The Suncharms – In Session for John Peel – June 5, 1992 – BBC Radio 1 –
The Suncharms tonight. An Indie/Shoegaze band from Sheffield who were initially together from 1989 to 1993, before calling it quits. They have reunited in 2015 and are currently working on new material and gigging.
The reunion was due in large part to the reissue and interest generated in a CD compilation, released in 2015. It included their two exceedingly rare eps, which were originally issued on Wide Club Records, as well as demos and unreleased tracks.
Reviews of the compilation have been very positive, but most expressed ignorance over not knowing about the band the first time around. Not at all unusual, considering the ways of the Music World. But they were very much a part of the Indie/Shoegaze scene in Sheffield, which included a substantial number of bands. But reviews have indicated that perhaps the Shoegaze label might be a misnomer to a degree. The Suncharms, as you’ll hear in this only session they did for John Peel in June of 1992, run the gamut between jangly, folk, sunshine, indiepop and noisepop. The glut of classifications indicate the band were not prone to being pigeon-holed, but rather were more interested in doing it themselves and making their own way. Admirable, considering.
No indication as yet as to what they are currently working on, or what direction it’s going to take or if it bears any resemblance to the old Suncharms or the new ones. But suffice to say, it should be at least interesting. When you take into consideration they’ve had 22 years of banging around and trying things out individually, it could be fascinating to hear what they all come to the table with.
One of the nice parts about bands that go away for a while and come back together – they’ve had a chance to do exploring on their own and get to come back with new takes on things. Fingers crossed.
Enjoy.
