Keeping It Peel

Dandelion Radio

Regular readers to the blog will know how much the Devil misses the late, great John Peel. I'm therefore overjoyed to announce that Dandelion Radio, the online station at www.dandelionradio.com run by volunteers to keep the Peel flame burning, have just released a free compilation of highlights of their first five years. The unsurprisingly monickered ‘Five Years’ is a download-only, two volume compilation including a selection of Dandelion Radio’s favourite bands since it first went on air in June 2006. Fittingly, many of those joining the celebrations were big favourites of John Peel too.

The album, which will only be available until 31 July so you better get your skates on, is a free birthday gift from Dandelion Radio to its listeners (and Devil's readers) available via the Unwashed Territories netlabel. Joining Dandelion to wish them many happy returns are 10 artists who recorded more than 40 John Peel sessions among them. These include Trembling Blue Stars, Martin Carr (formerly of The Boo Radleys), Decoration, Beatnik Filmstars and Darren Hayman(ex-Hefner). Alongside them are many newer bands that Dandelion Radio DJs have loved and celebrated during their first five years on the air, including eleven tracks from exclusive sessions recorded for Dandelion Radio’s shows. More than half of the tracks are unavailable anywhere else.

John Peel legends Martin Carr and Darren Hayman have donated completely new, as yet unreleased tracks, while Trembling Blue Stars have contributed an exclusive unreleased track from nine years ago. And in the true spirit of Peel, the compilation also features many new artists who’ve been discovered by Dandelion during its first five years – such as Yorkshire based singer-songwriter Alisia Casper, South Wales indie pop artist Hehfu and Australian electronic duo The Emergency.

Many of the artists here – such as Burnley’s Jay Stansfield and Cheshire’s Vert:x – followed in the footsteps of the likes of Vampire Weekend and The Wombats by getting their first record label releases following Dandelion Radio airplay. Jay contributes a specially recorded birthday track, while Vert:x’s own exclusive contribution is a characteristic barrage of spacerock-influenced noise. As well as breaking new bands and artists, Dandelion has also taken the Peel blueprint of maximum diversity, and it’s a blueprint that’s perfectly showcased on this collection.

Go Try

Here are some tracks from featured artists on the compilation to whet your appetite for the delights of this must have compilation

Trembling Blue Stars - Cold Colours by sotoughsocute

Son of a gun (The Vaselines Cover) by hehfu

Rescue me by Martin Carr

Fantastic Animals by Alisia Casper

Jay Stansfield - ' I See a Rainbow ' by jaystansfield