A Bout de Heavenly [The Singles]

by Heavenly

Overview

Formed as they were from the lineup of C-86 pioneers Talulah Gosh, sometimes Heavenly don't get the same credit. They weren't as groundbreaking, but their tunes stacked up just as well when put side by side. Over the course of their brief career, Heavenly created an impressive catalog of songs that are well overdue for reissue. A Bout de Heavenly remedies this glaring absence from the marketplace by collecting all the band's singles and the Atta Girl EP in one lovely package. It kicks off with the band's run of singles on Sarah Records, starting with 1990's double shot of brilliant indie pop -- the lilting "I Fell in Love Last Night" and the bouncy "Over and Over" -- that set the parameters of their sound quite well. The star-crossed love songs, the subtle sweetness of Amelia Fletcher's vocals, the jangling and twang of Peter Momtchiloff's guitar, the rubbery punch of the bass and drums, all came together in perfect harmony. Less insistent than Talulah Gosh, but with similarly memorable melodies that sink in a little deeper thanks to the calmer, more confident approach of the music. "Wrap My Arms Around Him" is a highlight of their early recordings, a bubbly girl group song that transmits all the giddy rush of a crush into three minutes of eager-to-please indie pop. The 1991 single on K Records begins to show a tougher side of the band more in line with bands like the Wedding Present; A-side "She Says" features guitars that clang as much as twang and Fletcher's vocals have more punch than previously shown. By the time of the Atta Girl EP, the band were capable of whipping up an almost shoegaze-y wall of guitars as on the title track or pogo'ing with wanton enthusiasm on "P.U.N.K. Girl" while incorporating the ideals of the burgeoning riot grrrl scene. The magical vocal interplay between Fletcher and new member Cathy Rogers was also in full flight by this time and the band was growing from a well-oiled twee pop machine into a band capable of much more, as their albums often showed. They even gleefully took on Brit-pop on their 1996 songs "Trophy Girlfriend" and "Space Manatee" -- and convincingly covered the Jam's "Art School" for good measure -- but since they were just a ropey Sarah band, they never got a glance from the press. Heavenly fans knew better, and their incarnation as a powerful indie rock band was just as tunefully loveable as their early twee pop days. This collection stands as compelling proof of that fact and will hopefully awaken more interest in one of the most thoughtful, cheerfully romantic, and reliably hooky pop bands the early '90s had to offer. ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	12/11/2020
Label:	Damaged Goods
UPC:	5020422053724
Rank:	95531

Tracks

1. I Fell in Love Last Night
2. Over and Over
3. Our Love Is Heavenly
4. Wrap My Arms Around Him
5. She Says
6. Escort Crash on Marston Street
7. So Little Deserve
8. I'm Not Scared of You
9. Atta Girl
10. P.U.N.K. Girl
11. Hearts and Crosses
12. Dig Your Own Grave
13. So?
14. Trophy Girlfriend
15. Space Manatee
16. You Tore Me Down
17. Art School

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Heavenly   Primary Artist
Chris Wilson   Primary Artist
The Catherines of Arrogance   Vocals

Technical Credits

Peter Momtchiloff   Group Member
Cathy Rogers   Group Member
Heavenly   Composer
Richard Haines   Engineer
Cyril Jordan   Composer
Rob Pursey   Group Member
Ian Shaw   Engineer
Mathew Fletcher   Group Member
Paul Weller   Composer
Amelia Fletcher   Group Member
Alison Wonderland   Photography,Sleeve Design