Name: Heavenly vs Satan
Brand: Heavenly

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

SKEPWAX008LP

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

[r25151320]

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2022-11-11

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Cargo

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

5055869549356

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Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

Artist

Heavenly

Genre GB

Indie Pop / Shoegaze

Label GB

Skep Wax Records

Jangly indie-pop group from Oxford (UK) who evolved from a previous band. Their songs were written by lead singer Amelia Fletcher; the rest of the group comprised Peter Momtchiloff on guitar, Cathy Rogers on keyboards and vocals, Rob Pursey on bass, and Mathew Fletcher on drums. The group was active from 1989 until the death of Mathew Fletcher in 1996. Afterward, the remaining members formed another group.
Heavenly is known for their catchy melodies and upbeat sound that defined the indie-pop genre during their active years. Lead singer Amelia Fletcher's songwriting skills brought a unique charm to their music.
Their discography includes several albums and singles that gained popularity among fans of indie-pop music. Despite facing tragedy with the loss of Mathew Fletcher, Heavenly's legacy lives on through their memorable tunes and influential contributions to the genre.

Heavenly released four albums in the early 1990s. Skep Wax Records are going to re-issue all four of them over a two year period. Classic black vinyl. The albums will include a 7” booklet with lyrics and new sleeve notes by the members of the band. 

Heavenly were one of the pioneers of indiepop. Formed from the smouldering ashes of Talulah Gosh, they took all that energy and attitude and used it to fuel catchy, infectious pop melodies. The influence of 60s girl groups was never far from the surface. This was girl-pop, but with the girls in control. Loved by many but derided as ‘twee’ by some, Heavenly ignored the increasingly macho environment of the contemporary UK scene and forged a separate path, along with other bands on the Sarah Records label. Later, having co-released their albums on K Records in Olympia, Heavenly toured the US, hooking up with bands in the embryonic riot grrrl scene. Heavenly’s quiet feminism became louder and more articulate, and the hostility of the UK music press became irrelevant. 

Heavenly came to an abrupt and tragic end when drummer Mathew Fletcher took his own life in 1996. After a year’s hiatus, the group reformed as the short-lived Marine Research, before going their separate ways musically. Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey currently play in The Catenary Wires and Swansea Sound. Peter Momtchiloff plays in Would-Be-Goods and Tufthunter.

Heavenly vs Satan. The first LP. Recorded in the Oxfordshire countryside, the first Heavenly album was a bid to make a pure pop record. The punk noise of Talulah Gosh had exploded and expired. Amelia had had a go at making a disco hit (‘Can You Keep A Secret’, subsequently released on Fierce Recordings), which was fun, but wasn’t going to trouble the charts. Unbothered by critical or popular reactions, the new band decided to immerse themselves in the creation of a sweet, tuneful pop record. It’s true that the punk influences aren’t hard to discern (Mathew’s favourite band was The Ramones), but it’s Pete’s elegant guitar and Amelia’s melodies and multi-layered harmonies that win out on these recordings.

The eight-track album was released as CD, LP and cassette by Sarah Records. Subsequent versions included a Danceteria LP and cassette (France), a Quattro CD (Japan) and a CD by K Records (US). These versions included various additional tracks from early 7” releases.

The Skep Wax re-issue of Heavenly vs Satan includes Heavenly’s first two Sarah Records singles – ‘I Fell In Love Last Night/Over And Over’ and ‘Our Love Is Heavenly/Wrap My Arms Around Him’.