Heavenly are seen as the originators of a whole genre of music – known to some as ‘jangle’, others as ‘twee’ and to the band themselves as ‘indiepop.' As fiercely independent as any punk band, but as sweetly melodic as any chart-topping act, Heavenly combine sharp-edged politics with shamelessly joyful pop music.
Highway To Heavenly shares this recipe with the band’s first four albums, all of which were released in the 1990s at a time when sensitive indie types in the UK were sheltering from the prevailing macho-rock storm under the Sarah Records umbrella, and when women in the US were starting to find their Riot Grrrl voices in the small town of Olympia, where labels like K and Kill Rock Stars were designing a new creative space.
Heavenly were on Sarah Records in the UK and on K in the US - and maybe this is a useful shorthand for understanding the band’s ability to meld the attitude of American Riot Grrrl bands with the pop charms of the English indie scene. In terms of style, Heavenly presented an androgynous look – short hair and pinafores for Amelia and Cathy - while Peter Rob and Mathew determinedly avoided the theatrics of male rock.
Heavenly did not want to fit in with the hyper-gendered corporate music scene of the 1990s, and the band has stayed determinedly independent ever since (this new album is released on Rob and Amelia’s Skep Wax label). The new songs on Highway To Heavenly (Feb. 27) are full of anger, of grief, of empathy, of love, and set themselves in opposition to the resurgence of the cold ‘masculine energy’ that is making the world a miserable, aggressive place today.
Heavenly has recently enjoyed a huge resurgence of interest from a younger generation of fans, who have cottoned on to Heavenly’s music, but also embraced the band’s inclusive version of feminism. 'Portland Town' is a joyful celebration of a place where diversity is welcomed. 'Press Return' is a demolition of those men who think technology and wealth make them winners rather than sad losers. 'Excuse Me' is an outburst of punk energy, as effervescent as a song on the first Undertones album, gleefully celebrating a teenage romance with the nerdiest boy in school. 'A Different Beat' tells the entire story of a doomed relationship, its heroine falling for and then escaping from an oppressive man, before heading for the metaphorical disco of freedom.
Heavenly have clearly been to a disco or two lately: opening track 'Scene Stealing' feels like a distant cousin of Blondie’s ‘Heart Of Glass’ and tells the story of self-obsessed YouTube influencers who don’t know how to treat women with respect. By contrast, album closer 'That Last Day' may be the most poignant song about bereavement you will hear all year, certainly the only one you’ll want to sing along to. It’s all pop here, but Highway To Heavenly has a huge range of tones and moods.
The band comprises original members Amelia Fletcher, Peter Momtchiloff, Cathy Rogers and Rob Pursey, who are now joined on drums by Ian Button. (An important element of the Heavenly story was the loss of Mathew Fletcher, who took his own life just before the fourth album was released. It took Amelia, Peter, Cathy and Rob a long time to get over the loss; maybe it took even longer to find a drummer as good as Ian.)
The new Heavenly have played a number of sold-out shows in the past couple of years, where older fans have mingled with new devotees. The band are looking forward to their slow-motion international tour in the first half of 2026, with dates in the UK, the US, Canada, France, Greece and Spain.
Highway To Heavenly was recorded at Rumbaba (Deptford, London) and at The Sunday School (Kent). It was produced by Toby Burroughs.
Heavenly are:
Amelia Fletcher – vocals, guitar, Cathy Rogers – vocals, keyboard, Ian Button – drums, Peter Momtchiloff – guitar, Rob Pursey – bass
TOUR DATES:
25 Feb COVENTRY,@ Just Dropped In (with CD/LP)
26 Feb LONDON @ The Lexington
28 Feb ATHENS @ Temple
5 Mar RAMSGATE @ Music Hall
6 Mar PARIS @ Petit Bain
8 Mar LONDON @ The Lexington (matinee, all ages)
14 Mar OXFORD @ The Nest
18 Mar MANCHESTER @ Yes
19 Mar GLASGOW @ Mono
20 Mar SUNDERLAND @ Pop Recs
21 Mar SHEFFIELD @ Sidney & Matilda
26 Mar BRIGHTON @ Hope & Ruin
4 Apr CARDIFF @ Wales Goes Pop
16 Apr WASHINGTON DC @ Black Cat
17 Apr PHILADELPHIA @ Johnny Brenda's
18 Apr NEW YORK @ Bowery Ballroom
19 Apr BOSTON @ The Sinclair
21 Apr TORONTO @ The Great Hall
23 Apr CHICAGO @ Empty Bottle
7 May VALENCIA, @ Loco Club
8 May MADRID @ Sala Galileo Galilei
10 May SAN SEBASTIAN @ Sala Dabadaba
21 Jun SAN DIEGO @ Casbah
22 Jun LOS ANGELES @ Regent Theater
24 Jun SAN FRANCISCO @ Great American Music Hall
26 Jun PORTLAND @ Aladdin Theater
27 Jun SEATTLE @ The Crocodile
28 Jun VANCOUVER @ Hollywood Theatre
Tickets for most gigs are already on sale. The North American West Coast shows will go on sale on January 9th. Latest gig details for all Skep Wax bands can be found at skepwax.com/live.
No comments:
Post a Comment