Sarandon
Joe's Record

Cover art for Joe's Record by Sarandon Description: pink vinyl on Slumberland
Format: 7" (vinyl)
Genre(s): Indie Rock
Label: Slumberland
Price:
£2.59
Availability: In stock. Dispatched in 1 working day.

4Rating: 4
...according to our on 24 October 2007.

Sarandon are back with a pink vinyl 7" on Slumberland. I believe they've undergone a slight line up change but it's essentially the same thing you're getting here as on previous goodness. It's called 'Joe's Record' and it's a tribute to ex bass player Joe who used to buy records from us before he found something more important to do (it will happen to all of you at some point). Lovely jerky catchy indie rock which reminds me of earlier Young Knives at moments. I can see this appealing to the same sort of folks. Proper good music.

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What their label says...

Formed in 2003 by Crayola, Sarandon had 1 rehearsal before playing their first show and recording their debut 7 track EP, "The Miniest Album." The record grabbed some good reviews and a bunch of radio play, including being playlisted on to the first "Peel Show" after John Peel's death (RIP). 2004 saw the release of another 7 track ep, "The Big Flame," which led to 2005's "The Feminist Third."

A 2005 BBC session for Rob Da Bank's ONEmusic show was quickly followed by a fourth 7 track ep, "The June Bride," featuring guest appearances from Phil Wilson (The June Brides) and Alan Brown (Big Flame, Great Leap Forward, A Witness). Production work was once again handled with aplomb by Ant Chapman, noted for work with Bis, Spearmint and The Klaxxons.

In late 2006 all four EPs were collected onto a single album entitled The Completist's Library (Wrath Records, UK / HHBTM, USA) and the good reviews and radio play kept coming. And for good reason - Sarandon offer a perfect picture of how to make relevant post-punk in the 21st century. Short, sharp tunes are pared down to their most essential elements -- a riff, a melody, a smart lyric. Never overstaying their welcome, Sarandon dispense with the unnecessary to focus on communication, bringing to mind the concision of groups like Wire, Big Flame, The Wolfhounds and Josef K. Yes, it's pop, but a biting and restless brand that recalls the diverse musical re-imaginings that were a signal feature of the first wave of post-punk DIY experimentalists.

Now its 2007. The group now consists of Crayola, Stephen Gilchrist (Graham Coxon, Charlotte Hatherley, The Fuses) on drums and Alan Brown on bass. This new ep, "Joe's Record" is a tribute to ex bass player Joe and features a guest appearance on Hammond Organ from Scritti Politti's Rhodri Marsden. It is Sarandon’s first release on Slumberland. Could this label be Sarandon's natural home? The band certainly think so, and we do too.