Railcard formed in 2025 when Rachel Love (Dolly Mixture), Ian Button (Papernut Cambridge, The Penrose Web) and Peter Momtchiloff (Heavenly, The Would-Be-Goods) discovered that they were all born within weeks of each other. It seemed like a great reason to form a new band, so Love and Button began writing songs together, and Railcard was born. Their original '1962' age limit rule was relaxed shortly afterwards when suspiciously youthful trumpeter Allison Thomson completed the line-up.
Following two limited edition download-only EPs (the first accompanied with a Railcard wallet, the second with a pair of iron-on patches) Slumberland and Skep Wax are proud to release this collection of ten songs as a CD album. The seven tracks from those first two EPs are included, along with three new ones. (The fetish for merch hasn't been overlooked: the CD comes with a useful Railcard information leaflet).
The new single, "Day Dream," is a perfect indicator of the dreamy Bacharach pop that Railcard have embraced and reinvented. Rachel Love's vocal sounds as pure as it did in Dolly Mixture. (The long-overdue reassessment of that pioneering all-girl pop band is a welcome backdrop to this new work.)
Across the ten songs, Peter Momtchiloff's bass and Ian Button's percussion smuggle in the swing of Motown, the propulsion of Stereolab or the upbeat clatter of France Gall. Meanwhile, Rachel Love's vocals intertwine with Button's – and when Allison Thomson's brass melodies are added, a sweet, seductive melêe is created, recalling Strawberry Switchblade, the Turtles or even The Mamas and Papas. The collection also includes a cover of Dandy Livingstone's "Think About That." In other words, Railcard have synthesised some of the best pop of the last seventy years and made it sound as fresh as the first Dolly Mixture single.
The songs were recorded at The Sunday School in Kent and mixed by Medway pop psych expert Allan Crockford (The Prisoners, The Galileo 7, The Solarflares, The Penrose Web etc).
Following the release of this introduction to Railcard, Slumberland and Skep Wax will follow up with the release of a full vinyl LP, featuring twelve new tracks, later in 2026.
TOUR DATES
February 8 - Brighton, UK - The Prince Albert w/European Son
February 21 - London, UK - Wharf Rats w/Would-Be-Goods & Helen McCookerybook
Railcard
Railcard
(Slumberland / Skep Wax)
Pre-order HERE
Track List:
1 Narcissus
2 Born in '62
3 Cherry Plum
4 Revolutionary Calendar
5 Northern Soul Dancing
6 Slow Train
7 Railcard
8 Disco Loadout
9 Day Dream
10 Think About That
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