OBSCURE ALTERNATIVES #3 - THIS AIN'T ROCK 'N' ROLL, THIS IS....... GRENOSIDE

During the last great age of alternative pop and indie (1990 - 2010), loads of great  little bands popped up who, despite much acclaim from the music weeklies, never quite achieved the success of some of their contemporaries. One such band was The Long Blondes. A five piece formed in Sheffield in 2003, they traded in a brand of catchy, literate alt indie-pop, or to put it in singer Kate Jackson's words:   "Nico, Nancy Sinatra, Diana Dors and Barbara Windsor. Sexy and literate, flippant and heartbreaking all at once." Blondie were also an  influence on their sound and style. They also peppered their lyrics with references from film and tv. They claimed to have all chosen an instrument and learned how to play it, lending their first few independent singles a rawer feel. The then unsigned band - Kate Jackson (vocals), Kathryn "Reenie" Hollis (bass/backing vocals), Dorian Cox (lead guitar/keyboards/principal songwriter), Emma Chaplin (rhythm guitar/keyboards/backing vocals), and Mark Turvey aka Screech Louder (drums) - quickly became favourites of the NME and Melody Maker, releasing several critically well received singles on small independent labels, and won the NME Philip Hall Radar Award early in 2006, whilst still holding down day jobs (Jackson sold vintage clothes on eBay, an influence on her own personal style.) 

Finally they signed to Rough Trade, and set about recording their debut album, preceded by the dynamic singles "Weekend Without Makeup " and "Once And Never Again" , which, with a cleaner, poppier sound, gave them their first Top 40 entries. 

The album Someone To Drive You Home was released in November 2006, reaching No. 44. Full of propulsive, danceable indie pop catchiness, which drew some comparisons with Franz Ferdinand, outsiders, relationships from a female perspective and references from the 50's and 60's were the predominant themes. Some felt that they needed a producer who would bring out the innate poppiness in their music, but personally i think it's a great album. Sadly, it got lost in the pre-Christmas releases, and not even a re-recorded "Giddy Stratospheres" - their best and most "pop" song - could give them that extra push to raise their profile. Touring and slots at festivals kept them bubbling along whilst they prepared for their second album. Recording with the in-demand and in vogue producer Erol Alkan - who had already remixed a few of the band's tracks, alongside work for Interpol, Scissor Sisters, Chemical Brothers and Daft Punk to name but a few - they set about changing their sound, taking more influences from Italo disco and pop greats like ABBA. Couples was released in April 2008, preceded by the single "Century" , which gave a clue to the darker, cinematic feel of the album. Neither of the singles from it charted, and the album limped to No.48. It was greeted with mixed reviews, and any chance of promotion was scuppered when Dorian Cox fell seriously ill after a stroke  that summer, forcing the band to cancel a promising support slot on tour with Duran Duran.

That October, they released Singles, a compilation of all their early and rare 7" releases, announcing that they were splitting up. It was a sad end to a promising band who brought some glamour, wit and pop nous to the sometimes dour world of indie. Kate Jackson began a solo career, initially under the name Madame Ray but later as Kate Jackson & The Wrong Moves. She collaborated with former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler on an album, British Road Movies, released in 2016 to a warm reception. Dorian Cox recovered from his stroke and now performs with the band Unmade Bed. Hollis and Louder formed The Bon Bon Club. 

Both albums and the early singles compilation are worth seeking out, as are their singles for some excellent non-album b-sides and remixes.