Discography:
*. Prelease Cassette Before their first official release Novak released this cassette. Not too sure when this actually came out or even the precise track listing, but it does contain the 'banned' Disn*y intro version of Rapunzel. Many thanks to the loverly people at Boa records for the scan. If anyones got a copy out there they don't mind contributing to the site...
1: 'Silver Seas' b/w 'Schmaltz' 7" ( Earworm 2) released November 1996 First (150 or 200, take your pick) copies came in a nice little cloth bag, 'hand knitted' (sic) by Novak themselves. Fold over sleeve, hand stamped label. Each of the bags were different, mine's a blue gingham affair. Some 'unofficial' leather bags were also produced. The availabilty and value of these bootlegs remains unknown. Here at Robinsonworld we advise you not to buy one. Well, don't pay any more than for the stardard un-bagged version.
2: 'Rapunzel' b/w 'Almost Chinook' 7" (Choosy 007) released 15th April 1997. Recorded at Quickspace. Each cover was hand coloured by the group, and is therefore different. Fold over sleeve. Stick on Bar code, 020667 920775, number fans!
3: Alpine Assignment EP; 'Telesphore', 'Happenstance', 'Ultra sheer', 'Telesphere' released on 12" and CD single (choosy 009) Released 26th October 1997. The 12" came with a rather cute 'Story Board' for an odd little story about Pip and the Melon man.
4: 'Boy Scouts of America' b/w 'Still Seas' 7" (choosy12) Released 8th June 1998. Each copy had a little 'something Boy scout releated' stuck on the front, usally a little knot, dandelion seeds, or couple of sticks, (rub together to make fire, gedit?, the sticks are taken from the groups Christmas trees!) Does anyone have anything else? Do let me know! 'Still Seas' has a (more than) passing resemblance to 'Silver Seas'.
5: 'Blue Chinook' b/w ' Peggy's Mild' 7" (choosy 15) Released 29th of March 1999. The lovely picture of a cow on the cover almost makes up for the lack of 'handmade charm', standard (i.e. non foldover) sleeve, no inner bag. Maybe it's just my copy, but the hole is rather tight around my spinndle. Oh! Matron, etc. etc.
Adele: "It's kind of a daydream in a sense that daydreams aren't all skippy bunnies."
6: Novak: The Album
Released 26th of April 1999, on both Vinyl and CD (Boo Hiss!) Track listing:-
Side One: Lord of the World, Fruit Cooler, Burning Hoof, Cross Purposes
Side Two: Blue Chinook, Boyscouts of America, By Peggy's Well, Havana (where she was)
The recommended starting point for any Novak novices. Track listing and picture of the album are taken from The Official Novak Site, check them out for more details. The LP is A Porky Prime cut, messages in run out groove fans! Released in the USA by Hidden Agenda records (HiddenAgenda-008) As far as I know CD only, and has the same track listing as the UK version. The album crashed into the respectable No.19 position on the UK Chain With No Name Chart. 126 of the 'best independent shops across the country' can't be wrong!
I once saw someone wearing a Novak T-shirt with the same design as the Album sleeve, but I was unable to find out if it was official or a DIY job.
Not a true release but:
Peel Session:
Wonderful Radio One (FM) transmited a Novak session on the John Peel show on Wendesday 14th April 1999. Tracks Played: Hotter is Faster*, Lord of the World, Relief Rain*, Peggy's Well. Tracks marked * are other wise unreleased. See songs for details.
Also see Jon Antonovics' Novak Page He's done some great wave samples of the full songs. Good work Jon!
The same session was repeated on Radio 1 on Thursday 01/07/99.
So what have been the trial tribulations of your regular indie rock band since their debut Peel Session's first airing? Well according to them … not much, vocalist, Adele says "You know what we're like. Dullest band in the world". However, they are still hoping to play the Leeds Festival in August and will be starting work on a new single and album over the summer. Apart from that Kirsty (bass guitar) has broken her toe playing football.
Appearances on Compilation Albums:
1: Will Our Children Thank Us
A CD only complation album from Foundry Recordings. It includes tracks by Appliance, Billy Mahonie, Pram, Electric Sound of Joy, and Rothko. It also contains a Novak Song, Peggy's Well, in a slightly different version to the album. A review of this album can be found at the online FlakMagazine here. Thanks to Eric Wittmershaus for the info and review. Great name too. Also reviewed by Motion, link here.
2: The Tell Tale Signs of Earworm- Double CD Compilation
Contains 'Silver Seas', first time ever on Costly Disk! First disc is a retrospective over the Earworm back catalogue, the second, all new material. Great! for Details go to the Earworm Homepage, Here
