Helene. Postcard - London, UK.

	Last update: June 2006
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	NEW RELEASES ROUTINES Helene recorded Routines, the follow-up to Postcard, at Albert's Studios in North London last summer. Simon Raymonde produced; he and the band got along famously. The whole experience was enjoyable and Helene is extremely pleased with the finished songs. The album is scheduled for release on the Series 8 label on July 3rd 2006. Order Routines from Series 8 Records, Amazon and other fine record stores. THIS IS ALL WE HAVE TO KNOW A limited edition blue vinyl 7", This Is All We Have To Know, was released on 19th June 2006. It was originally announced for release in March but the records were faulty and it has been re-pressed. The single is issued on Series 8 through Cargo Distribution. Produced by Simon Raymonde, it also features "Nostalgie" which will not be released in any other form. With a gorgeous inner and outer sleeve courtesy of Mr. Moth-Eaten, a limited number of copies are signed by the band, so we recommend buying directly from Series 8 Records. Chris Hawkins has already playlisted This Is All We Have To Know on his BBC Radio 6 show. The Rough Trade Shop says: "Following the scintillating debut album Postcard from the enigmatic, urbane, metropolitan singer-songwriter, this is the first single to be taken from the forthcoming album Routines, produced by Simon Raymonde of the Cocteau's. Helene's previous album Postcard, released in 2003, received outstanding critical acclaim. Q made comparisons with Mazzy Star and the Velvets, and the Telegraph made her one of their albums of the year quoting 'deeply gorgeous album' and 'beyond magnificent'. Routines follows a more commercial direction than Postcard, with This Is All We Have To Know providing a fine taster for the album to come on Series 8." GIGS Thursday 6th July 2006 at THE GOOD SHIP, 289 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR. 8pm. Thursday 13th July 2006 at THE WINDMILL, Brixton SW2. 8pm. MY SPACE Helene has a MySpace site. On it you can read Helene's blogs and download some new tracks. Series 8, as well as their shop site, have a MySpace site too. LIAR Although I see no need to trumpet the fact, it's no great secret that I was the guitarist in The Charlottes a long long time ago. I had the idea last year of putting together a retrospective double CD gathering together everything the band ever did, including the John Peel Session, the John Peel interview, live material, the video, and the early singles. Cherry Red Records said they wanted to be involved with the project but then very quickly made it apparent that they wanted merely to re-package the two albums already available. When I said I was unhappy with this they said they would go ahead with the thing regardless. Having seen the final product (Liar, The Best Of The Charlottes), I would like to dissociate myself from it entirely for the following reasons: two of the songs have been mastered out of phase rendering them unlistenable the sequencing of six of the songs does not match the tracklisting on the sleeve the sleevenotes contain numerous factual errors and misrepresent the history of the band and its other members the record company have taken the bizarre step of basing said sleevenotes entirely on the erroneous recollections of the drummer who quit the band shortly before the last album was due for release. Petra, the singer of The Charlottes, and I are in agreement in recommending anyone thinking of buying this compilation NOT to do so. We also suggest that anybody who has paid out money for this shoddy package should return it to the place of purchase as faulty, citing the appalling audio quality of tracks 9 and 10. For the record, I am embarrassed and dispirited by this release. It also raises serious questions about the responsibilites which should come with the ownership of back catalogues. It's a terrible shame that the band are so shabbily represented for posterity and that the label botched the one chance to preserve the cultural contribution - however small - of The Charlottes. For those interested in hearing The Charlottes, I strongly suspect that all of the songs minus the two unlistenable recordings, will be available for free download from www.torrentspy.com in a variety of MP3 formats very soon - I suggest they grab them using BitTorrent, BitComet or some similar torrenting client software. Those wishing to complain about this depressing example of the music industry in action should contact iain@cherryred.co.uk Graham. PREVIOUS Helene's previous single Marking Time was released by Global Warming in March 2005. Mark Radcliffe (BBC Radio 2) and Tom Robinson (BBC Radio 6) played the track several times each. It also received airplay on local stations, and worldwide ranging from Greece and Hungary to the US and Japan. It garnered largely favourable reviews too. BOOKINGS Promoters wishing to book Helene for gigs are invited to contact Trev at Global Warming. Visit Photos to see shots of Helene's gigs at The Garage and the Willow Festival from the Summer 2003 tour. GIG OF THE WEEK - HELENE, THE SPITZ, 6/03/04 "The fact that there were approximately twenty people present was a crying shame. Helene Dineen in her wonderful red raincoat gripping the mic stand like her life depended on it. Helene Dineen: she of the beautiful voice, formerly of Barefoot Contessa and currently of Helene the band. "Apparently heavily influenced by her mum's love of the Smiths Helene now seems to lurk in a splendid little chamber somewhere between Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen with bursts of Chris Isaak and the Velvet Underground thrown in for good measure. Her voice echoes around the empty old Spitz like an angel singing in a deserted tube station. Everyone present is receptive, unnervingly so. Spread the word." (The above review appears on the Libertines' website, libertines.org. The gig was part of Helene's Spring 2004 National Tour.) "Helene's strand of indie pop is melodic and atmospheric with tunes to wallow in, like the lush and bluesy "Big Talker". Helene Dineen's voice is sublime, ranging from a soft and sultry caress to the powerful sound of a less abrasive PJ Harvey. Big voice, big fringe, it's clear why she's been hailed 'One of the best singers in Britain.' (Max Bell, Evening Standard)." (From a BBC Essex review of Helene performing at Bitterscene.) Postcard is available from Amazon, Tower and all good record stores.
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