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Nineteen Seventy-Seven - 1977


Released: 2009

Label: Self-released

When I bought: 2024

I've only just started buying vinyl records so don't have a massive collection. 

My self-imposed rule is that, where possible, I should buy records made by obscure or up-and-coming artists and label. Do I really need Pink Floyd, David Bowie etc on vinyl? Maybe, but they - and their record companies - all have enough money. As someone who runs a small record label, I know what a difference it can make to your bank account and morale when you sell something you've put out into the world.

With all that in mind, I was in Toronto this summer visiting my wife's friends and family. Toronto has some incredible record shops, and I stocked up. I bought albums by acts I'd never heard of because they were local artists and I wanted to hear something completely unexpected (plus hopefully accrue some karmic points which would lead to someone taking a risk on something from my label one day).

So here we have this album: Nineteen Seventy-Seven by 1977, bought from She Said Boom in Toronto.

According to the sleeve notes all the songs were written by Julie Kendall, and they were "recorded by Julie and Brent in her Toronto apartment and recording space in the winter of 2007." So there.

I've listened to this album a couple of times since I got it, and I really do like it. It's a soft-rock, piano-led record, with flashes of Casio keyboards illuminating the songs.

The band's Twitter account describes themselves as "Soft Surf Soul" and that's a pretty good synopsis, but there's also strong flavours of 70s-era Elton John, ELO, and Hunky Dory by David Bowie.

Occasionally the songs go in a slightly different direction, particularly on Side A closer 'A Change' which evokes Spiritualized in the way it loops round and round.

'A Wave' sounds like a lost Velvet Underground/Nico tune, with uncompressed drums and and a jangly rhythm guitar.

My favourite track is probably 'The Otherside' which kicks off Side B, but all the tunes are of a similar standard.

'My Angels' is a waltz that sounds like the Shangri-Las crossed with Casio keyboard, while 'I Don't Want To Take It Out On You' has a hint of the Kinks.

Album closer 'There's A Light' is probably the only time the music shifts from shiny surf to a more sinister tone, although there's still a '60s backbeat pushing it all along.

The band don't seem to be very active these days - their website lists their last shows as taking place in 2018. 

I could do more digging, but I actually like not knowing a whole lot about this band. It feels like stumbling across a few pages from a diary of someone I've never met and getting a glimpse into their world.

You can listen to the album on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/album/6twxjHxBvGoZ47hOKqstUC?si=WwRv5k68TNWAMK2W_5FiVg

7/10



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