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As Sarah were impressed by Ivy's track on a Noisebox Records compilation EP, they asked the band to record a couple of singles for them. These singles turned out to be Wish You Would and Avenge, and were, to me, amongst Sarah's better releases. The fact that Ivy are no longer on Sarah does not surprise me in the least - they never did sound much like a typical Sarah band to me (but it's doubtful that "a typical Sarah band" actually exists any more...)
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Ivy's two Sarah singles, as well as the Radio One Session, which is now available on cassette from Noisebox, had the best melodies I had heard in ages, and a vocalist who could actually sing, but weren't short of noise either. The drum machine sounded a bit out of place, perhaps, but has since been replaced by a real drummer, David Donley, who used to be in another East Anglian band, Stare.
I heard that Ivy's third single was going to be released fairly soon, and wanted to know more, so I interviewed their guitarist, Julian Cator.
Why aren't you on Sarah any more? Who's going to be releasing your next single?
We weren't signed to Sarah, the agreement was to do Wish and Avenge initially, and see how it went after that. We sent Sarah a tape of How Do You Know It's For Real, but it wasn't going to get released till the summer or autumn. As we wanted something out sooner, we decided to do it with Noisebox instead.
Are there any plans to release Song To Mishulla?
We regard Mishulla as one of our weakest songs, obviously not a view shared by you! It may get released properly one day (probably on the third album when we've run out of material).
What do you think of other bands on Sarah? Do you think that all Sarah releases are as good as they should be?
I haven't heard much Sarah stuff, certainly not enough to make a fair judgement on the general quality of releases. What I do know (from Ivy's experience) is that everyone on Sarah is accused of being "jingly jangly", regardless of what they actually sound like (lazy journalism, as usual, from the weekly music press).
Are your songs based on real life incidents?
No-one knows what Spence is on about, and as she refuses to explain her lyrics to me, I'll have to pass on this one. She's probably trying to create an air of mystery!
How did you get to be on that Department of Health sponsored anti-drugs tape? Do you agree with the message it was putting across?
We got involved through a friend of the band. I don't see a problem with giving factual information about the effects of drugs, to counter the propaganda given on both sides of the issue.
Ivy's new single, How Do You Know It's For Real, has just been released, and brilliant it is too! It's available on coloured vinyl 7" (NBX 012) or CD (NBX 012 CD). You can write to Ivy c/o Noisebox, Fishmarket, Mountergate, Norwich NR1 1PZ.
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