coming…
Indietracks festival: 29 – 31 July, Midland Railway, Butterley, Derbyshire.
