[Stream] Malcolm Middleton: ‘Girl Pop Song EP’

Malcolm Middleton releases a brand new EP today, entitled the Girl Pop Song EP it (funnily enough) features Malcolm covering four of his favourite female fronted acts including The Saturdays and Girls Aloud.

The EP is available on limited pink vinyl via Full Time Hobby (where you can also buy the digital version). Malcolm’s ‘Long Dark Night’ solo tour starts tomorrow (24th November) calling at the following dates:

November
Tue 24 UK, London, Bush Hall
Wed 25 UK, Brighton, Hanbury Club
Thu 26 UK, Norwich, Norwich Arts Centre
Sat 28 UK, Exeter, Phoenix – Voodoo Lounge
Sun 29 UK, Oxford, Jericho
Mon 30 UK, Cardiff, Barfly

December
Tue 1 UK, Cambridge, Junction 2
Wed 2 UK, Bristol, Thekla
Mon 7 UK, Newcastle, Cluny 2
Tue 8 UK, York, The Basement
Wed 9 UK, Wakefield, The Hop
Thu 10 UK, Glasgow, Oran Mor

Here, Malcolm talks us through his suprising choices – who’d have thought he was a Girls Aloud fan!? Stream the EP in full below.

‘Issues’ – The Saturdays
I suppose this is where it all started, these girls lit the fuse under my pop fire. I’d just finished recording my album and was feeling creative but empty, so rather than keep on writing I thought it’d be nice to learn other people’s songs. I’d seen the video on TV a bunch of times and the song always stood out as being better than most other things around at the time. One of those unusual girl band ballads akin to the Spice Girls’ ’2 Become 1′ and Girls Aloud’s ‘Call The Shots’.

‘Call The Shots’ – Girls Aloud
I like most of the Girls Aloud stuff, it always comes across as being a bit unusual for girl band pop songs. The song writing team at Xenomania have a bit of an alternative slant, even though the production is always a bit too hollow and pristine for my own tastes. Some of the words are a bit cringey, and I had to get rid of all the “yeahs” and “baby’s”. Obviously.

‘My Delirium’ – Ladyhawke
Not really a manufactured pop song but I like the total 80’s retro feel. I was a bit peeved when I heard her album for the first time. I was about to start recording Waxing Gibbous and my intention was to just use lots of 80’s synths and not many guitars… but she beat me to it. Anyway, the song is a great slice of retro-synth-angst, I’d love to see her play in a massive stadium some day.

‘One Of Us’ – Joan Osbourne
Hmm. My initial idea for recording these songs was to stick to shallow and marketed pop songs, but I suppose this intention fell by the wayside after Girls Aloud. I bought this single when it came out in the early 90’s. It’s really cheesy and the lyrics are crap, just like my stuff, maybe that’s what drew me too it? I just like the mood, her voice, and it’s really easy to play. Obviously God doesn’t exist and all beliefs are false though.