Under the Bridge

If anyone has the right to put together a collection that serves as a tribute to the sound and spirit of the legendary indie pop label Sarah Records, its Skep Wax, which is run by Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey, both of whom were in Heavenly. Under the Bridge celebrates Sarah by gathering up bands from their heyday who are still recording and new groups from artists who recorded for the label. Its not meant to be nostalgia by any means; its pop of the moment made by musicians who arent guided by anything other than the need to make great pop songs. The classic contingent is led by the Orchids and St Christopher, two bands who were at the forefront of expanding the labels sound in the early days. The Orchids made tiny symphonies of heartbreak that could be two-minute acoustic singalongs or seven-minute excursions into sound. Their contribution here, "I Dont Mean to Stare," feels like a typical "hey, we need a song for a comp" kind of thing, until the laid-back charm kicks in and the loping, repetitive vocal melody lodges deeply in the brain. St Christopher seem to have discovered the joys of caustic noise, and their song "Stornaway" buries typically yearning vocals under bracing sheets of raw guitar noise. Others fare just as well at conjuring up the past while vaulting right into today. Secret Shine remind the current crop of shoegazers how its done on "Lost in the Middle," the Wake deliver a typically frosty serving of jangle-meets-synth pop on "Stockport," Boyracer turn in a song that fuses chaotic noise with punk precision (as usual) on the rousing "Larkin," and Even as We Speak somehow manage to sound younger than they did in the early 90s on the sprightly noise pop gem "Begins Goodbye." Impressive stuff, but equally so are the musicians who kept at it and formed new projects. Beth Arzy of Aberdeen strikes gold twice, once with the shimmering dream pop of the Luxembourg Signals "Travel Through Midnight" and again with Jetstream Ponys "Strood McD F.C." One of the Meadows brothers of the Sugargliders returns in the queasily glammy Leaf Mosaic, Heavenlys Peter Momtchiloff shows that his trademark guitar style has aged well on Tufthunters breezy French pop, and Soundwire, fronted by Simon Court of the Sweetest Ache, provide one of the albums highlights with the darkly distorted, not very Sarah-sounding "Another Sun." One song that does feel like a classic Sarah single is the contribution by Ameila and Robs band the Catenary Wires. "Wall of Sound" jangles and bops like a Heavenly song, only with more of the subtle orchestration the band have slowly added to their sound. More than a tribute, Under the Bridge completely captures what made Sarah Records so great. Its just bands playing their hearts out on songs that zing the heartstrings, brighten the darkness, and come across like perfect alternate-world radio hits. An impeccable blend of past and present, this is essential listening for indie pop lovers of any age. ~ Tim Sendra