Another release of the label Pink Hedgehog, this group of extensive name makes a sound that does not leave doubts: years 60 in the head. With vocal that they remember to too much PAUL McCARTNEY and an instrument that they remember, to THE BEATLES times, THE KINKS times and with echoes in genius XTC (years 80) and until the excellent SUPERGRASS. With a well taken care of production and great musicians, the group shows a great fan in Still. Recorded in 2002, the group is formed by Steve Huntingdon (vocal, acoustic guitar, and backing vocals), Geoff Carbis (guitars, 12 string guitars and backing vocals), Andy Carbis (bass, backing vocals) and Alan Strawbridge (percussion, piano, backing vocals), that also it is member of CHEESE. The sound total is made marshy here of the best productions of the
rock: arrangements well facts, great work of guitars, good intermeshing enter bass and drums , vocal folded and voices pleasant ground.

To lament, only, the letters of encarte, small and written by hand. Deducted this small one however, the record is stuffed of 14 compositions that primam for the good taste and by the excellent climate that it provides. Of bitter taste of the heading it does not have nothing. THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES could perfectly rival with some revisionist bands of the decade of 90 that they had devastated the world and to be one of the prominences. And the reason so that it they are not, remains a mystery. Valley to confer 'Antique Happiness', 'Tiger By The Tail', 'B.L.C.A', 'Reality', 'Crocodile Head', 'Scented Garden' and mainly in 'Wants & Needs', among others bands. It is of if asking as a band whom it knew to distill so well its influences and to possess vocal a so similar one to the one of the former-beatle left-handed person did not turn a reference. In all in case that, the tip is given...

Outro lançamento do selo Pink Hedgehog, esse grupo de nome extenso faz um som que não deixa dúvidas: anos 60 na cabeça. Com vocais que lembram demais Paul McCartney e um instrumental que lembram, às vezes Beatles, às vezes Kinks e com ecos nos genias XTC (anos 80) e até o ótimo Supergrass. Com uma produção bem cuidada e grandes músicos, o grupo mostra um grande leque em Still. Gravado em 2002, o grupo é formado por Ateve Huntingdon (vocal, guitarra acústica, e backing vocals), Geoff Carbis (guitarras, guitarras de 12 cordas e backing vocals), Andy Carbis (baixo e backing vocals) e Alan Strawbridge (bateria percussão, piano, backing vocals), que também é membro do Cheese.

O som aqui é totalmente encharcado das melhores produções do rock: arranjos bem feitos, grande trabalho de guitarras, bom entrosamento entre baixo e bateria, vocais dobrados e vozes solos agradáveis. A lamentar, apenas, as letras do encarte, pequenas e escritas à mão. Descontado esse pequeno porém, o disco é recheado de 14 composições que primam pelo bom gosto e pelo ótimo clima que proporciona. De amargo do título não há nada. The Bittler Little Cider Aples poderia perfeitamente rivalizar com algumas bandas revisionistas da década de 90 que assolaram o mundo e ser um dos destaques. E o motivo para que não o sejam, permanece um mistério.

Vale conferir "Antique Happiness", "Tiger by the tail", "B.L.C.A", Reality, "Crocodile Head", Scented Garden" e principalmente em "Wanted & needs", entre outras faixas. É de se perguntar como uma banda que soube destilar tão bem suas influências e possuir um vocal tão semelhante ao do ex-beatle canhoto não virou uma referência. Em todo caso, a dica está dada...

Reviewed at Mofo by Rubens Leme Da Costa, BRAZIL

THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES is the other band of Alan Strawbridge from THE LUCKY BISHOPS. The rest of THE LUCKY BISHOPS also appear as guests on the album Still, along with Simon Swarbrick, who is the nephew of FAIRPORT CONVENTION's Dave Swarbrick no less! THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES play an eclectic selection of music, from punky powerpop to slightly quirky indiepop to psych-rock, and even classical music in the intro track. Sometimes the styles appear singly and sometimes there's a mixture of styles within one track. But despite the diverse collection of genres on display here, the album is remarkably cohesive.

'Playground' is excellent psych-tinged powerpop, reminiscent at times of Alan Strawbridge's other band, and there are also shades of THE LUCKY BISHOPS in 'Wants & Needs'. 'Sad Lady' is great melodic janglepop with a few slightly off-centre moments. 'Crocodile Head' is a superbly inventive track that shows it's possible to make indiepop and not sound like every other indiepop band. 'Park The Car' is an off-kilter mix of indiepop, powerpop and psych-rock with tongue in cheek lyrics. Punk meets brass and quirky pop in 'Shamefaced'. 'Summer's Yet To Come' is more evidence that guitar-based pop can indeed sound original. An impressive album.

Reviewed in Aquamarine by Kim Harten, UK

If PETE DOHERTY were addicted to Cherry Coke, he could probably join THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES. Like THE LIBERTINES' estranged leader, this U.K. quartet writes concise, urgent guitar pop - except its music trades opiated confusion for sugary rock thrills. Bitter? Hardly.

Editorial review at Download.com, USA

"We’re the Bitter Little Cider Apples, sparkling in your glass" - so says the band in their self-titled theme song on this 2003 release. The description is fitting. If you were to place THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES on the spectrum of alcoholic beverages, hard cider would be a good choice: it’s light, it’s sweet, it tingles, it’s for dessert, it’s fun. Likewise, the BLCA are a simple, entertaining band that has an innocence that’s rare these days. Sort of like a PHISH/MOXY FRUVUS hybrid, except less jamming and less comedy. They don’t fit into any genre; they’re just a good rock band. Their point of differentiation isn’t production method, idiosyncratic singing, use of unconventional instruments, or song structure. None of these things describes BLCA. They are a traditional rock 4-piece with British accents, and they dress up like naval officers on the back cover.

OK, so the BLCA probably have an infatuation with Sergeant Pepper, but the affinity with THE BEATLES really stops there too. The simple fact of the matter is that the BLCA play pop rock with great hooks. After the pretty string intro we get with 'Intro', the band makes a stunning entrance with 'Antique Happiness'. The pace is fast, the guitars smack with satisfaction, and the bass line is about the most exciting and fun-filled one that I’ve heard. After a mad-dash surf guitar solo and the chorus has worked into your brain a few times, we’re set for an entertaining evening with the album. Unfortunately, while melodies remain smart and energy stays high, the band continually slaps down too many verses and choruses and drags out 2 minute masterpieces into 4 minute pop songs that get boring. There’s only so much A B A B A B A B A that you can take. By the end of the album, that wonderful first impression has been remembered but sullied.

However, some highlights should be noted. 'Reality' has an interesting off-key acoustic guitar bit that serves as the foundation of the track. 'Scented Garden' careens along at such a fast pace that it really sounds different from anything else on the album. The musicians must have some stamina to go on at this pace for an entire track. 'Park The Car' has a great, unexpected chorus, and 'Sad Lady' also shines. My favorite track, though, is still 'Crocodile Head' which was on The International League Of Telepathic Explorers compilation that drew me to the BLCA in the first place. I guess the BLCA’s simplicity and genre-less-ness might be a component of their age. From the looks of it, all of these guys are at least in their mid-30’s. It’s a sad fact that the best rock and roll has always been produced by youth. The BLCA are good writers and good musicians, but they seem to lack a sense of style (and length) that the best in the business have. I guess simplicity can only go so far.

Reviewed in CD Reviews by Joel Dunham, USA

THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES are a small town British pop band with ties to THE LUCKY BISHOPS and CHEESE. Surprisingly, the quartet pretty much eschews the psychedelia its cohorts indulge in so freely; unsurprisingly, its album is full of gently eccentric, aggressively melodic, often brilliant pop songs.

Reviewed at High Bias by Michael Toland, USA

If I could use one word to describe THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES, it would be "MEGAKINKS", as they seem to sound like the best of two bands - MEGACITY 4 and THE KINKS. On first listen this band reminds me of MEGACITY 4, the sadly underrated power-pop band from a decade ago. However, THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES has a little more depth than MC4 in their scope; not only have they mastered the ultra-fast pop song like MC4, but they also charm with the slower pop songs and observational lyrics like THE KINKS. But, not all their songs are at break-neck speed, witness the haunting 'Wants & Needs', which has all the charm of a classic KINKS song.

The band gets bonus points for having the balls to have a song titled by the same name as the band! Not many can pull that off, but this band does on "Bitter Little Cider Apples". The lead guitar work is also worth noting as it is impressive without relying on flash! This record is the debut disc by THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES and they have come out of the starting gates with a winner on their hands. Their formula of distinctive lead guitars, catchy melodies, hooks galore and down to earth lyrics make for pure, unadulterated pop!

Reviewed in Ear Candy by Ronnie Dannelley, USA

Is it THE LUCKY BISHOPS? Well, yes and no. As the press release states, this isn't just a mere side project! One thing you can be assured of (especially now you know who are in the band!) is the fact that there's some inspired playing. On track two, 'Antique Happiness', the bass and lead guitar are cracking. I know I'm dragging names off the press release here, but for once (for a press release) it's incredibly accurate. Imagine REM, XTC, THE CURE and there's even a hint of THE MONKEES, but from now, if you know what I mean?

There's very much the XTC on 'Tiger By The Tail', and that guitar work is, again, superb. It's hard to imagine how much Pink Hedgehog have come forward with releases like this. Don't get me wrong, all their stuff has been notable, but this one is especially good. The production is spot on, and there's quite a good range of songs from pop through to rock - all with a conviction that highlights (or should) how far and good an indie label can get. Simply brilliant.

Reviewed in Modern Dance by Dave W Hughes, UK

I remember Pink Hedgehog being the small label that was mainly out for label boss Simon´s band GARFIELDS BIRTHDAY, but after years it seems like Pink Hedgehog is one of those lovely indie labels that care! The release of the debut album by THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES for instance, a new band from Puddletown that features Alan Strawridge from THE LUCKY BISHOPS.

What The Ciders do on here is playing a sort of American powerpop a la XTC or REPLACEMENTS (it doesn´t sound English at all) and it´s like the leaflet says... this is intelligent pop (very much at times like ELVIS COSTELLO during his Stiff-days) and it´s the kind of record that can never work on your nerves simply as there is too much happening! A pop fact, one of the members´ uncle is a member of THE FAIRPORT CONVENTION... not that there is any ressemblance though.

Reviewed in The Original Sin by Didier Becu, BELGIUM

Shiver me timbers, me hearties - THE LUCKY BISHOPS are back. Well one of them is - it’s actually bassist Alan Strawbridge playing drums and keyboards (or is that a mistake on the sleeve?). The other LUCKY BISHOPS must have stowed away in the ship of the Good Ship Cider Apple - well not quite, they were actually invited guests - for example guitarist Rick Murphy plays trumpet on the penultimate track, ‘Shamefaced’. Confused? You should be! Anyway what have we got here? Well, first of all it all sounds great. Some splendid wah-wah guitar by Geoff Carbis is a taster of things to come on an album that gets better and better as you go through. By the time we reach the sixth track ‘Reality’, a jaunty song with some cheeky bluesy guitar twanging the band is well and truly warmed up.

‘Crocodile Head’ is pure late 70s best of New Age, as good as anything NICK LOWE or ELVIS COSTELLO wrote way back then (BRINSLEY SCHWARTZ anyone?) ‘Park The Car’ has all the insolence of a storming GRAHAM PARKER AND THE RUMOUR song. ‘Wants And Needs’ is very McCARTNEYish in the acoustic guitar, vocal and chorus. (The closer is also very BEATLEish with a wonderfully constructed guitar break and a MARTIN like string arrangement by Simon Swarbrick - now there’s a familiar name!) There’s more sizzling wah-wah on ‘Scented Garden’ with its shuffling BO DIDDLEY beat and manic Hammond work from guest Tom Hughes. So only two reasons to walk the plank here and none of them to do with the excellent music - the indecipherable handwritten lyrics (come on I was around in the 70s you know!) and the moustaches. Intrigued? Then you’ll just have to buy the CD!

Reviewed in Zeitgeist by Phil Jackson, UK

Take a Dorset band, cheer it up with a LUCKY BISHOP, add a few more of those here and there just to make sure, throw in a FAIRPORT CONVENTION member's nephew and you're about to experience a Britsound of kaleidoscopic variety. Those who were aware of the band's existance in the last ten years or so, say that this is one of the most awaited debut albums to come out of the British underground scene. The influences seem to vary from one song to another so you won't be able to put a firm label on this. All you get are latent hints, that bring to mind some names that make an extremely strange list of bands/artists that are rarely found in the same record collection.

An appropriate string instro-duction is followed by the SUPERGRASS madness of 'Antique Happiness' and then 'Tiger By The Tail', with a bulldog rearing it's head out of the melody. There's also a Motown by the way of HOUSEMARTINS with more eclectic influences with a drop of MORRISEY heard in 'Sad Lady', while 'Summer's Yet To Come' explores the wyrd folky ways, just like 'Reality' and 'Crocodile Head' which also combine it with a more conventional, sing-along choruses. 'Park The Car' is the yesterday's sound of tomorrow, today! How about that one eh?

If you have your own permanent dream, this one's sure to make it a real life. An album like this just can't do without a bit of a SYD-den quality, hidden in the early BOWIE-like workout 'Wants And Needs' and just for the good measure, there's also a bit of ZAPPA-quirkiness thrown in, in the shape 'Shamefaced'. Don't be bothered by the name, these special little apples are more than worth the bite, no matter what the consenquence might be.

Reviewed at Popism by Goran Obradovic, YUGOSLAVIA

The back cover photo of THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES' Still album shows the band members in old-time military outfits, but don't be deluded into thinking that revivalism spreads into their music. The group, featuring all of the members of THE LUCKY BISHOPS, delves head-on into melodic pop-rock with a guitar-heavy edge. To some extent they're all over the place, likely to evoke THE BEATLES and their ilk one minute and then jam in the fashion of THE ALLMAN BROTHERS and CRAZY HORSE (and dare I say it, PHISH) the next. That melding between melody and guitar-driven exploration, with an extra punk-rock edge in places, gives the album a buoyant, animated mood.

Some of the highlights include 'Sad Lady', a bouncy number about sadness, and 'Scented Garden', where the band unleashes its rock n' roll animal. According to the press release, lead singer/guitarist Steve Huntington cites both THE SEX PISTOLS and FRANK SINATRA as heroes. That may seem puzzling, but it won't once you hear the album; THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES find the common ground between wild rock energy and stately pop tunefulness, creating an album likely to appeal to fans of both.

Reviewed in Erasing Clouds by Dave Heaton, USA

Any album that opens with the relentlessly joyous lurch that is the irresistible pop nugget of 'Antique Happiness' is setting its standards remarkably high. Hailing from the musical backwater that is England's West Country, THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES are a pop band in the truest sense of the word; though they tangle their blissfully understated vocals amid a web of delightful melodies and bucolic bounce, the main attraction of Still is to be found in its untouched purity. Admittedly, they're breaking no new ground, but as COLDPLAY are proving, music doesn't always need to push at the boundaries to be an exciting proposition. In places, Still is chaotic, chasing its tail like a hyperactive puppy, yet it's all grist to THE CIDER APPLES jubilant mill. 'Playground' and 'Park The Car' illustrate a pop awareness that is so pert it could have your eye out, while their fondness for good-humoured lyrical sparring invests 'Sad Lady' with palpable wistfulness. Don't be fooled by the name, THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES are more than worthy of a quick bite.

Reviewed in LOGO Magazine by Matt Brown, UK

With a few lucky breaks, England’s sleepy West Country could blossom into the home of the next big scene. As in Minneapolis in the ‘80s or Seattle in the ‘90s, a number of highly talented bands are based in the area, playing the kind of anthemic music with lyrics about the hardships of local life that paradoxically draws newcomers to a place in droves. I first heard THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES when drummer Al Strawbridge (also bass player for CHEESE and THE LUCKY BISHOPS) sent me 'Crocodile Head' for our Free City compilation The International League Of Telepathic Explorers. I’d invited THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES to appear on the compilation before I’d even heard them, solely on the strength of Al’s other work. Fortunately 'Crocodile Head' is a great song, and the rest of Still is just as good.

Though the talented Mr. Strawbridge produced and mixed the album, Steve Huntingdon’s voice and lyrics give Still much of its distinctive character. Geoff Carbis (guitar) and Andy Carbis (bass) round out the band, a seasoned professional group able to distill the best elements of guitar rock from the ‘60s to the present in unlikely re-combinations. The other LUCKY BISHOPS (Luke Adams, Tom Hughes, and Rich Murphy) make guest appearances as well.

A brief string introduction by Simon Swarbrick (nephew of Dave Swarbrick of FAIRPORT CONVENTION fame) is followed by 'Antique Happiness'. This is first of several Motown-via-THE JAM rave-ups spread throughout the CD that serve as unexpected and effective vehicles for Steve Huntingdon’s well considered psychological slogans (in this case the tag line is "The cleaning process flushing out the guilt."). 'Tiger By The Tail' describes the desperation of helplessly watching your hometown die but serves it up with a powerful melody and some nice guitar interplay between Huntingdon and Geoff Carbis. 'Sad Lady' works in a similar way, with the infectious bouncing beat housing such devastating lines as "In a flash of affluence, I lost my friends".

The hyper-drive shuffle of the BLCA theme song recalls Soundgarden’s 'Ty Cobb' with a HENDRIX break and a BEATLES chorus. The jaunty pop song 'Playground' is built around a slightly naughty metaphor. The acoustic groove with sing-along chorus 'Reality' (which also contains some beautifully sad lyrics about lowered expectations) culminates in an excellent guitar duel in the spirit of NEIL YOUNG and CRAZY HORSE. The social satire of 'Park The Car', 'Distemple', and 'Shamefaced' brings up some very serious issues about class, waste, and preservation. Steve Huntingdon sings uncannily like PAUL McCARTNEY on 'Wants & Needs', while 'Scented Garden' sounds rather like THE JAM’s 'Setting Sons' played at double time. The ballad 'Summer’s Yet To Come' closes the album but, if you stick around through about twelve minutes of silence, there’s a short finale hidden at the end.

Still has a surprising level of maturity and focus for a debut album, probably because THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES had been bashing it out in the West Country for more than ten years before doing this CD for Pink Hedgehog. Steve Huntingdon’s lyrics are so bracing and honestly insightful that Still could be a very heavy experience were it not for the fact that the band is clearly having so much fun playing together. The joy of the music eases the downcast sentiments while also underscoring the lasting resonance of the songs. This is sure to make my "Best of 2002" list.

Reviewed in Free City Media by Nick Bensen, USA

While you've got your wallet out, I really must also draw your attention to the long-awaited - and entirely worth the wait - debut album by Portland's finest, THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES. Personally, I've been waiting a good seven or eight years for this album. These songs were always too good to be allowed to just disappear when the Cider Apples temporarily went to ground, and they still sound quite unlike anything else. Uniquely, it's almost impossible to identify the Cider Apples' influences, much as it's well-nigh impossible to categorise the energetic, cheerfully diffuse racket they make... If it isn't too naff a similie, one could say that it's as timeless, inscrutable, rugged and hard-wearing as Portland stone.

Reviewed in The Dorset Echo by Marco Rossi, UK

Further evidence emerges this month of yet more musical stirrings from deepest Dorset - this time the debut by THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES, Still. With THE LUCKY BISHOPS, who just released their excellent Grimstone album, based in the same area perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there’s a strong link between the two groups. Alan Strawbridge, primarily THE LUCKY BISHOPS bass player shows he’s got all the rhythmic bases covered by drumming with THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES as well as chipping in on piano, Hammond and backing vocals. His fellow members of the fortuitous clergy make guest appearances on the album as well.

THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES are a very different band to THE LUCKY BISHOPS. Musically they’re quite hard to pigeon-hole, drawing on a number of influences, probably not all that they would confess to, from 70s pub rock, punk, New Wave, funk, prog rock and even a hint of NEIL YOUNG on ‘Wants And Needs’ for example. Maybe the diversity, not always a good thing, just confused me though!? Lead vocalist Steve Huntingdon doesn’t have the most appealing voice in the world - he’s certainly a vocalist as opposed to a singer - not that’s it’s bad but it doesn’t have much in the way of range. There are traces of David Gedge and occasionally Colin Newman about it. Maybe it’s a grower?

Although the songs are collectively credited to the band, I’m guessing (a risky thing to do at the best of times) that with Steve Huntingdon handling all the lead vocals, the predominantly misanthropic world-view detectable in many of the lyrics is his. I would suggest investing in a fairly powerful magnifying glass if you wish to peruse the lyrics as they’re printed in what can only be described as a micro-font).

At their best, for example on the album’s first actual song, ‘Antique Happiness’ - three minutes of urgent, fizzy excitement is yours for the taking - imagine THE REZILLOS minus Faye Fife. On 'B.L.C.A.' they excel too - a rippling guitar theme and zippy, almost military-style beat driving the song along relentlessly, embellished by too infrequently used backing vocals during the chorus. Elsewhere though much of the material here seems quite ordinary in comparison - mid-paced and anonymous.

‘Reality’ has a reasonably strong chorus, but overall the song seems unfinished, more an under-developed idea than a finished song. The band recapture some of the album’s earlier promise with ‘Scented Garden’ - with its frantic guitar runs, rippling bass, staccato drum patterns and swirling organ runs, it’s an example of how good the band can be. ‘Shamefaced’ an apparent eco-punk protest is good too, the trumpet a welcome instrumental addition, though sadly its only appearance.

The production, like the songs is variable - perhaps the prolonged recording process - more than two years since initial recording began - hampered that to an extent. Overall Still is a bit of a curate’s egg, but perhaps THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES next outing will be a more palatable. Sparkling perhaps?

Reviewed at Pennyblack Music by Geraint Jones, UK

Another Hedgehog killer release! So good to know that there is
different pop music in the UK. Sounds/music like The Apples made
me a UK music lover long ago... so good to know it's still alive.

Email from DJ Lord Litter, GERMANY

THE BITTER LITTLE CIDER APPLES album is tremendous!
We love it! Another classic from Pink Hedgehog!

Email from Tim and Terri~B at Stone Premonitions, UK