Copier - Wrath
Super Sevens
Lastly we get The Secret Hairdresser from Bury St. Edmunds that is a combination
of punk and Johnny Dowd. A slice of perfection that takes interplayed vocals
into the area of the sublime. You see, it's not just Leed's bands - others are
making great music as well, even of it's a small Leeds labels picking up on
it.
Stuffy/The Fuses
/ The Secret Hairdresser - WRATH SUPERSEVENS # 8
Sir Wants Sex / Copier (Wrath Records)
Superseven Eight is rare for a Wrath release, in that in contains two bands, neither of whom are from Leeds (or the surrounding area). So let us be hesitant as we test the wares of some other cities. Oh, but actually, it seems all is very pleasant in both London (home of Stuffy/The Fuses) and Bury St. Edmunds (the place where The Secret Hairdresser rest their secret scissors). I may even visit one day. From the taster I get of the cities from these songs (surely the best way for any tourist to decide whether a place is worth a day trip or not), London is energetically sleazy, frenetic. Propelled by thundering cycling drums and blasts of brass it’s rather noisy, occasionally confusing, but great fun.
Bury St Edmunds sounds lovely. I imagine it is permanently sunny, with big expanses of park land dotted with stereos playing gorgeous pop music. But if you search hard, there’s a nasty discordant side, menacing, slightly angry, but hidden by worried locals who are keen for you to believe that all is ok.
Tom Goodhand - Sandman Magazine
The Secret Hairdresser
Copier: This is one holy hell of a tune. Imagine if you will, easy cheesy Studio-2-Stereo
vocals and chord progressions but played but the Foo Fighters and sung by Electric
Six. More energy than a galactic supernova and swerving violently between darkness
and exhuberance, this song soars on discordant but delicious vocal harmonies,
and analogue synth sounds straight out of the soundtrack to Forbidden Planet.
A really refreshing change to hear something that bucks the current trend of
clean but pretend edgy, suited and booted indie pop. Not enough songs outside
of Scandinavia dare to have ‘La la la’ as the main lyric. Truly
awesome.
Ivan Mack - Music Guru
Stuffy & The Fuses "Sir Wants Sex" / The Secret Hairdresser "Copier"
Stuffy & The Fuses investigate the abuse of trust that could occur in any classroom, with a cool, shouty punker of a song.
Ridiculously catchy melodics from The Secret Hairdresser. Umm..i can't think of a description other than really, really good! Have a listen yourself.
These 4 tracks are the first two episodes of the new Wrath Records Supersevens singles club, and my word, don’t they just sparkle? Quite possibly the finest ever “singles club” release I’ve ever heard, in fact. Each track is beautifully written and carefully selected from Wrath’s mightily impressive roster. Kickstarting proceedings we have the wonderful Being 747’s “DIY Prescriptions”, growling sulkily like a cross between The Stranglers and a seriously downbeat Mark E Smith. This, in fact, is probably one of the best tracks I have ever heard – by anyone! The Lodger’s “Getting Special” is up next, evoking memories of Colour Field era Terry Hall and featuring a chorus that is rather like a Weller-esque middle eight and it all makes for another brilliant track.
There’s no let up after that though – Stuffy/The Fuses “Sir Wants Sex” is an equally marvellous outing with shades of Pixies and Devo, and possessing lyrics akin to that of David Gedge. Final track, “Copier” by The Secret Hairdresser, is like a gloriously fucked up musical orgy between Lush and My Bloody Valentine and full of unashamed bravado. All in all, this is a ridiculously superb 4 track CD which is often on “repeat” in my car – and I hardly EVER do that! 10/10
Tone E - Atomic Duster
Wrath Super Sevens #8
Ahhh... vinyl. Much to popular belief, the format is far from being dead and buried. And how can it be, when there are wonderful schemes floating around like Wrath Records' 'Super Sevens' singles club? That's right, they're back, and with a whole new host of split, and VERY limited 7inches... and who's this on Super Seven #8? Stuffy/The Fuses vs. the glorious melodic pop of The Secret Hairdresser.
Have you even stopped and wondered what it would sound like if Blur were fronted by Timmy Mallet (insert your own Damon Albarn joke here), and released a Pixies covers album? Of course you have! Who hasn't!? Well, if so, Stuffy/The Fuses are the band for you. 'Sir Wants Sex' is for everyone out there who likes their power pop punk with a hefty slice of eccentricity.
However, the real highlight on this must have vinyl has to be 'Copier' from The Secret Hairdressers. Shamefully, this is the first time I've heard them, but it certainly won't be my last. Unashamed, glorious pop music, complete with melodic choruses, la-la-la-la-laa's, and a perfect dose of handclaps just to sweeten the deal. Passionate enough. Noisy enough. Happy enough. Perfect for the summer sun.
So what are you waiting for? www.wrathrecords.co.uk ...subscribe!! Now!! 3 quid a record? You can't go wrong...
Ratings: Stuffy/The
Fuses: 7/10
The Secret Hairdresser: 9/10
Ryan Butcher - Heathen Angel
The Secret Hairdresser - Wrath split 7" single
I've got a preview copy of the next two Wrath records (from Leeds) 7" singles club. The track by the Secret Hairdresser sounds very good to me.
The Secret Hairdresser - Wrath split 7" review
As the disc moves onto the fourth track I can't help thinking that I've peaked too soon and only an anti-climax can follow with The Secret Hairdresser. Though the la la la la la of the opening, and the synth growl that follows it in the build up to the verse makes me think otherwise. And when the verse kicks in I know I was wrong to be pessimistic, or maybe right to be pessimistic as I'm so gladly surprised, with another New Wave pop gem. Gooey and sinister and ending mercifully quickly again, before anything can happen to make me dislike it, with a sudden emptiness left behind just as I assumed the dark honey of a song to be in full swing. Another act who know the value of short and to the point, so another act to make me smile. Great dirty pop that ticks every box for me.
So not a bad track between the four bands, though I have to call the eighth release the winner, in what I seem to have needlessly turned into a contest with this last but one sentence. The pop perfection of Stuffy and The Fuses and The Secret Hairdresser having sharp sharp hooks currently locked into my brain that I really can't be bothered to try and pull out, so all in all; lovely.
Review by Daniel Newman - Joy Zine
The Secret Hairdresser
15 August 2005 / Wrath / Split 7” Single
By JA
The Secret Hairdresser, certainly seems willing to try and
make your hair curl. “Copier” is crammed with distorted guitars
and a set of female vocals that seem welded to the melodious notes being pumped
out by the keyboard. It’s sort of like a haunted film theme tune played
with an operatic vision of post punk rock. Strong, strange and rather quite
loud.
Manchester Music
Stuffy and The
Fuses / The Secret Hairdresser - split single
Words by Richard Garnett
www.leedsmusicscene.net
Wraths Super Sevens part deux bristles into life with their very own Stuffy
at the helm and Steve Albini no less at the mixing desk. Sir Wants Sex, it can
only be presumed is the warning to any school girl with a crush on their teacher
- "What you gonna do if sir wants sex?" sneers the chorus. True to
the mantra of "simple is better" the backbone of this 1 minute 54
belter is a stab, stab, stab guitar lick accompanied by some cunning drumming.
Snap, Crackle and Rock! If this is a fore warning of the Albini produced album
set for release later this year then start putting your pocket money aside now.
A flip of the disc and the second guest slot welcomes Bury St Edmunds pop fruit
cakes The Secret Hairdresser and their whirring, beeping and chugging track
"Copier". They menace their way through 2 and half minutes with hypnotic
close harmonies, descending guitar lines and pop-epic la, la, la, laas. In all
a splendid formula for good time at your local "alt" establishment
drunkenly using your bottle of WKD as a mic and happily loosing your voice.
Bring on the rest please Wrath.
Stuffy/The Fuses
/ The Secret Hairdresser - Sir Wants Sex / Copier
The other split on Wrath (yes, there's two...) is by Stuffy/The Fuses -seemingly
a singing drummer & his erm....backing band if photos I've seem are owt
to go by. Just more good quality jerky British guitar pop with a sprinkling
of old fashioned cabaret. The Secret Hairdresser lalalala their way into your
hearts with a euphoric quirk of a tune, all fuzzy guitar, keyboard fizzes &
whirls & harmonic boy girl vox. Good fun!
Stuffy/The Fuses / The Secret Hairdresser - Sir Wants Sex / Copier
Number two in this year’s Wrath Supersevens 7” singles series is kicked off by Stuffy/The Fuses with Sir Wants Sex, the first recording released from their recent session with Steve Albini. It was inspired by a local paper headline and bounces along for just under two minutes in a manner that will bring joy to your ears.
Next up is The Secret Hairdresser with an equally enjoyable piece of bass-heavy guitar pop. I reckon this is the best song so far in the Supersevens series, it’ll be cool to see where it goes next.
See the Wrath Records website to find details of how to subscribe to the Supersevens Club and get this, five other 7” singles and a CD compilation.
by Andy - Indigo Flow
Stuffy/The Fuses
/ The Secret Hairdresser – Sir Wants Sex/Copier (Wrath)
The first 2 split 7” singles from the second Wrath Super Sevens series,
featuring two of their home bankers and two acts newer to the ears of Wrath
followers. Being 747 concern the online self-service future of the NHS, with
the Morricone bros supplying a crunchier underlay than usual to Dave Cooke’s
fervent imagination. Lodger supply choppy, cyclical post-mod on the flip there.
The other platter sees Stuffy/The Fuses add a hint of Kenneth-Williams-nostrils
and Grange Hill cheek to their pronk-yelp, which seems to have been rendered
LESS abrasive by Steve Albini’s production hand. Which be odd. To finish,
the Secret Hairdresser make pop music but do it HARDCORE. A potential Chinese
Burn for the charts – here’s hoping this gives them the leg up to
that level. Skif
Wrath Superseven
“8” – Stuffy/The Fuses v The Secret Hairdresser
Stuffy/The Fuses demand to know how you’ll react when ‘Sir’
wants sex. This could be a general condemnation of our (still) male dominated
sexual society – or it could be pertinent advice for all freshers. Whatever.
It doesn’t matter. No one’s gonna believe you anyway.
The Secret Hairdresser’s “Copier” bustles along on a choral vocal hook of monolithic proportions – like The Priscillas fronting Killing Joke. Marvellous. Stuff.
The Wrath Records Supersevens Summer Season 2005 is officially open. A Vinyl Readers Digest for your ears – is what they say - & who are we to doubt them. Or you too, for that matter.
The Katestar – www.trakmarx.com
Wrath Superseven #8 (WRATH29): Stuffy/The Fuses / The Secret Hairdresser
'Sir Wants Sex' starts out with some truly manic drumming and then bursts into a jagged start/stop shouty sweary number backed by some soaring brass on the choruses. It's produced by the legend that is Steve Albini and burns itself out in just under two glorious minutes.
The Secret Hairdresser give us 'Copier', an intriguing joining of fuzzy heavy noise, la-la-la pop choruses and oscillatory synth noises straight out of the sixties. While this description sounds messy, it's more messed-up, and in a good way, than anything else. Fantastic.
N.B. It's nice to note Wrath Records' tag line is "let's call the whole thing WRATH", reminding us we Brits pronounce 'wrath' to rhyme with 'fuck off', unlike the Americans who seem to prefer to rhyme it with 'suck ass'.
by Theo from CD Times
'SECRET HAIRDRESSER,
THE' - 'WE DID IT ON PURPOSE' - Label: 'LAP RECORDS' - Genre: 'Indie'
Our Rating: 8/10
THE SECRET HAIRDRESSER sound like a moog-driven fusion of My Bloody Valentine
and The B52s, sharing the former’s very British sonic scuzziness and the
latter’s cartoon sci-fi pop-punk. As befits such contrasting influences
there’s a plethora of other stuff in there as well (old Fannies, Pixies,
Blur, The Human League, Riot Grrl, 60s theme tunes etc.) but the bravura of
the playing and the single-mindedness of the songs are too attention-grabbing
to start nit-picking about where they’ve grabbed the individual bits from.
This boy/girl harmony 5-piece are from Bury St Edmunds, not in itself a well-known rock ‘n’ roll mecca but on this occasion its relative isolation seems to have allowed the band to concentrate their efforts solely on forming a unique identity and idiosyncratic approach rather than distracting themselves by worrying about what the local ‘scene’ deems cool and worthy of critical merit.
This all equates to an infectious
and peculiarly wonderful sound that defies simple categorisation but is expressed
in a breathlessly natural fashion. ‘Copier’, the opening track of
their 3-track single, starts like The Fannies ‘Metal Baby’ but continually
morphs into a rich array of poptastic moments that delights as it teases with
unobvious changes in direction and influence. ‘Lying To Protect You’
is more direct and riff-laden and for ease of consumption could be labelled
a Graham Coxon power-pop number with prog tendencies. Last track ‘Tension
Seeker’ comes across like Phil Oakey and the Human League girls ditching
the synths for guitar driven old school R’n’B tinged with some Funkadelic.
And if all that doesn’t whet your appetite then when did you last check
your pulse and are you absolutely sure you really like music?
author: Different Drum
The Secret Hairdresser “We Did It On Purpose EP” (Lap Records): The winners of the Bury Sound 2004 competition are set for big things; they have already done a session at Maida Vale Studios for the late John Peel’s radio show in early 2004. Even though this is only a 3 track EP (‘Copier’, ‘Lying to protect you’ and ‘Tension Seeker’) each song stands out and makes you want more! The Girl/Boy garage rock/electronica band are signed to lead singer/guitarist Jason’s own record label Lap Records and constantly churn out catchy songs that make you want to sing along and dance, with Jason, Lucy and Lotty’s vocals/instruments and the added instrumental skills of Rob and Richard they are certainly a band to be respected for all that they do. Long live The Secret Hairdresser! (Available from http://www.laprecords.co.uk)
by Claire Fisher
The Secret Hairdresser - We Did it on Purpose (3tx ep - 1o'o8'' Lap rec 'o5) - L'Acconciatore Segreto, direttamente dai saloni per signora degli Uk, dosa molto + powerrock pop in questo breve nuovo ep di 3 tracce. LeggeteVi l'intervista al front-man Jason di qlc mese e recensioni varie per tutti gli elogi fatti + tappeto rosso. Per il resto, Jason & Co. sono ancora una volta di + geniali e prolifici quanto ispirati. I nuovi pezzi sono + veloci e da live. Suona rock l'assolo di Tension Seeker, mentre la vena brillante indie pop riluccica sui riff e i la-la-la di Copier e Lying to protect You, con parti cantate sempre divise tra boy/girl. Il tutto scava un buco in testa, e gira e si rigira. - Voglio il nuovo album! //
(ENGLISH TRANSLATION) The Secret Hairdresser - We Did it on Purpose (3tx ep - 1o'o8'' Lap rec 'o5) - The Secret Hairdresser, directly from UK sitting rooms for Ladies, dose lots more powerrock in this brief 3 tracks new ep. Read the interview with Their front-man Jason and more reviews about this excellent Band on some komakino ago. - By the way, - just once more, tunes are brilliant and fresh as well as inspired. New songs are fast and ready to be played live & loud. Tension Seeker guitar solo plays rockkkk!!, while the brilliant indiepop vein stays on riffs and la-la-la's of Copier and Lying to protect You, with boy/girl at vocals. It's like these songs are digging an hole in my head and exploding..
TSH @ The Steamboat, Ipswich - Fri 7th Jan 2005 - The headliners turn out to be The Secret Hairdresser who I saw play the summer before last when Bilge Pump played a show in Ipswich. Noticeable back then was how the keyboardist was rocking the Enid from Ghost World look and it seems the song remains the same. There is this band from Norwich called Kaito and The Secret Hairdresser really remind me of them. They also sound like Blur do (attempting) punk songs but remaining playful pop and also Urusei Yatsura, although this band is far from distorted. Their set sounds a lot better than the previous time I saw them and when they slip in a cover of Only Shallow by My Bloody Valentine. People walk/move around all set including Goldie Lookin’ Chain-esqe chavs clutching tightly their iPods, having the headphones permanently in ears while a real band is playing on stage. This may explain as to why the singer/band do not come over/act as the happiest puppies in the world. They end with a crowd favourite and audience participation as they clap and “miaow” in time to something kitsch and twee, almost straight out of Heavenly. There is life.
from a Blog called Jgram World V2.0
TSH @ Wrathstonbury Festival, Leeds (2 more reviews below) Back downstairs The Secret Hairdresser, guests from the ghettos of Suffolk provide big pop tunes mixed in with handclaps and meows. They were great and even had a song that sounded a bit like #’Do They Know It’s Christmas’ and still sounded ace.
Written by: Tom Goodhand
The Secret Hairdresser - Hairdressing for Everyone (3tx ep, 9'2o'' - Lap rec 'o3) - New wave pop melodies melting with a rocky attitude, one more time that's the formula for The Secret Hairdresser, blending Their tracks with moog harmonies and dirty guitars. It's strange, because it's like You never know what They're going to do next; there's not a regular song-writing, - but it just comes easy to distinguish Their own touch on it. Jason/Lucy vocals on You're all over me, or three speeds of O.V., are pure genius. And Been Me Up is a hit for sure! //
The Secret Hairdresser - Top Ten Conditioning Lips (1otx cd, 28'54'' - Lap rec 'o3) - Pure passionate adrenalin on this full-lenght! My Love For Music dreams on ultra fast Psycho, Riverside 2 or on Warmer Sheen, - where drums run quick and meet excellent Noise through guitars calling of early My Bloody Valentine and Pixies' Surfer Rosa ones, too. Then ears come and hear sounds of the absolute pop (clappy) song Verse Chorus Miaoow, - the 'miaoow' song pre-eminently, where there's Lucy singing sweet now. Yeah's of Distant Pause are fucking contagious, as well as You are always kept 'envolved' and invigorated all along the tracks left. - What can i add? Don't miss Them. //
The Secret Hairdresser - Pass the Parcel (3tx ep cdr, 6'44'' - Lap rec 'o3) - Actually One of my ultra-favorite Band, together with Ex Models, jesu'! One new icon and next big thing. Well, nothing 'next', to be frank, because this ep is from last year, but it contains three tracks of absolute indie pop wave adrenalin. Title track is a fast run along steps of moog and guitar, worth Frank Black's envy, in a emotional apotheosis with boy/girls vocals. Latter two songs were recorded during practise, so You can taste all the excellent live-impact. It's not my problem touches joyful rage of Rosa Mota of Wishful Sinking, and That's Wrong filters the best rock&roll of early White Stripes. - More records and reviews during next days; in the meanwhile, download Music and buy cd's at laprecords.co.uk.
Mr. Jason - I'm leaving (5tx cd, 12'57'' - Lap rec 'o4) - One more side-project for Jason (from Animal Planet, The Secret Hairdresser), bedroom recordings now, - between brilliant ideas closed to Pixies (title track and I'm There) and 8o's indie pop wave, with drums from a keyboard, bass, guitar, and singing on, - fixed on a 4 track recorder, i guess. This kid seems to be really a beautiful mind indeed, - walking free through shoegaze, brit-pop, lo-fi (more info in a further interview to The Secret Hairdresser), - and everything sounds fresh and genuine. It's like discovering several faces of a hidden pearl, - He's worth more than a review here! Cd concludes with a pale Rescue Me, - a whispered voice, on a guitar skimmed. Get in touch.
Jarcrew + Duels
+ Galitza + This Et Al + Being 747 + The Young Knives + The Scaramanga Six +
The Secret Hairdresser + ¡Forward, Russia!
Live @ Joseph's Well - Saturday, 9 October 2004
Wrathstonbury is, believe it or not, one of the most important dates on Leeds'
live music diary. Eighteen bands compete with beer for your attention. And even
when it all finishes at 1:30, some eleven hours after it all began, everyone
leaves wishing there was some more.
The Secret Hairdresser are the first band I shall mention, but that doesn't mean they were the first to impress. Their new wave pop was all infectious melodies, keyboards are daft vocals (such as the highly entertaining 'meowing' in 'Verse Chorus Meow'). Note to other bands, meows aren't used enough in pop. Sort it out.
Review written by: Tom Goodhand
Saturday 09/10/04
Duels, Galitza, The Young Knives, Stuffy/The Fuses, The Scaramanga Six, The
Secret Hairdresser @ Joseph’s Well, Leeds
by Oliver Goodyear and Peter Charles.
Before we’re treated to The Six, and way too early in the day for Wrath acolytes with more nocturnal leanings, the first highlight of the day comes in the unexpected shape of Suffolk’s The Secret Hairdresser. Unafraid of a shamelessly big chorus or two, they are the first band to really invigorate the audience. Rocky guitars, chirpy synths, boy/girl vocals and hook after hook establish a theme for the day –unashamed pop music, which is simultaneously passionate, noisy and ambitious enough to keep the punk fraternity happy.
THE SECRET HAIRDRESSER
(review from www.wrathrecords.co.uk)
Regulars on John Peel's show from Bury St. Edmonds.
Paul: "They have these hooks and gorgeous keyboard bits. It really grabbed
me. It's quite loungey with the dual vocals. Ace!"
Julia: "Like ELO but with nice dischords. I like the fact that I don't
know what they're going to do next"
Nasreen: "Track 2..big tick! A chorus of fluffy pink kittens singing for
their fishy supper"
Whiskas: "Cool alt synth pop - really dense sound"
Steve: "Fucking brilliant. Goes off in all sorts of pleasantly unexpected
directions. Moogy wonderland!"
• The Secret
Hairdresser 11/09/03 • (review from www.gigsinbury.tk)
All bands were pretty much doomed on this day, it being September 11th ....
The Secret Hairdresser headlined tonight's gig at the Priors Inn, they opened
with 'Math's Crime' to start the crowds boppin'. Through out their whole set
the crowd was moving in one way or another, you could say they are a crowd mover?
They played two songs which are new and not; Leap Of Faith which is an oldie
which they haven't played much live, and That's Wrong which I believe is new.
They played around 10 songs in total, including the very much-loved VCM (Verse,
Chorus, Miaoow) 'miaoow' song, well the clapping was superb!!! and the miaoowing
from the audience; the whole crowd joined in on this song.(even the French adore
it!). The crowd moved closer as the set went on, you could say because the singer
'envolved' them in their set.
All their music is pretty cherpy and imaginative in many respects, but there
is the exception of 'Leap Of Faith', which is kind of sad.
The atmosphere down the Priors was pretty good, although the 'keyboard player'
looked a bit miserable, but it could of been a bad day, and the bassist looked
as though she had no expression; but lets take concentration into thought aswell!
But their music sounded decent anyhow.
(please note this is written from memory it was 3 weeks ago!!!)
The Secret Hairdresser:
The Secret Hairdresser.
18 Track CD album. Track listing: None supplied.
It is difficult to know where to start with this one. Sounding like the product of a strange experiment involving a dozen extremely musically-literate magpies, some exciting guitar-pedals and sound effects, some drugs and a week in a studio, The Secret Hairdresser (it came with no track listing, sleeve or name tag, so if that isn't what it's called then I apologise) manages to sound at different points in its duration like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Bis, Stereolab, My Bloody Valentine, Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd, Veruca Salt, The Who, Helen Love, The Pixies and a 1980's TV cat-food advert, as well as pretty much every point in-between. Sometimes all at the same time. This CD is one of the most bizarrely brilliant and randomly hilarious things that I have ever had the good fortune to have had stuffed into my pocket without me knowing. Track 2 features the fantastic lyric "Try not to think you're/Losing a Daughter/I like to think you're/Gaining a loser." Track 5 starts with some people going "Meow/Meow meow/Meow meow/Meow meow", in harmony. Track 12 sounds like The Wedding Present, until a sample from Bagpuss appears, which point it turns into The Jesus And Mary Chain. Track 13 could be Pavement if they'd been brought up in East Anglia instead of the 'States. And the fantastic thing about it is that it is all as scattershot as this. In summary, it is clearly the work of somebody with far too big a record collection and the musical equivalent of tourettes syndrome. If it were a car, it would be a TVR: a completely bonkers British thing, built by enthusiasts out of spare parts, with no regard for reliability, speed limits or the environment, but guaranteed to put a smile on the face of anyone who comes into contact with it. I'm surprised that John Peel doesn't have it on repeat play already…..
review by Yalson