Back in June before the European Referendum, we published this playlist on our Facebook page, saying “EU citizens: they are on your building sites, they pick your fruit, they are your new sister-in-law or your hairdresser, people seem to like bashing them these days – to celebrate their contribution to the UK here’s a little playlist for you: UK bands with members from other EU countries and European bands we like.” Even more needed now. Includes The Hanging Stars, The Raincoats, Stereolab, The Microgirls, Robert Rotifer, Soko, Whyte Horses, Bed Rugs, Savages and more.
Category: News
All that’s in the pantry, the good cooking grandma is making..
Soho Radio Ben and Tjinder Show – Easter Monday – Listen here
Ben and Tjinder were asked to cover for James Endeacott on Easter Monday. Catch up here:
Cornershop Born Disco Died Heavy Metal 1994 2016
In 1994 we recorded Born Disco; Died Heavy Metal, and put it out in tartan metal jacket and that was that (as per below), and then as part of our Hold On It Hurts album. Then we decided that that was not that and recorded it in easy listening form as part of the Hold On It’s Easy album. Now in 2016 we have decided to put vocals to it again in easy listening form, with vocals by The Mike Flowers Pops (further below). We promise not to have any other versions of it out ever, unless the opportunity presents itself, for we understand that easy listening is not always easy reading.
We have also decided to use this website more, and talk about some of the episodes the group has gone through, so if you have any questions please contact us.
1994
2016
Cornershop Ft The Mike Flowers Pops ‘Born Disco; Died Heavy Metal’ Hold The Corner EP
Last year we released our 1994 debut noisy pop album completely reworked as an easy listening vinyl slab. It came out on our label Ample Play Records and you check it out and order it here.
“Cornershop’s creative highs have sometimes seemed like the result of Tjinder Singh’s desire to prove his critics wrong – never more so than on this instrumental reworking of their debut album.” John Mulvey, Uncut
Some stated the easy lounge was reminiscent of Mike Flowers Pops. In the meantime, Tjinder had got to know Mike Flowers drummer, and it was therefore arranged that Mike would do his take on the original lyrics. The result is something that is augmented and fresh – a solid set of tracks for all the family, they are even still in keeping with the politics of the day, if not more so.
To accompany the song, the UK’s most celebrated hoola hoopers Hoop La La especially created choreographed a piece for the video (film and photography by Phil Miller) – Ooh La La Lemmy.
Out 1st of April via all digital plaftorms, including our own Ample Play.
Summer’s Up Ample Player
hip hip hooray – ‘What Did the Hippie Have in His Bag?’ workshop in France
Ollie got in touch with us to buy, and asked for additional material relating to the song/book/vinyl ‘What Did The Hippie Have In His Bag?’ to create a lesson for his children’s school. Ollie hailed from my old alma mater of Preston, so we were happily surprised that this lesson/workshop was for a French school. It sounds like it went tip-top, this is how he describes the situation in his own words:
“Being a massive Cornershop fan (and indeed owning our own Cornershop in Cornwall), whilst now living in Southern France, I was approached to donate some time and ideas for an English Day at our children’s Bilingual school, the perfect opportunity to bring my passion for music and art presented itself.
‘What Did The Hippie have In His Bag?‘ immediately sprung to mind as lending itself perfectly to the occasion. It’s an undeniably funky toe tapper of a tune, very English and my kids love it (even Nancy who, just turned three recently, knows the words and will often insert them into everyday life, e.g. Double days and bubble gum, what did Max and Nancy eat for lunch?…….it’s unknown!) The idea to instill a bit of Cornershop wisdom and humour into the French kids learning- irresistible, perhaps a little left field, maybe too bonkersly British but a challenge worth undertaking.
The kids and I knocked up a Hippie’s bag and contents over a long French Bank Holiday weekend. A couple of additions were made to tailor the story for the English Hippie in a French environment (Marmite and Curly Wurleys) and we were good to go.
Being double rubbish at French didn’t make the workshop an easy prospect but undaunted and with a Hippie bag full of enthusiasm (and Curley Wurleys) and help from Tjinder and the brilliant head teachers we were off. “OK so you all going to join in?” Yeaaaah
We played ‘Hippie’ through before reading the book with the help of props and interpretation. The repetition of the title with the children backing is great for worming its way into your head and making it irresistible for singing along to. I tried to focus on words that are similar in French and English like boobley goom, marmalade, comprehend, espace, notre sac and hearing fifteen French voices pronouncing squelch (Mirandaesque – squelch, nice word squelch) is wonderful.
We finished by playing the video and the distribution of English confectionary. Six groups of kids ranging from eight to eleven passed through and hopefully left a little wiser to the world of pure imaginative, very British, eccentric, funky silliness. They certainly gamely played along and I’d like to think there’s a place in their hearts for the Hippie and his bag.
I’m already planning on doing it again soon with the addition of percussion and aimed at younger children too…….watch this space!
Now that we’ve climbed the mountain, the mountain will never seem the same again!”
Words and pictures by Ollie Hutchinson
BUY THE VINYL/BOOK FROM OUR SHOP
Sleeveface Collection
Just a few sleevefaces from my vinyl collection
The whole family takes part, including the wire fox terrier.
The new Daft Punk Helmet
The Action Records Story
Just been sent this link to a short film about Action Records, Preston Lancashire. Me and Ben studied in Preston, and met in the doorway of a Preston Polytechnic house we were about to share for our first year. That was 227 Garstang Road. As we ventured in to Preston, it was quite easy to spot many pubs, (and everyone of them a winner), and one independent record shop – Action Records, and our world for a few years was cemented. Action was where you went for the latest releases and where you could fill in the gaps of years in between, especially in the 70’s reggae arena as I remember. The shop was owned and run by Gordon chiefly assisted by Alan, both were formidable characters that took no shit, but once you knew them they were like music professors that the Polytechnic were not brave enough to keep on their staff.
This short film touches on the shop’s history and how it came to be, and still is part of Preston’s backbone. We are very happy about it because it also includes other friends and luminaries such as:
Marcus Parnell our first manager, singer songwriter of the legendary Dandelion Adventure, and no holds barred superstar.
Nick Brown of the Membranes, Clawfist Records Label, and Intoxica Records Shop owner, who was about the only person in London to reply to our demos, not only to encourage us as a group starting out, but setting out the blueprint to develop.
David Chambers, a Local Preston fanzine writer who took it upon himself to play drums in the early years of Cornershop because he was more into us than we were – I also DJ’d with David for a few years, and that brings us to the Star of the Show, Action Records. Time is tight, please pass it on.
The Action Records Story: Chased by Nuns from Levy Park Productions on Vimeo.
