Animals That Swim emerged around the same time as Tindersticks, releasing a 10" that I picked up ('50 Dresses') on indie label Che just after they had released Tindersticks' 'Marbles' 10".
Animals That Swim deal in a similar style of faded-glamour and classic songwriting. However, Animals That Swim mixed a little more primary colour into their palette than the excellent but often-lugubrious Tindersticks.
On the whole, singer and songwriter Hank Starrs dealt in a 'lying in the gutter, but looking at the stars' take on life. 'Madame Yevonde' is a resolutely upbeat tribute to the English portrait photographer (Yevonde Middleton) who pioneered the use of colour in photography (I'll be honest, I had to look it up).
It careers along conjuring images of waltzers and gaudy ballrooms. Euphoric and very glamorous (glamorous, though, in the way that a Teddy Boy on the carousel on Brighton seafront would be glamorous).
Brilliant.
Download Animals That Swim 'Madame Yevonde' (mp3) (Mediafire)
The wonderful debut album - 'Workshy' - which includes 'Madame Yevonde' seems to be out of print but there's a good, extensive compilation - the aptly-titled 'Faded Glamour' (a song from their second album) - that draws from their whole career. I've just ordered my copy.
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