234) Shop Assistants - Will Anything Happen?

I have told you that I fancied Tracy Tracy from The Primitives, I was also a big fan of Kim Wilde, Susan Sulley, Belinda Carlisle, Tina the drummer from Fuzzbox and Shirley and Rona from Goodbye Mr MacKenzie.

You are probably all thinking but how were you into these unreachable women when surely women were throwing themselves at you with your vast knowledge of music. What I found was that for some reason when I told a woman in the pub who was the bass player on the song on the jukebox, she, found that quite boring, It happened more than once, I know, bizarre.

Anyway yet again I’m lying in bed, on my own obviously, watching The Chart Show and on come The Shop Assistants with the wonderful I Don’t Wanna Be Friends With You. A female led band with lots of guitars and drums and then I read they were Scottish. Yep musicians, female and Scottish, that’s me in.

One album and they were gone and we only recently found out that tragically lead singer Alex Taylor died in 2005, fair enough she was not in the public eye but what a bloody shame that when she died there was not some recognition, but respects if that’s what the family wanted and none of my bloody business.

They are famously one of the C86 bands but this is a record to really enjoy. As mentioned I Don’t Wanna Be Friends With You has a magical riff and a steady drum beat throughout and Alex deliver a great vocal.

All Day Long storms out of the tracks and we have a bit of contrast with Before I Wake to take us to a more relaxed zone, they do remind me of The Mary Chain with their buzz guitars and their chilled moments.

Somewhere in China is breathy vocals, and all subtle guitars and bassist Sarah Kneale gives a magical lead vocal on Good Way to Die and the album storms out with Nature Lover.

Some may find the songs a bit samey (great English), but I find it a magical indie album that takes me back to my days of boring the women of Glasgow which I have gladly now brought to you all with these reviews.

7/10

GIVE IT A STREAM: I Don’t Wanna Be Friends With You