Heavenly: Classic or Dud?

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Couldn't find ILM search, so dunno if this has been asked (delete away if so)

Anyway, there were posts about Helen Love and other indie bands recently. So, why not assess this lot? Sparkly peerless indie pop or garden rubbish?

james, Saturday, 27 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

prefer talulah gosh myself >ducks to avoid rotten fruit from audience<

Alan at home, Saturday, 27 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

If I remember correctly, most of the posts re: Helen Love were derisive and rude. Not that has anything to do with the price of HAM, but, yeah.

I have nothing but respect & love for Heavenly & various associated bands (except Sportique - NOT all that and a bag of chips, especially given the heaping heap of praise heaped upon them in various indiepop circles). With _Heavenly Vs. Satan_ finally released, the only thing I have left to wish for is more Marine Research. Damn that Junkyard Wars.

David Raposa, Saturday, 27 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

marine research is kaput. amelia fletcher has a new band called tender trap, though she just was assigned to some important post for economists apparently so i don't know how much new music will be forthcoming. heavenly were incredible, so was talulah gosh. the original riot grrls some might say but that shouldn't detract from their greatness, smart, sassy and tuneful. shame they had to get serious in their old age but the marine research record was still plenty nice. sportique's dreadfulness can be traced to gregory webster's voice. pete heavenly played on the nice new would be goods single.

keith, Saturday, 27 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

All I've got is a scatchy old copy of 'Heavenly Vs Satan' from yonks ago. Haven't played it in a dog's age but it's quite charming if a little too - who knew? - twee over the duration. Sugary enough to make your fillings creak. 'Cool Guitar Boy' and 'Lemonheadboy' I remember liking best.
Classic I suppose, I liked 'em. Them and Napalm Death.

DavidM, Saturday, 27 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Much as I hate to admit it (being a Sarah Records fan) but I could never get into Heavenly much. Superb singles and b-sides, but the albums were too twee by half, even at half an hour in length. A compilation of the Sarah singles, plus the K single too, would be enough of them for me.

Rob M, Monday, 29 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

seven years pass...

Was listening to Decline And Fall Of Heavenly earlier and got to Googling... Dr. Fletcher shows up everywhere in economics searches and Cathy Rogers is apparently an olive farmer in Italy.

Carroll Shelby Downard (Elvis Telecom), Thursday, 21 May 2009 06:01 (fifteen years ago) link

decline and fall has aged pretty well imo. can't say the same for the marine research stuff

jump in the looool (electricsound), Thursday, 21 May 2009 06:07 (fifteen years ago) link

Decline and Fall also has one of the best album covers of all time.

the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Thursday, 21 May 2009 07:50 (fifteen years ago) link

that olive tree thing is a bit odd but the age and former occupation are about right.

i still occasionally see repeats of Full Metal Challenge on obscure freeview channels in the early mornings, which is her and Henry Rollins, of all people, presenting a car-centric show in the vein of her earlier Scrapheap Challenge work.

koogs, Thursday, 21 May 2009 10:15 (fifteen years ago) link

Saw Tender Trap a couple of times recently, they're a 5 piece now and I think much improved for it, I never got into them really but they're not bad now.

I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP TO (Colonel Poo), Thursday, 21 May 2009 10:17 (fifteen years ago) link

I saw the woman from the "adopt an olive tree" place on Market kitchen a while back, it certainly wasn't heavenly Cathy (of course there may be more than 1 of these enterprises).

problem chimp (Porkpie), Thursday, 21 May 2009 12:05 (fifteen years ago) link

there is more than 1! Flickr would indicate that it is indeed her.

problem chimp (Porkpie), Thursday, 21 May 2009 12:08 (fifteen years ago) link

now I feel like a creepy stalker

problem chimp (Porkpie), Thursday, 21 May 2009 12:08 (fifteen years ago) link

(mimes opening hands like a book)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dolce-Vita-Diaries-Cathy-Rogers/dp/1906321310

koogs, Thursday, 21 May 2009 12:17 (fifteen years ago) link

and this pretty much clinches it (they have a blog and stuff. and tins of their 'Nudo' olive oil in selfridges). looks great.

http://dolcevitadiaries.co.uk/2009/04/17/the-dolce-vita-diaries/

koogs, Thursday, 21 May 2009 12:26 (fifteen years ago) link

five years pass...

the p.u.n.k girl ep is classic classic classic

Van Horn Street, Friday, 1 May 2015 01:23 (nine years ago) link

one year passes...
four years pass...

Along with Catenary Wires, Amelia's in Swansea Sound with Hue from the Pooh Sticks:
https://swanseasound.bandcamp.com/album/corporate-indie-band-angry-girl

Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 13 September 2021 02:48 (three years ago) link

two years pass...

Some other comments re Swansea Sound are on Slumberland thread .

Saw Swansea Sound last night in a basement bar with no stage called Quarry House Tavern in Silver Spring, Md near Washington DC.

Hue from Pooh Sticks on lead vocals with Amelia from Heavenly harmonizing and or alternating / collaborating on lead . Also Rob From Heavenly, and a guitarist from the Dentists and a drummer. A fun set

curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 June 2024 16:28 (eight months ago) link

yeah Swansea Sound are good fun, am seeing them again in August

Colonel Poo, Thursday, 6 June 2024 16:41 (eight months ago) link

Reunited Heavenly are only doing North American shows in NYC and LA I think.

Hue said at the Swansea Sound gig I saw that Heavenly are able to get 16 years old teenage fans in 2024 but Swansea Sound are not . Amelia laughed.

curmudgeon, Friday, 7 June 2024 23:21 (eight months ago) link

I saw Heavenly in London last year, it was fucking brilliant, if you can make it, go

Colonel Poo, Saturday, 8 June 2024 02:28 (eight months ago) link

four months pass...

The US tour sounds like it's been a treat so far, and I can't wait for Saturday. Meantime, Rob posted this on Facebook, saying:

"So many amazing things occurred at tonight’s gig in Portland and this jacket was definitely one of them"

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5sxesda5idqwxki3opti25et/bafkreih2quczokzhl3ezgkvfdtrtbwjyyuvour5pmfprhtb422q6v3cg7u@jpeg

Ned Raggett, Thursday, 17 October 2024 17:10 (four months ago) link

(i bumped into Pete M at the local mid-century print sale recently. he wasn't wearing that)

koogs, Thursday, 17 October 2024 17:45 (four months ago) link

xp ha that's great, i want one

Colonel Poo, Thursday, 17 October 2024 20:15 (four months ago) link

Ned, do you have a ticket for the show?

Mrs. Ippei (Steve Shasta), Friday, 18 October 2024 16:40 (four months ago) link

There is a terrible French metal group also called Heavenly, always been tempted to get one of their t-shirts to wear to a (real) Heavenly gig.

John Backflip (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Friday, 18 October 2024 16:46 (four months ago) link

xpost For the Saturday one, yup!

Ned Raggett, Friday, 18 October 2024 17:28 (four months ago) link

Ah okay, I'm guest-listed +1 and was gonna offer it to you!

Mrs. Ippei (Steve Shasta), Friday, 18 October 2024 17:35 (four months ago) link

Ha, thanks! I'm sure someone will pick it up.

Ned Raggett, Friday, 18 October 2024 17:42 (four months ago) link

Very good show, that.

Ned Raggett, Sunday, 20 October 2024 07:36 (four months ago) link

A quick post of mine with some photos and details.

Ned Raggett, Sunday, 20 October 2024 18:03 (four months ago) link

three months pass...

pictures on Facebook of some release party last night where Amelia has been joined on stage by Clare Grogan...

koogs, Thursday, 13 February 2025 19:22 (one week ago) link


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