Back in 1978, Dolly Mixture began like a joke, anticipating the thousands of kids who would, years later, form Myspace “bands” for fun and then stop their output at band pictures. The trio of friends, however, went on to make one great album blending throwback girl-group pop with a subtle post-punk upbringing, and the joke became a reality for 27 tracks.
Girls Names’ deal sounds a little like that (audibly, they’re separated by quite a few things — specifically, a murkier sound, darker material, and a male singer). The story is that Cathal Cully and Neil Brogan decided to form a band in Belfast back in 2009, and before ever playing together, they had a show booked. They added a bassist a few months later, and in the time since, they’ve released a handful of singles and EPs on Captured Tracks, Slumberland, and Tough Love. When it comes to the big guns, though, who would a band with comparisons to Dum Dum Girls, Black Tambourine, and Felt go to but Slumberland Records? (A quick note on the band name: could be a play on groups like The Ronettes, Talulah Gosh, Velocity Girl, and even Dolly Mixture — influences on quite a large chunk of Slumberland’s current roster.)
Slumberland recently announced that Girls Names’ first full-length, cheerfully entitled Dead to Me, will be released on April 26. Check out their split 7-inch with Brilliant Colors here (or hey, buy it at your local record store).
Dead to Me tracklisting:
01. Lawrence
02. I Could Die
03. When You Cry
04. No More Words
05. Nothing More to Say
06. I Lose
07. Cut Up
08. Bury Me
09. The Kiss Goodbye
10. Séance on a Wet Afternoon
• Girls Names: http://gogogirlsnames.blogspot.com
• Slumberland: http://www.slumberlandrecords.com