You can thank Ian Masters (Pale Saints) for picking up this dusty master tape by chance, getting enthralled by its contents and handing it onto Third Man Records for a modern remaster. It’s 1987 and My Bloody Valentine, Spacemen 3, Blue Aeroplanes, Inspiral Carpets, Loop and The Pastels have all chosen The Magic Roundabout as their touring support act. A group known as Manchester’s biggest secret by any of their cult following. Although having recorded a record’s worth by the late 80s, none of it was released and their reputation was mostly based on a set of support slots. The closest The Roundies got in this time was lending a recording of ‘She’s A Waterfall’ to a rare fanzine cassette – compiled by a young Mark Webber (Pulp) out of all people. The planned flexi disc was later scrapped when the band disbanded. Heard all over this new collection is the signature leather jackets, cheap instruments brought from charity shops and the very evident Velvet Underground inspiration that the band started to become known for. This proto punk style they ape, (mind you, not half badly) is portrayed in this incredibly hypnotising hexad.
‘Carol In The Sky’ opens. A dirty rocker about an attractive she-devil who is out to cause some trouble, including everything from ominous tom drums to a discordant anti-guitar solo that is thrown in the mix unapologetically. Its lyrics are left so open that one will scratch their head wondering who Carol is while the drawn out cowbell heavy acid jam of ‘Cast Your Sadness’ follows. A track that arguably feels a bit uninspired lyrically, but remains saved by the relentlessly busy pedal-altered feedback that sounds like electrical currents dueling with a storm gale. Despite it’s unpolished production, there are sounds in here that I’m certain helped solidify the shoegaze genre. The title track sounds like a demo for a My Bloody Valentine or Ride number. Its back half is especially pleasing as pedal washed guitars come in and dominate.
She’s A Waterfall is another one of these more sombre moments. Sounding like a crossover between the tender moments on the first Velvet Underground Record and some late 80s Stone Roses material – potentially a band who got inspired seeing the group play. Lyrically it’s a cutesy track about being able to lean on a best friend when life is tough. The sonic imperfections on this track work in the band’s favour as when the instruments hit against the microphones the track sounds as if it is actually recorded in the middle of a rainstorm, although probably unintentionally.
By the end of the collection the group throw all their instruments in the fire. ‘Alice’s Paper Plane’ is a 20 minute spoken word exercise detailing a girl called Alice flying her origami plane over areas of Manchester, backed by the group doing their best 1967 drug infused music impression. Yes, this is complete with Organs borrowed from early Doors and Pink Floyd records and some dizzying panning choices from similar playbooks. ‘Up’ is a bizarre piece of history from a band who could’ve gone on to change music in the 1990s, but what does it matter. It is rumored that Noel Gallagher roadied their final show, and we wait for his confirmation.
‘Up’ is released via Third Man Records on Friday September 24.
Also found in New Sounds Issue 3
