BMX Bandits

The Rise & Fall of BMX Bandits [2009]

ER-1134 CD Digipak

There are few figures as representative of the Scottish pop sound as Duglas T. Stewart and his BMX BANDITS (who have had members of THE VASELINES, TEENAGE FANCLUB and THE SOUP DRAGONS pass through their midst). They have a cult status, are admired by all kinds of artists (even the Gallagher brothers and the very Kurt Cobain were part of their fan club); their way of using pop as a medium to transcend styles, epochs and trends has been an example to follow for generations of bands like TEENAGE FANCLUB, NICE MAN, THE WEDDING PRESENT, CAMERA OBSCURA and many more. Here at Elefant, we have always greatly admired them and have tried to show what we admire about them through a catalog full of hard to find songs, singles and EPs, which have been published on independent labels half the world over. Which is why we are doubly congratulating ourselves now. First, for being able to increase our catalog with one of their albums. And second, because this album lets us recover many of those lost songs (some even unreleased). Yes, “The Rise & Fall of BMX Bandits” is a compilation. It has those great hits like “Disco Girl”, “Your Class” and “Whirlpool”, but it’s not a greatest hits album. It has hard to find songs and B-sides, but it’s not a compilation of B-sides and hard to find songs. It is simply a BMX Bandits album, with songs chosen by Duglas T Stewart himself, a new way of dealing with the best pop possible. And even the impossible, too.

Audio HERE [DEEZER] and SPOTIFY

The Bmx love e.p. [2009]

ER-268 Single 7"

At Elefant we are congratulating ourselves on the release, for the second time, of the exclusive 7” of one of the most vital and active groups of the Scottish pop scene. Duglas T. Stewart put together a handful of unreleased songs in this item that marks the sepia tinted memory of the most elegantly poppy seventies, led by the piano, evoking the halo of composers like Burt Bacharach or Henry Mancini and artists like Dusty Springfield or Françoise Hardy. From the new version of “Our Secret Life” in French, rebaptized here as “Quand il n'y a plus d'amour” (with the French adaptation by Nick Garrie) to the closing gem of the EP, a version of “Hopelessly Devoted to You” that Olivia Newton-John sang in “Grease”, on of our favorite films, which Duglas deliciously recreates with the collaboration of the Scottish band THE ATTIC LIGHTS. The single is completed with two very recent recordings, the unreleased “I Can Wait Forever”, intimate folk pop marked with elegant melodies and vocals, and a version of “You Don’t Want to Be My Girlfriend, Phoebe” by MY LITTLE AIRPORT. When Duglas received MY LITTLE AIRPORT’s album, published by Elefant, he fell instantly in love with the song. He played it live a few days later and soon after decided to record it in the studio, the magnificent result of which is here. A precious collection of songs with the indelible stamp of one of the most gifted minds in pop of the last 25 years at the controls. As always, Duglas, it’s a pleasure.

Limited edition [White Vinyl]

Audio HERE [DEEZER] and SPOTIFY

Help me somebody [1997]

ER-173 Single 7" [sold out]

From Glasgow, Scotland, comes this celebrated band featuring former members of TEENAGE FANCLUB, THE SOUP DRAGONS and EUGENIUS. On this limited edition they have been produced by Kim Fowley (THE MODERN LOVERS, THE RUNAWAYS...) and Mike Bennett (THE FALL). Limited edition to 1000 copies.

C86 and more [1997]

ER-1048 CD [sold out]

We proudly re-release the debut album by this legendary band from Glasgow, which we could consider the origins of such important outifs such as TEENAGE FANCLUB, EUGENIUS or SOUP DRAGONS. Our new pressing features ten extra tracks and a new cover.

Yo, también [Me too] [2009]

ER-1147 CD Digipak

“Yo, También” [Me too] is the full length film debut of Álvaro Pastor and Antonio Naharro and it is one of the projects we have been involved in this past year with “Elefant Music Supervision”, a project that has been taking shape over time and that has the singular goal of helping and collaborating on audiovisual projects of all types, and to give musical supervision from Elefant that would help the creators’ find the perfect music for their work. Álvaro and Antonio’s recent visit to the San Sebastian Film Festival was a total success, two Silver Conches, for Best Actor for Pablo Pineda and for Best Actress for Lola Dueñas. Lola Dueñas (a renowned and prestigious actress, winner of a Goya for her role in Alejandro Amenábar’s movie “Mar Adentro” (The Sea Inside) and nominated for Pedro Almodóvar’s “Volver”), recently stated in an interview, “When I finish a movie, I forget about it, but I’d never experienced before putting on the music from the soundtrack, like this time”. The music plays such an important role in the movie and the musical selection turned out to be so varied and enriching. Guille Milkyway (LA CASA AZUL) was responsible for creating small musical brushstrokes especially for the movie. The soundtrack is atypical with simple, bare pieces, based on emotionally charged piano melodies that can just as easily express the greatest happiness as they can sink into the deepest sadness and frustration. Guille was also in charge of the movie’s theme song, a 70s style rumba, “Yo, También”, somewhere along the lines of the first recordings by LAS GRECAS or LOS AMAYA, but with that magical touch that our great master’s compositions are full of. There is a lot of music in the movie, as much music as there are characters and situations. Quiet moments, sweet, quotidian, romantic, sad, exciting, fun, crazy, partying, totally out of control… there is music to fit every moment and all together it makes a perfect soundtrack for understanding the movie. Guille’s rumba and MANZANITA’s “Te amaré” give that Spanish touch to the movie, which takes place mostly in Sevilla, but the soundtrack also has the delicate songs of Wales’ THE SCHOOL, the magnetism of CAMERA OBSCURA, the Italian romanticism of GIORGIO TUMA and FITNESS FOREVER, the delicacy of BMX BANDITS, the timeless folk-pop of Nick Garrie and RÓZSÄK and the strength and rhythm of LA CASA AZUL, SOUVENIR, BEEF, and THE GENTLE PEOPLE, among others.

Snowstorm: A Tribute to Galaxie 500 [2001]

ER-1038 Double-CD [sold out]

Tribute to the legendary Boston-based trio. Here you'll find G500 lovers from all over the world: BMX BANDITS, HULA HOOP, HEFNER, POLAR, LADYBUG TRANSISTOR, ORANGE CAKE MIX, MUSICAL CHAIRS, BEEF, TRAINS AND BOATS AND PLANES, MIGALA, TUGBOAT, MAGOO, THE SILLY PILLOWS, PURPLE IVY SHADOWS, DABJ, SILVANIA, ISAN, SEELY, PORTASTATIC, GODSTAR, THE PRIBATA IDAHO, STEPHANIE SAYERS, SATELLITES, HOLIDAY FLYER, SUGAR PLANT, ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE, STORMCLOUDS, WATOO WATOO and 18TH DYE. A real must for any GALAXIE 500 fan.

Montecarlo [1997]

ER-1028 CD [sold out] / Double-LP [sold out]

First volume of our 'Collection of the cities', a journey around the most beautiful places in the world. The soundtrack to our first destination is played by Katerine, BLUEBOY, Allen Clapp, THE SHE BREWS, THE PASTELS, SPRING vs PEZ, THE ORCHIDS, TREMBLING BLUE STARS, HOLIDAY FLYER, LE MANS, Dominique A, Damon and Naomi, Harvey Williams, BENITO, EGGPLANT, MY FAVORITE, THE AUTUMN LEAVES, BMX BANDITS, SNEEZE and HONEYBUNCH. Three extra tracks in vinyl: Ana D, THE PRIBATA IDAHO and ORCHESTRE DUCRUET SUPERETOILE. Great stylish pop artwork.