In early 1994, a couple of Brisbane fellows digging Wedding Presents and swooning over Saintly (Etienne) chanteuses had an idea: “Let’s go out and play our record collections. Maybe someone else might like to hear them too!”
So began the cult nightclub, Higher Than The Sun... cultish in that the devoted turned up in their tens. In tune with nothing and no one, the lads played their little-known Elasticas and Oasises, reinvigorated their Blurs and Stone Roses, reclaiming their UK beat '60s classics from FM nightmare-land (and their parents).
Soon enough, the Brisbane legend (in their own minds) was born: Popscene.
After an original ten-year run, the Popscene lads returned last February with Midlife! A Beginners Guide To Popscene. And now they're back for volume 2 of Midlife.
“During its original run, Popscene celebrated the occasional New Year extravaganza – in fact, the very first Popscene was a special night put on by its predecessor, Higher Than The Sun,” Clem Urry, one of the Popscene organisers, says.
“But the DJs used to celebrate too, so to make it easier on them and enjoyable for all, we birthed the Popscene New Year Top 50 countdown of songs played at the club.
“Here, we present our Top 5 Number Ones.”
1. 'Leave Them All Behind' - Ride
An epic, 'LTAB' was a killer on the dancefloor. Over eight minutes of shoe-gazing wonder meets a pounding sub-breakbeat spine, semi-angelic lyrics about... something or other, before fading out in a feedback frenzy. Hmm, delicious.2. 'Homeboy' - Adorable
A lumbering bass thing tripping into the back of your mind, this set the template that later Brit-poppers followed with so much abandon; quiet verses followed by climb-the-shoulders-of-your-mate-and-punch-the-sky glorious choruses, all dabbed with that touch of malevolent reverence. Phew!3. 'Whatever' - Oasis
One of those moments when Oasis’ lyrics actually made sense (yeah, I know, right?): “I’m free to be whatever I choose and I’ll sing the blues if I want.”So called Britpop sweated-lad culture from every pore, but it was invariably tinged with sadness and alienation throughout. Only now, it was being owned on our terms.
4. 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' - The Verve
And just to prove it, here’s another light-hearted ditty, but the only thing bittersweet about this is how little (The) Verve’s final success could be enjoyed. But there you have it; you nick a Jagger/ Richards tune, you pay the royalties.Nonetheless, go back and listen to Andrew Oldham’s 'The Last Time'... dare you not to expect Wigan’s finest to start warbling... “cos it’s a bitter sweet symphony this life!” Stones 1, Verve 2.
5. 'Legal Man' - Belle & Sebastian
Twee. What does it mean? Quaint? Pretty? Sentimental? Who cares, this is ACE! All at once, James Taylor Quartet Sixties party stomper with a nod to the girl-group standards, this hilarious romp through almost three minutes of sweaty fun is what we need now.“L-O-V-E love, it’s coming back, it’s coming back!” One can only hope.
