Album Notes

SPEARMINT/LONDON/UK
Spearmint formed in North London in 1995, and released a series of singles between 1995 and 1998. Songs For The Colour Yellow -- a compilation of singles -- was released in 1998 on Rough Trade Japan/UK. Their debut album proper, A Week Away, was released in 1999 to massive critical acclaim. 2001 and 2002 saw the band recording and releasing their sophomore album, A Different Lifetime, which was named album of the year by Uncut. In 2003, Spearmint released My Missing Days, and the back has just released their 4th album, A Leopard And Other Stonew album. www.spearmint.net
NOVILLERO/WINNIPEG/CANADA
Novillero formed in 1999 from a number of well-established Winnipeg groups, including Rod Slaughter (Duotang); Rusty Matyas (The Waking Eyes); Sean Stevens, Roberta Dempster, and Scott Hildebrant (Transonic); and Dave Berthiaume (Bulletproof Nothing). This lineup released the mod-influenced lounge pop album The Brindleford Follies on Endearing in 2001, but disbanded in 2002. After nearly a year apart, they reformed and found themselves heading in a new direction, relying less on spacey psychadelia and more on keyboard driven pop hooks with a mod influence. Grant Johnson joined recently to take over bass duties, as Rusty has become increasingly busy with The Waking Eyes. These four songs are new and previously unreleased. www.novillero.net