Record Shopping: Veronica Falls

Veronica Falls top off a year spent playing more live shows than we thought humanly possible by going into their home studio to write demos for a full length record. Squeezing in trips to a norwegian island, Lounge on the Farm, Truck and the even less glamorous Shoreditch in-between it ensures they'll head into Autumn as one of our favourite live acts of the year and next. We took them record shopping and to learn about their favourite indie, pop and electronica. They've got some pretty cool mates.

Let's Wrestle - In Loving Memory Of

James: It's their first EP and was released before their first album. I'm a particular big fan of the tracks "Insects", "Joe Eddington You'll Be The Death of Me" and "I Won't Lie for You" which was their second single. I think it represents good value for money at £6.99 (laughs). I first heard it at Wes' house in demo form so I've heard it in all the different stages you go through when making a record. I heard them play the songs for the first time and it just got better every time after that. It's nice to see something take shape.

The Gummy Stumps - EP

Patrick: I've picked a record by the Gummy Stumps who are a band from Glasgow. It's three people who used to be in other bands. One of them was in Park Attack who were one of the first bands I saw in Glasgow when I was 18 and they have one of the members of Golden Grrls on drums. I picked them because I didn't realise they had this record out. I want to buy it. That means I haven't heard it but I'm excited about listening to it. Which is just as good, right?

German Measles - Colour Vibration.

James: We played with them in New York recently and while it wasn't our best show it was the band I enjoyed playing with the most when we were over there.

Neu: Does who you play with affect the show at all?

It makes a big difference if you like them as people. They were really fun to hang out with before and after the show and yeah. We played with some other good bands but they made that one special. I've listened to this a fair few times since I got hold of a copy.

The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

Patrick: This is one of my favourite albums of all time. I started re-listening again when I watched the documentary "Blood on the Turntables" and since then I've had it on at least weekly. This is one of those albums that as soon as it starts you know you'll have to listen to the whole thing.

Stereolab - Refried Ectoplasm (Switched on Volume 2)

James: It's an old favourite

Neu: Also good value for money at only £5.99...

James: It's a bit like Patrick said. If I start listening to this one I end up listening to the whole thing. It's actually a compilation as it's a collection of EPs. For me it's the band's highpoint in the band's best era.

Neu: Do you like the fact they made the EPs?

James: They do really impressive things with the format. Some bands might not have enough materials and then...

Patrick: Sometimes it's just things that weren't good enough for an album. That isn't the case with Stereolab.

James: They release EPs in a really limited format so not everyone could get hold of them or afford them. These compilations sort that out.

Tracey Thorn - Love and its Opposite.

Patrick: I've been listening to this album just recently. She did an interview on London FM and she talked about living in Hampstead and this record. It sounded really nice so I went and listened. I like Everything But The Girl and obviously this is really different but it's still really nice. She's got a really good handle on melody hasn't she? I'd never really listened to her solo stuff but I really like it.

Metronomy - Nights Out.

James: I was a really big fan of the first record and was very pleased with this. The first record was instrumental but this has vocals all the way through. Joe is an old friend of mine from Devon so I heard it in all of its different of stages. The fact that even though he's on a fairly big label he still uses all the low budget stuff that he's had for years. I think it gives him a unique sound. The singles off this record are very strong.

Desire - LP

Patrick: This is a record by Desire that we listen to in the car a lot when we're driving.

James: It's quite atmospheric and dancey. Almost vocal trance. It's on Italians Do it Better and is perfect car music. Roxanne is trying to get us to have a sing song in the car or practice harmonies instead though. It was after we did a tour with Vivian Girls and she noticed they practiced their harmonies before going on, Maybe we should because we can't sing in tune.

Veronica Falls - Beachy Head is out on No Pain in Pop now.