Dead Famous People - Lost Person's Area

Released as part of this year's RSD, this one may have slipped by a few interested parties who were otherwise trying to avoid the day. Dead Famous People were a short-lived Flying Nun act who recorded just nine songs in their original incarnation, though began releasing music again in 2020 following some keen detective work by Fire. Fronted and helmed by the formidable Dons Savage, an astute melodicism and a writer with a knack for communicating relatable emotion with a unique edge, these five tracks will be manna for anyone with even a passing interest in confessional and keening indiepop songwriting. The pop instinct (and geographic roots) made me think of Scribble's Johanna Pigott and there's a touch of the Tracey Thorn's about Savage's voice, while the connection with Billy Bragg's Utility label draws obvious through lines to the fabled Coming Up Roses (a reissue of which must be due soon, surely?). No filler here at all, though specific mention must be made for the closer, Sarah, a smart piece of sophisto-bedsit pop that's an obvious prototype for what would later become the new pop lexicon of Britpop (Sleeper, Pulp etc).  Uncool references possibly, but that kinda songwriting is undeniable.