The Siddeleys occupy that perfect, rain-slicked corner of the 1980s British indie scene where melody and melancholy are inseparable. Their sound is defined by a specific kind of crystalline guitar chime, often compared to the Smiths but delivered with a distinctly feminine, detached coolness. It is music that feels both fragile and sharply observant, like a well-crafted short story set in a grey London suburb.
What truly sets them apart is Johnny Johnson's vocal delivery and lyrical wit. She sings with a conversational, almost bored elegance that makes her biting observations about relationships and social friction land with more impact. The rhythm section provides a bouncy, post-punk energy that keeps the songs from becoming too precious, creating a tension between the upbeat tempos and the often-cynical subject matter.
Newcomers should head straight for the compilation Slum Clearance. It captures their brief but brilliant output, including the standout What Went Wrong This Time? which serves as a masterclass in the jangle pop genre. It is the ideal soundtrack for anyone who finds beauty in the mundane and comfort in a minor key.
The Siddeleys were a London-based indie pop band, active during the late 1980s. Although they were relatively short-lived, they were influential. The band formed in 1986, comprising female singer Johnny Johnson, Andrew Brown (bass), Allan Kingdom (guitar), and Phil Goodman (drums). Andy Wake signed the band to his Medium Cool label on the strength of one of their three demo tapes, releasing their first single, "What Went Wrong This Time?" in 1987, described by The Legend in NME as "A gentle teasing lament with cool female vocals and a lilting backing which trickles around the back of the nervous system with deceptive charm". Goodman left in 1987, to be replaced by former Jamie Wednesday and Bob drummer Dean Leggett, who was himself replaced by David Clynch. They moved to Sombrero Records for the follow-up, the John Parish-produced Sunshine Thuggery EP (1988), which caught the ear of John Peel who invited the band to record a session for his BBC Radio 1 programme. Peel commented "the woman who's in charge of the band has a terrific way with words in almost the manner of Morrissey. There are lines in here which make me laugh out loud". After a second Peel session, they had planned to release "You Get What You Deserve" as a third single, but this fell through when Sombrero ran out of money. The band remained popular with fans of indie pop, and a collection of all of their recordings, Slum Clearance was released in 2001. "What Went Wrong This Time?" was included on the CD86 album, a collection of definitive indie pop compiled by Bob Stanley. In 2017 Optic nerve records re-released "What Went Wrong This Time" in a limited edition single, on colored vinyl.
Shares indie pop, chamber pop (subgenres); lo fi, analog warmth, stripped back (production style)
Shares indie pop, chamber pop (subgenres); lo fi, analog warmth, stripped back (production style)
Shares indie pop, chamber pop (subgenres); lo fi, analog warmth, stripped back (production style)
Shares indie pop, chamber pop (subgenres); lo fi, analog warmth, stripped back (production style)
Shares indie pop, chamber pop (subgenres); electric guitar, bass, drums (instrumentation)
Shares lo fi, analog warmth, stripped back (production style); indie pop, chamber pop (subgenres)
Shares indie pop, chamber pop (subgenres); lo fi, analog warmth, stripped back (production style)
Shares indie pop, chamber pop (subgenres); lo fi, analog warmth, stripped back (production style)
Shares jangle pop, sunday morning, chamber pop, stripped back (signature)
Shares jangle pop, sunday morning, chamber pop, bedroom production (signature)
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