Founded by Stephen Pastel, Sandy McLean and David Keegan, 53rd & 3rd Records was home to the likes of mid 80's indie luminaries The Vaselines, BMX Bandits, Shops Assistants and Talulah Gosh. That's a pretty impressive roster by anyone's standard. They were also home to all girl group, Chin Chin. Formed in Biel, Switzerland in 1982 they released their first 7" in 1984, followed by their one and only LP Sounds of the Westway in 1985. After the NME took them to their heart they managed to secure some dates as warm up to The Shop Assistants. Influenced by the likes of The Ramones, X Ray Spex, 60's girl groups and T Rex amongst many others, they certainly eschewed musical proficiency over a desire to just play music but sound all the better for it, with some sublime pop melodies and harmonies that can't fail to put a smile on your face. I loaned my copy of the album to a (so called) friend many years back and never saw it again, but I have just heard the album for the first time in many years and it still sounds remarkably fresh, noisy and every bit as good as I remembered it to be. DIY indie pop at its very best...
Dark Days
I love this record too. I bought the reissue Slumberland released about five years ago, and I listen to it often. Can't think of a better opening band for the Shop Assistants.
ReplyDeleteYou can see why they were signed to 53rd & 3rd, they fit in perfectly with The Shoppies and were a great addition to the label...
DeleteYour tale of 'lending' out a beloved record, never to see it again, made me shudder with recognition. I don't know Chin Chin, but did see The Shop Assistants live once. I can't for the life of me remember who the support was though. This is a nigh on perfect slab of indie-pop of a certain age. Great band photo too.
ReplyDeleteMy days of lending are over, I will quite happily burn a copy for anyone but no lending. The album is very much like this, really great indie-pop that is very reminiscent of the previous year's C86 tape..
DeleteI used to owe "Westway" myself, indeed some good tunes on it, as far as I remember!
ReplyDeleteWas pleasantly surprised at how good it still sounds today Dirk...
DeleteNew one to me Scott, and you can certainly hear the Shop Assistants there. Have you got the latest Primitives album, it's very good. Brian put me on to it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, got the album last year George. A real return to form for them..
DeleteI saw this post listed in the sidebar of Sun Dried Sparrows blog and when I read 'Some Swiss Indie Pop' I just knew it might well be Chin Chin you were referring to. And I wasn't disappointed. Good on you for highlighting them to those who may not have heard of them before. The Sound Of The Westway is indeed a very good LP. Never Surrender and Why Am I So Lonely being my personal favourites from it. Best song they ever did, however, was called Revolution which features X-Ray Spex style sax. It should all be out there on the Interweb somewhere for anyone who cares to make a couple of clicks on their keyboard...
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping by John, hopefully the post might have introduced a few people to the joys of Chin Chin. Being a big fan of X Ray Spex I'll make sure to check out Revolution...
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