Northern Picture Library Postscript CD

Having reissued Northern Picture Library's sole album, Alaska, with the tracks from the Love Songs for the Dead Che single, it was fairly unsurprising that LTM would follow up with Postscript, pulling together all the remaining singles and one-off cuts from the group, thus superseding the previous such compilation Still Life. Unlike the generally lengthier, propulsive psychedelia of Alaska, on singles Northern Picture Library aimed for more immediate, shorter pleasures not far removed from the Field Mice but not simply that band's work redux. That said, one of the band's longest numbers turns up here -- "Dear Faraway Friend," at almost 11 minutes a gentle, steady ramble that slowly but surely turns into a massive noise freak-out, showing their love for the likes of Loop perhaps even more readily than the Field Mice's cover of "Burning World" did. "Norfolk Windmills," for many the group's crucial song, marries Bob Wratten's gift for a just-wounded-enough vocal with a gorgeous, country-tinged guitar part over a rhythm section that just kicks up enough for the chorus -- it's a simple combination of elements but they all come together perfectly, culminating in a lovely coda. Gemma Townley's cello adds beautiful melancholy to both "Last September's Farewell Kiss" and especially "Signs," one of Wratten's most stripped-down and sad songs ever. "Paris," which opens the collection, has a hint of shoegaze overdrive in its lead guitar part, but Annemari Davies' vocals don't get lost in the mix. Her moment of glory on the disc, though, is "Here to Stay," which consists solely of her singing and swells of absolutely thrilling synth melodies, simple enough but sounding as big as the universe. The final four tracks are the rarities, including two covers, one of the band Stars of Heaven, whose "Ammonia Train" was intended for a tribute album, the other, "Something Good," a selection from The Sound of Music that was part of a charity album featuring bands covering the entire musical. ~ Ned Raggett

LTM are proud to announce the release of a CD of singles and rarities by Northern Picture Library, the cult London band featuring three former members of The Field Mice. Northern Picture Library were formed by Bobby Wratten, Annemari Davies and Mark Dobson after The Field Mice split in 1991. NPL was a much less highly-strung project, less song-based and more dark and ambient than before, drawing influence from Talk Talk, Brian Eno and ambient/dance crossover. Melody maker described their album Alaska (already released on CD by LTM) as "one of the debut albums of 1993" and the band as "state of the art, post-ambient electropoppers who write some of the most beautiful songs in existence." Postscript gathers together the eight tracks from the 1994 eps Blue Dissolve and Paris, together with the rare compilation track Something Good (from a Sound of music tribute, no less!), and three previously unreleased tracks. These include Alaska outtake Snowscene, Ammonia Train (a Stars of Heaven cover) and an extraordinary remix of Welcome to California, originally recorded by Katmandu. Postscript boasts all new artwork. The 12 remastered tracks give a total running time of 66 minutes. Career Precis: formed in suburban Mitcham in 1987, The Field Mice released seven singles and three albums on Sarah Records. The group split at the end of 1991 but are now recognised as genre-leaders. Chief songwriter Bobby then formed Northern Picture Library, who released an album and three singles between 1993 and 1994. Bobby currently fronts Trembling Blue Stars. Their 5th album The Seven Autumn Flowers was released in 2004 on Elefant.

Recording information: C.A.T (11/1992-06/1994); RMS Studios, London, England (11/1992-06/1994).

Personnel: Rob Waters (guitar, background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Ian Catt.