Rubella Ballet - Money Talks - VINYL LP

New R&B discoveries continue to emerge and entertain the many followers of the New Breed musical cult; nobody finds more than the Kent connoisseurs. Berna Dean's two previously unheard recordings are by far her best. They were laid down at Cosimo Matassa's New Orleans' studios by GNP Crescendo but eschewed in favour of two relatively average sides. The great 50s R&B songwriter Jesse Stone provides a rocker for the much-admired Jimmy Breedlove and a super-catchy 'This Morning' for an unknown mixed vocal group that has a joyous gospel feel. Jesse also penned 'Private Eye', a classic early 60s story-song, for Buddy Wilkins which was issued on Al Sears' Tri-Ess imprint. The title track is used twice, on two very different Fraternity recordings. Kenny Smith's version was issued in 1964 and has many followers, but the equally meritorious Coasters-inspired composition by the Citations is newly discovered. Win Menifee's 'I'm Runnin' Around' from the same Cincinnati tag comes complete with a fascinating back-story. There are three cover versions. Vermettya Royster's 'All Around The World' is backed by James Brown's 1961 band, while Roosevelt Lee's 1970 update of the 1947-originated 'Hey Little Girl' funks the tune up a la Godfather of Soul. The cover that will make the biggest noise is undoubtedly west coast band the Afterglows' version of Barbara Lynn's evergreen dancer 'I'm A Good Woman' - this is a future monster. Golden Crest provides two fabulous male vocal group sides - the swinging 'What's On Your Mind' by Eddie Daye's Four Bars and the delightful harmonies of the appropriately-named, but unknown Delights 'Mary Don't You Weep'. Blues still thrived into the 70s as Albert Washington's mean and moody 'Case Of The Blues' proves. Smokey Wilson took the music into the late 70s with the storming 'Goin' Away Baby (Round Like An Apple)', which benefits here from a 45-style edit.

. InchBig, confident pop songs that fizz with melodyInch 4 stars. Music OMH // InchAdmirers of the Magnetic Fields, Pet Shop Boys and the Postal Service ought to find I Blame Society a treasure trove.Inch 8/10 Press Association // Queer New York duo the Ballet marry the DIY ethos of the Hidden Cameras with the wry poeticism of the Magnetic Fields and the romantic pop of Jens Lekman, to create literate, infectious pop gems. Formed in 2005 by Greg Goldberg and Craig Willse, the Ballet self-released two previous albums Mattachine! (2006) and Bear Life (2009). These caught the attention of Fortuna Pop!, which released their third album, I Blame Society, in 2013. The Ballet has been joined by a few other musicians along the way including Ginger Brooks Takahashi and Michael O'Neill, who left in 2007 to join JD Sampson in MEN, as well as guest appearances on previous albums from Linton from The Aislers Set, Ramesh from Voxtrot, Scott Matthew, and Kaki King. In addition to citing Stephin Merritt as an influence, Goldberg, who writes and home records all of the band's songs, draws from an array of pop artists and periods, from 60's bubblegum to 80's synthpop and 90's indiepop, fusing these in sophisticated and novel ways that reward repeat listening. The Ballet's new album, Matchy Matchy, is a return to the upbeat tenor of the band's first two albums. While inspired by Goldberg's experience navigating an open relationship with his boyfriend of 14 years, Matchy Matchy is not straightforwardly autobiographical; Goldberg writes from his experience, while also fantasizing about the perspective of his objects of desire, leaving ambiguous which is which. He is generally less melancholic than on I Blame Society, and fans will notice a return to earlier themes (InchLookingInch tackles Grindr, as InchPersonalInch did Gaydar in 2006). Goldberg is not shy to write songs with explicitly

Album Tracks 1. The High Road 2. Vaporize 3. Your Head Is on Fire 4. The Ghost Inside 5. Sailing to Nowhere 6. Trap Doors 7. Citizen 8. October 9. Mongrel Heart 10. The Mall and Misery