Caught in the Carousel

Jasmine Minks

Poppy White EP
Oatcake Records

Jasmine Minks

The only good thing about lost music is when it's found. A recent example of this is Prefab Sprout's Let's Change The World With Music album that was recorded in 1991 but shelved for eighteen years before head Sprout Paddy McAloon released it in 2009. The late, great Jasmine Minks have a similar story. The four songs that comprise the Poppy White EP were originally passed on by Creation and ended up on ice, where they've sat since 1992. Given a good 2010 thawing—and dedicated to now deceased 'Minks, Fooksy and Mark Scars—they sound as fresh and vital as ever. Fooksy (real name: Robert Greig) handles vocals on the title track and the results are nothing short of infectious. Boasting a muscular jangle and a snarling hook-filled chorus, "Poppy White" is particularly winning. But then again, so is every track here, so picking favorites is futile. "Distraction" (with longtime 'Mink Jim Shepherd on vocals) sounds young and tough and thoroughly melodic, while "Dead And Gone" is masterfully played with the perfect balance of sinewy nerve and imploring vulnerability. Ending these proceedings is the Fooksy-helmed "Rain" which is a shimmering blast of soulful indie rock that punches mightily away with all the harmonic timelessness of a true classic.
(All proceeds from this sale will go to the MacMillan Cancer Support charity www.oatcakerecords.co.uk, email: info@oatcakerecords.co.uk)

—Alex Green

CITC talks to the Jasmine Minks' Jim Shepherd:

Jasmine Minks

Caught In The Carousel: What was it like for you to revisit these recordings?

Jim Shepherd: Very emotional--I suggested that we put out these recordings as a memorial to Foosky, the writer and main singer of two of the songs who died last year. Tom and Martin (remaining group members from this session) thought it would be nice. I cried a lot when I listened to them at first and especially at "Poppy White" which brought back memories of close friends struggling to deal with drug addiction. But "Rain" has turned out to be the shining jewel in the EP! A pop jibe at the ruling class and how we relate to the struggles that brings. And it has a surprisingly upbeat feel to it. It was unusual for me not to be heavily involved in the songwriting but I channeled my energies into arranging and production instead.

CITC: Why were these songs not initially released?

JS: We did bring them to the attention of Creation Records but the response was not good—I think Dick Green said he wouldn't release them. But I don't think my heart was in it at the time anyway. I was beginning to get dragged into other areas like acoustic guitar music and electronica, so maybe I didn't push enough!

CITC: What other treasures are there in the Jasmine Minks vaults?

JS: There are lots of outtakes from '80s albums we did (including some electronic versions of" Cut Me Deep") but they are all locked up in Sony's damp basements from what I heard. I'd like to hear them now but that is unlikely, to be honest. A live album from the mountains of live cassette tapes is a possibility and I'd love for a label like Easy Action to get involved in a project like that!

CITC: Can you talk about how Oatcake came about and what its plans are for World Domination.

JS: I recorded a vocal for the marvelous Sleepyard—Oliver sent me a track he thought I could sing on and it was perfect. It did help that the great Mike Garson played piano on it—he is a hero of mine since Aladdin Sane and the tune brought out the best in me instantly. I wrote what I consider to be some of my best lyrics and sang with all my heart. But no one seemed interested in releasing it. I don't normally have any big ambitions for songs but this one I felt had to be released properly. So I thought 'I'll do it myself.' I had the name Oatcake in the back of my mind for years as a record label name and there was no big decisions about how it was going to be and what its raison d'etre would be. It will float in its own paraffin and the flame will burn as long as is needed. I don't have a big plan—it'll be me and whoever I work with. I have every faith that brilliant quality will come my way. Already I have singles lined up from the brilliant Iain Slater from apb and Beat Hotel, apart from previously mentioned Sleepyard. All these are to come out as 7" vinyl 45's. Next will be Mike Pitt poetry with electronica backing (this should be really interesting) and I'd like to release a compilation of one of my favourite electronica artists Soiled. I have a few surprises up my sleeve, too so let's see if they come off!

CITC: Lineup-wise how would you describe this version of the Jasmine Minks?

JS: I nearly always felt that the Jasmine Minks were a group who picked up who they needed and did what they thought was right at the time. Maybe I was the pushiest person in some ways in the band so I had the biggest say. There have been stronger and more literate and interesting characters in the Jasmine Minks than me (Adam Sanderson and Wattie Duncan come to mind) but I have a musical intuition and I follow it strongly. There was one time I had a plan but that didn't happen so I gave up on plans! (I thought Scratch The Surface album was a stepping stone to 3 or 4 albums and a really good future in music but I don't think Creation were ready for it—in some ways we were years too early with that soft indie-rock sound!) Anyway, in 1989 Foosky had originally stepped in as drummer when Tom broke his leg and we had a wee tour of the North of England (including a one-off with Mo Tucker in a pub in Leeds). He stayed on and played guitar and sang for a while. Him and Tom were best of mates for years and lived together before Foosky drifted off. Most band members of the Jasmine Minks have been childhood friends or came to us through friends of friends so I do have this feeling that we have been through so much that no matter who has left the group and under what circumstances we can always communicate and hopefully leave the door open to collaborating again in the future. I always thought I'd only retire from making music when I'm dead and gone!