Blowin' Cool

I know the name will probably turn most people off but once you get past it then there's some really good tunes waiting to be heard. A forgotten band of yesteryear Kitchens Of Distinction, name aside, are a real band with real songs and to their credit were doing things that a lot of others weren't comfortable doing. Lead singer Patrick Fitzgerald was openly gay and some of his lyrics pushed the envelope in the 80's when gay was still taboo for the most part. Fitzgerald was even a medical doctor but put that on hold to focus on the band. They released first album Love Is Hell in 1989, followed by Strange Free World in 1991, The Death Of Cool (in reference to Miles Davis passing away and his album The Birth Of Cool) in 1992 and finally Cowboys and Aliens in 1994. Sometimes the band would play secret shows as Toilets Of Destruction and dressed in drag playing ABBA, Bowie and Bauhaus covers. Jonny Greenwood even cited Cowboys and Aliens as an influence on Subterranean Homesick Alien. Sadly in 1996 the band split with Fitzgerald going on to create music under a new moniker Stephen Hero and Julian Swales moving on to compose music for films and theatre. Their name is taken from a company at the time that specialized in kitchen and bathroom fixtures, that one of the band members saw an advert for on the side of a bus. Heavily influencing many bands even if not being recognized for it from Interpol to Editors the sound they created will definitely live on. Get down to the sound:

"Drive That Fast" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"The 3rd Time We Opened The Capsule" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Quick As Rainbows" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Smiling" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"4 Men" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"What Happens Now" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Sand On Fire" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Here Come The Swans" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

Relax, Don't Think About The Way I Treat You

Ambulance LTD started with Michael Di Liberto and David Longstreth who were later joined by Marcus Congleton. They signed with TVT records and recorded their only album to date LP. All the members left the group in 2007 leaving Congleton to be the last one. He received rights to the name and began recording with John Cale (of Velvet Underground fame) in 2008 but to this day nothing has come out of it. Some demo's did appear on their Myspace but nothing in the form of a physical release. After a legal fight with TVT ,who prevented the band from releasing new material, after filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy, the label was taken over by The Orchard. They were influenced by everyone from Spiritualized to My Bloody Valentine to The Rolling Stones and their music definitely reflected a band that wasn't ready to be pigeon-holed in any genre. Such an amazing debut and subsequent EP's that it's a shame if they don't release anything else. Here's hoping:

"Sugar Pill" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Primitive" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Ophelia" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Stay Where You Are" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

A band that deserves to be heard so spread the tunes with everyone you know who would dig them. Always share what you hear!

Hanging Out With Scheme Eugene

So after a very long hiatus I am returning to writing about what I love best...music. Obscure music to put it best. I really appreciate everyone's support and hope that out of everything that maybe a couple of these bands have ended up in your music collection. If I've done that then I'm doing my job. Anyways onto the music and to kick things off I'm starting with an unknown (surprise) UK band (surprise) by the name of Red Light Company. They are from London, England and in their short time together gained some success with singles "Scheme Eugene" and "Meccano". NME touted them as one of the hottest bands of 2009. Since then the band has failed to capitalize on this other then releasing the great debut Fine Fascination in 2009. Nothing heard from the band since then until lead singer Richard Frenneaux posted a blog about his new project Anothers Blood in July 2011. Here's hoping the band isn't completely finished but Richard's trademark voice still lives on in Anothers Blood. Red Light Company drew comparisons to bands such as Arcade Fire and that is not too far from the mark as their music is infectiously catchy and easy to sing a long to. There is/was something about Red Light Company that just makes you want to listen to it over and over again. Always great to find a band that you've never heard and now can listen to repeatedly. Cheers to that:

"Scheme Eugene" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Arts & Crafts" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"With Lights Out" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c

"Meccano" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nC-uyhg1c