Galashiels

The Catburgers formed in Edinburgh, Scotland in late 1985, inspired by a chance encounter seeing The Television Personalities live and the explosion of DIY pop that was rolling across the UK at the time. They quickly developed a driving, melodic sound that balanced a love of 60s pop with a moody, almost post-punk edge that fit right in with fellow Scottish pop bands like The Pastels and Jesse Garon & The Desperadoes, as well as the bands coming from labels like Creation and Dreamworld. The Catburgers played often and enthusiastically throughout 1986 and 1987, recording demos that kept the gig offers coming and led Dan Treacy to invite the band to record a single for Dreamworld. Alas, that single didn't materialize at the time and while the band continued to write and play, shifting tastes and work obligations led to the band splitting in 1990, but not before making the recordings that would become "Galashiels." Songs like "I've Got a Friend" and "The First Day of Spring" are thrilling, bursting with youthful enthusiasm and solid gold tunes, the kind of songs that would have been on a thousand mixtapes if released at the time. The mood turns darker on the back end of the record, reflecting the band’s post-punk roots. What's really striking is the strength of the song-writing throughout. The Catburgers had a real way with a tune and it feels like a genuine gift to be hearing "Galashiels" almost 40 years later.