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Pigeon Pop: 22nd Anniversary Edition

by Speedvark

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £7 GBP  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Amazing old CDs we found under the staicase. Illustrated by Pete and inspired by his sister, who at the time was known as 'Pigeon'. We don't really want to sell them to be honest. Bugger off.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Pigeon Pop: 22nd Anniversary Edition via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 7 days
    edition of 10 
    Purchasable with gift card

      £1,000 GBP or more 

     

  • T-Shirt/Shirt

    This is a unique T shirt, with a lovely shot of Ben's face on it. We're pretty sure no-one will order it which is a fucking relief as we haven't made any yet
    ships out within 20 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      £1,000 GBP or more 

     

  • Poster/Print

    Lovely shot of Pete's dog Pluto (1979-90). Was a faithful Golden Retriever with a waggy tail and nice face. He was pretty docile (once we'd had him neutered) but fucking greedy. He once ate a whole plate of cupcakes, off our kitchen table, the naughtly little mutt.
    ships out within 20 days
    edition of 1 
    Purchasable with gift card

      £1,000 GBP or more 

     

  • Ben

    It's Benny - I'm putting him up for sale!

    Sold Out
1.
Singing Horses / Nervous 04:33
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2.
Lollipop 03:11
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3.
(Market) Research Man 03:51
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4.
Ze Svingley Singers 00:53
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5.
Black Fly 04:49
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6.
Private Eye Music 03:48
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7.
Here It Comes 02:15
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8.
Jelly Jewels 01:30
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9.
Geoffrey Ace 04:03
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10.
Plants 01:54
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11.
Lava Lamp 03:07
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12.
Panic 04:21
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13.
Wooden Spoon 00:36
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14.
14. The Rhino Song (bonus, unreleased live classic) 04:14
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15.
15. Mr. Rat (bonus, unreleased as Benny went a bit mental in the late 90’s) 05:49
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16.
16. Five More Minutes (bonus, unreleased, Pete was too frightened) 03:56
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about

‘HEMEL HEMPSTEAD’S ANSWER TO TALKING HEADS’ (UNCUT MAGAZINE)

ACCLAIMED DEBUT ALBUM SEES REISSUE + BONUS MATERIAL AS SPEEDVARK RETURNS

When Speedvark released their first album ‘Pigeon Pop’, 22 years ago, their quirky mix of story-telling, genre-bending and self-deprecation had reviewers scratching their heads.

‘It’s about as truly original as you can get’ declared the National Band Register, reviewing the song ‘Black Fly’, in which a fly gets killed and the heavenly debate ensues.

‘I love it to death… they’d be an inspired signing’ the writer concluded.

The bigger music mags were intrigued: ‘A knees up redefinition of the term eclectic’ said Q Magazine, ‘it suggests a similar japing, warped approach as The Cardiacs… but the remainder dismantles this idea: ‘Jelly Jewels is lo-fi lounge, ‘Black Fly’ recalls Pavement. ‘Lava Lamp’ is noodling jazz but oddly it all gels… this is a satisfying but perplexing piece of work.’

The Fly Magazine (very hip in the ‘00s 😉) wrote: ‘Bordering on the horizons of the plain peculiar (this is) an album filled with the daily anxieties of the life of a market research man, the thoughts of a plant and wondering whether flies go to heaven… it’s so leftfield that it’s almost right.’

Twenty-two years on and questions remain: Why write a song about freezing up in the public lavs (‘Panic’)? Why get so passionate about middle management (‘(Market) Research Man’)? If Speedvark really wanted to make it, why declare in their opening song they were ‘completely terrified’ (‘Nervous’). WTF were they on when they wrote ‘Plants’? Or ‘Geoffrey Ace’? Or any of it?

When interviewed for this new reissue, lead singer, trumpet player and founder member Ben Raudnitz - also known as ‘B’ – (the other member, Pedro Flatt, is ‘A’) said “Umm….”. Further comment was neither sought nor offered.

Pigeon Pop 22nd Anniversary Edition will be supported with a show at The Fiddler’s Elbow, Camden on Monday 19th December. The album features previously unreleased songs (see track listing).

credits

released December 22, 2022

all tracks written, performed and produced by Ben Raudnitz and Pete Flatt

license

all rights reserved

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about

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Speedvark Hemel Hempstead, UK

Speedvark is Hemel Hempstead's second most important rock band. Formed in 1986 the band has sold in excess of three records. Terrified of publicity, certain dogs and most people, the band took 14 years to release their first album, 2000's 'Pigeon Pop'. 13 years on and now in their middle years, Ben and Pedro (the band) have plucked up the courage to write, record and release their next shocker ... more

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