She Loves You Too

Various Artists
She Loves You Too(Half A Cow
Records; November 2006)

Even in Australia, musical acts like A Girl Called Charlie,
Starsign, Millie May and The Dizzy Goldtops are not exactly
household names. Which you might find rather surprising given that
they have recently surfaced on She Loves You Too,
a retrospective compilation featuring
the cream of Australian female pop talent. From the sweet country
pop of The Haystax’s “Hi,” through Millie May and the Dizzy
Goldtops’ bebop infused “If He Hollers,” to June Jones’s gorgeous
balladry of “Don’t Let the Sun Melt Into the Sea”, these twelve
songs span the Australian female musical spectrum. Or do
they?

It seems that the only the musical spectrum these artists and
their songs actually cross is one born from an altered reality. The
mastermind of Half A Cow Record’s maestro, Nic Dalton,
She Loves You Too sees a collection of his label’s finest
songwriters and musicians banding together to create an album of
songs by girl bands that never actually existed. Complete with
fictitious album covers, imagined biographies, and even constructed
catalogue numbers, this is a ruse of the most genuine kind.

But the only eerie thing about this recording is just how damn
good it is. Here is a collection of songs reputed to reflect the
evolution of a movement and instead deliver a loving and empathetic
homage to it. And, despite knowing its origins, the work
masterfully pulls you in. But that is not the only stroke of genius
this recording affords. While the likes of Juliana Hatfield and Ben
Lee’s longtime musical cohort, Lara Meyerratken, are some
of the seasoned veterans who adopt the personas, the recording has
also unearthed selection of seriously talented newcomers.

She Loves You Too marks both the one hundredth release
from Half A Cow Records and sixteen years of independent
bittersweet pop from the label. And, to celebrate, every musical
purchase from the label comes with a free compilation album. And
this one is real, featuring living breathing musical acts.
Sweet Sixteen contains contributions from the impeccable
Bernie Hayes and the divine Someloves. There are offerings from the
rootsy Khancoban and Nic Dalton and The Gloomchasers. And of course
the intrepid Godstar makes an appearance. With music like this, it
is almost worth moving to Australia. Almost.