About this item

Having penned over 200 songs in the last six years, The Reds, Pinks and Purples release a collection of tracks previously unreleased on physical format that continues to romanticise the wonders and woes of the world.

With song titles that read like chapter sub-heads for a post-Douglas Coupland novella, ‘The Past Is A Garden I Never Fed’ takes The Reds, Pinks and Purples central orator Glenn Donaldson through the turmoil of small talk and everyday water cooler moments with a fine sense of pathos and irony.

Set to a soundtrack that swerves between the dark days of Television Personalities and Byrdsian twang to the Jarvis Cocker-styled rhetoric and vocal tenderness of ‘Richard In the Age Of The Corporation’ with hints of everything from Husker Du’s fuzzed splendour to the chiming majesty of The Chameleons it’s an empowering listen.

The pathos and irony of the glorious track ‘The World Doesn’t Need Another Band’ sets out the band’s store, it’s a measured and quietly outspoken rant at lacklustre opposition peppered with a gorgeous guitar break. Meanwhile, ‘I Only Ever Wanted To See You Fail’ rumbles with an Eddie And The Hot Rods pre-punk riff before dissolving into a tale of self-doubt and remorse, bemoaning others’ good luck. ‘Toxic Friend’ is from the book of the TVP’s Daniel Treacey with an upbeat chorus that smacks of all that was good in old school indie in a hail of fuzzy logic and guitars.

From humble beginnings as a home recording project, The Reds, Pinks and Purples has blossomed into a sporadic live unit with tours on both sides of the Atlantic and appearances at Pitchfork Fest London and Woodsist Fest as well as support slots for indie legends such as Destroyer, Guided By Voices, and The Feelies.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A lovely selection of pieces that haven't ever been available on a physical format from one of our favourite psychedelic jangle-pop outfits, and most prolific songwriters. It's always a hit and miss affair, the ol' B-sides compilation, but if anyone can sidestep that, it's the RP&P. A great, stylistically fluid collection.

TRACK LISTING

1. The World Doesn’t Need Another Band
2. I Only Ever Wanted To See You Fail
3. A Figure On The Stairs
4. Slow Torture Of An Hourly Wage
5. Trouble Don’t Last
6. You’re Never Safe From Yourself
7. Your Cult Is On Fire
8. My Toxic Friend
9. Your Taste Makes You Strange
10. Marty As A Youth
11. What’s The Worst Thing You Heard?
12. No One Absolves Us In The End
13. Richard In The Age Of The Corporation
14. There Must Be A Pill For This