Lollipop Train - Junior Electric Magazine (2000) & David Candy - Play Power (2001)

As per request, here we've got both Lollipop Train and David Candy. First, Lollipop Train is a spot on name for the style of extremely sweet indie pop jumbled with spoken-word musings. The whole thing is very very similar to, yet predating, Death by Chocolate. As to why this is, no surprise at all. It is Death by Chocolate, just before Angie Tillett called her work by that name with those particular bandmates. Basically, consider this album zero that goes with the two Death by Chocolate albums I've already made available.

The second is a slightly stranger case of musical happenstance. David Candy is a pseudonym that seems like a real name or at least the main stage name of a performer, but in fact it is a remote and seldom spoken of secondary outlet for Ian Svenonius. Now, if this name is familiar (and if it isn't this is why it should be) it is because Svenonius was a member of amazing post-hardcore act Nation of Ulysses, followed by the more funky punk of The Make-Up, breifly Cupid Car Club and currently of Weird War. More or less the man is like a rabbit who's fucking makes music. Now why might a post-hardcore rocker of notable standing bother to make a quirky album along the lines of the before mentioned confectionery-name-plus-talking-over-psychedelic-music stuff? Because he wanted to. According to wikipedia's David Candy entry "The character of David Candy was part of a series of 'Magazine-Style Records' which included other imaginary acts such as Death by Chocolate, Maria Napoleon, and Lollipop Train." He only did the single release with

this name and it finely fits into the theme.

To be had here:




Junior Electric Magazine [160 kbps]










Play Power [128 kbps]

Death By Chocolate - Death By Chocolate (2001)

Quirky to an extreme, Death By Chocolate created some strange sounding indie pop songs. Formed by way of contacts made between a set of young British musicians and the twee pop label owner Mike Always, Death By Chocolate is stereotypical of what the genre offers. The inspirations for the cute sounds they make are equally sunshine pop and children films. This self-titled album was the first full-length of two to have been released. The overwhelmingly upbeat and joyous melodies of the music is given an interesting twist by virtue that much of the lyrics are in fact comical and often nonsensical poems recited by the young Angela Faye Tillett in a very strong English accent. Even this, however, is not something unique to Death By Chocolate, as they were slightly preceded by Lollipop Train's year 2000 album, Junior Electric Magazine, and shared 2001 with Play Power by David Candy (a pseudonym of Ian Svenonius [Nation of Ulysses, Make-Up, and Cupid Car Club]). Oddly enough, all have in common the thick British accents and much adoration for food, especially sweets. I find that if you spend an entire evening listening to music of this sytle you'll feel really disconnected from reality not in the best way. Nevertheless, just like the sweets they covet, if listened to in moderation they are quite pleasurable.

To be had here (160 kbps):
Death By Chocolate - Death By Chocolate