sound of the suburbs

My absence these last few days has been due to an exceptionally heavy workload this last week so I thought something of a frivolous nature to get the week end off to a good start is in order. This charming pair of young ladies with a rather brazen dress sense is none other than Shampoo, which was in effect Jacqui Blake and Carrie Askew who became friends while at school in the London suburb of Plumstead. Fascinated with music the pair started their own fanzine Last Exit dedicated to the Manic Street Preachers before deciding to give performing a go themselves. Their first single saw the light of day on pink vinyl thanks to Icerink Records before they were snapped up by Food which was of course the home to Blur, Jesus Jones, Diesel Park West amongst others. This move led to a softening of their sound to a more classic pop, they took up in many senses from where Voice of The Beehive had left off and were also to show the way for the world domination of Girl Power as seen by the Spice Girls a few years later. The pair had become darlings of the UK music press and were firm favorites of many an indie fan in the early eighties. This cult popularity was for once to be converted into mainstream success with 'Trouble' that gatecrashed the charts in 1994 and opened the doors to Top Of The Pops, Smash Hits and mega fame in Japan for Shampoo. They were not the most original of bands often lacking a little bit in the vocal department, a little bit one dimensional never the less they were great up beat fun and an important part of the decade. I was rather chuffed the other day to see a new factory sealed copy of their 'We Are Shampoo' album for sale for 2 euros, it's arrival in my post box was to fetch memories of my airwave days rushing back. Two tracks from the album 'Delicious' and 'Saddo' which between them should provide you with enough sugar for one day, should your tooth be very sweet you could always seek out the freshly re released album on Rev-Ola. Anyone know where they are or what they are up to today?