What a wonderful surprise it was when the fruits of my labour in pressing The Umbrella Puzzles Bandcamp follow button (I knew the absolute tenacity of my protestant work ethic would pay off one day!) resulted in the receipt of an e-mail declaring that Ryan Marquez (The Umbrella Puzzles, Sodajerk, Golden Teardrops, Apple Orchard) and Teresa Daniele (Paint Your Wagon Red, Two If By Sea, Seashells) had released a career retrospective Words To Remember Me By compilation of their superb The Haircuts project.

With the exception of the previously unreleased My Favorite Shadow track, this output was originally primarily offered on the short-lived (three years between 2003 and 2006) Yellow Mica Recordings CDr label, which released more quality jangly indie-pop than some similarly oriented labels have in three decades. The Haircuts were perhaps destined to become the label flagship act, but for their untimely demise.

The compilation showcases their brilliance to absolute perfection, perfectly displaying the two primary nuances of their aesthetic. Initially, the ‘jangle-twang’ that Marquez has always had a propensity towards and so perfectly honed in his The Umbrella Puzzles solo recording project is omnipotent in tracks best represented by In The Stars, Life In A Minor Key, Wandering Lucy, and The Last Stop, although the sound is perfectly diluted into twee-pop majesty courtesy of the  male/female harmonies and backing vocals of the made-for-twee-pop of Daniele’s voice.

Away from this more sedentary vibe, Street, It’s Summer When I’m With You, Sand, Ballad of the Razor, and What’s A Girl To Do are all engulfed by a C86/The Photocopies-driven energy and four-track under-production that screams Vivian Girls perfection from every aural angle.

This compilation is a perfect showcase for a truly wonderful act…grab yourself a digital copy here.

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