The Perfect English Weather are Simon and Wendy Pickles, a duo from East Sussex taking time out from The Popguns to create a melodic web of electro acoustic pop and chamber-pop. Their first record, Isobar Blues, was out in 2016 via Matinée Records, followed, in 2018 by Don’t You Wanna Feel The Rain? (“The shocking new concept album on suburban adulthood. Love, work, travel, parenthood…” in their own words). After almost seven years they are back with a new album, again via Matinée Records. Just Beyond The Lights, preceded by a couple of wonderful singles, reflects on Wendy and Simon’s move away from the “big, bad city” of Brighton to the edge of the Sussex Cuckmere Valley; and perhaps is a small nod to their commercial appeal being just a little outside the mainstream. The album aims for a natural musical feel with acoustically recorded piano, viola, drums and guitars across most tracks. It was recorded at Church Road Studios in Hove, with contributions from talented local musicians. A new single from the album, Preston Street is out now, including a special bonus track, an alternate mix of the song “with a prominent piano melody and an extra dose of atmosphere“.

What They Say: “Preston Street is the third single from the new album Just Beyond The Lights and the album title is taken from a lyric in the song, which is from the point of view of somebody who drives the van for a band and always picks them up “just beyond the (traffic) lights”.”

“Written by Wendy and was inspired by a chance meeting with Morrissey in 1984 when Wendy was travelling on her way down to Brighton from London. Morrissey told her that he had “friends in London-By-The-Sea“

Their Mixtape:

Simon’s picks:

The Bodines – Heard It All

For all my mixtape songs it has to be something that you think that the recipient of the mixtape may not have heard before, and that perhaps shows them something about yourself. So, we are not talking about big hits here. Heard It All by The Bodines epitomizes for me the sound of the late 80s UK indie-pop scene and has this yearning quality in both the guitars and vocals that made it perfect for escaping onto the dancefloor. This was the time and place where Wendy & I were first playing in the nascent Popguns.

The Go-Betweens – Unfinished Business

The Go-Betweens are a massive group for us, and we still go to see Robert Forster each time he tours. This song is a Grant McLennan cut from one of the later albums after they reformed, and I find it stunning with its minimalist lyrics, natural arrangement and heartfelt delivery. He hardly has to say anything to say everything.

Alvvays – The Agency Group

This is about as close as I get to a “new” record and Alvvays were one of a batch of 2010s American Guitar Girl bands (Snail Mail, Anna Burch) that wrote songs about what sounded like very real-world lives that you could clearly imagine, although they were taking place 3000 miles away from the UK in a somewhat different culture. I like to think they picked up the lyrical baton left behind by Debbie Harry in the early 80s. This is one of the less often played tracks off their classic first album and I love the lyric about romance amongst a mundane work-life. Molly has fun with the words with lines like, “Parked outside of the agency, wondering if you can sneak away with me”, and “I’ll admit I’ve been losing sleep, rifling through your toxicology”. These are the kind of people you can imagine making mixtapes for each other.

Wendy’s picks: “I’ve chosen a mixtape for family Pickles – three songs that remind me of Simon and our two children.”

Richard Dawson – Fresher’s Ball

First up is Fresher’s Ball by Richard Dawson. When I first heard this song live it had me in tears. It always takes me back to dropping off Thomas (our youngest) at his first year Uni halls – it brings up those mixed feelings of pride, excitement, worry and loss that hit all parents in that moment. Thomas & I share a love of Richard Dawson’s music, with its off-kilter guitar, incredible vocals and wonderfully original and evocative lyrics. We saw him last month in Brighton and it was, as ever, an odd and magical experience.

Fontaines DC – Favourite

Next is Favourite by Fontaines DC. The first time I saw the band live back in 2019 they made me wish I was a teenager again, so that they could be “my” band. This one reminds me of our daughter Anna – we are both a little obsessed by Grian Chatten for his thoughtful, poetic lyrics and prowling, magnetic stage presence. From its opening riff to its closing line Favourite is just the perfect indie rock song. Anna & I saw the band at Alexandra Palace last year and as soon as this guitar line chimed in we turned to each other with huge grins before jumping up and down like loonies!

The Go-Betweens – Head Full Of Steam

A constant in my & Simon’s musical life has been Robert Forster – still making great music, still a captivating performer, still the coolest of the cool. Impossible to choose a favourite track, but I’ve gone for The Go-Betweens’ Head Full Of Steam – one, because it’s from the flawless Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express LP, two, because Simon & I covered it acoustically in the merch tent at the sadly missed Indietracks festival. The lyrics are playful, clever, just typical Robert, and his delivery is perfect. I can’t wait to see him live again in Brighton later this year.

Just Beyond The Lights is out now via Matinée Records. Look Here for more information on The Perfect English Weather.