BIG SLICE
One For the Road
STUDIO ALBUM | 8 TRACKS | 25 MINUTES
Big Slice
Don’t Mind if I Do
COMPILATION ALBUM | 12 TRACKS | 33 MINUTES
Deep in mid-’90s Camden, Big Slice—an indie/Moog pop crossover with a slightly unfortunate name—set out to bridge US alt-rock and UK indie-pop. Brothers Andy and Dave Macleod had previously played in the Pointy Birds under the management of a pre-fame Ricky Gervais, sharing stages (or at least flyers) with PJ Harvey, Verve, Tindersticks and Echobelly. Despite early promise, success stubbornly eluded them.
Regrouping in Camden, they were joined by French drummer Guillaume Boisselet, guitarist Sean Phillips and Phil ‘Albino Priest’ on Moog. The five-piece became a fixture on the London live circuit during Britpop’s peak, until Sean and Phil’s side project Lo-Fidelity Allstars took off—with NME covers and US tours—bringing Big Slice to an untimely end.
Twenty-five years later, lockdown prompted a rediscovery of old demos. With producer Chris Hornsby, the best tracks were remastered and released as the 12-song album Don’t Mind If I Do. The release coincides with Andy Macleod’s memoir Anoint My Head, inviting listeners to revisit what might just be the best undiscovered band of the ’90s.
The Pointy Birds
How Did The Trail Go Warm?
A few years ago we manufactured this compilation album on CD featuring all the classic non-hits. We limited the pressing to one copy, not just to create demand, but also because it was primarily a leaving present for Pointy Bird multi-instrumentalist/ naysayer Josh as he departed UK shores to live in Sydney.
But now, with the publication of the tell-nothing memoir Anoint My Head – How I Failed to Make it as Britpop Indie Rockstar, demand for Pointy Birds music has rocketed with at least 4 people now curious to hear the tunes. This represents a 400% increase in our audience. There is now some discussion at very high levels as to whether there should be repressing of How Did The Trail Go Warm to try and satisfy this new demand and whether it is worth the time, effort and expense.
In the meantime you can download some of the songs below as an MP3. There is also talk of making the music more generally available on digital platforms like Bandcamp, Spotify and other streaming services. Watch this space.
Also for your enjoyment below is a gallery of photos of gigs, rehearsal and the infamous post-gig brick-breaking fire antics courtesy of a certain ninja landlord. You will have to read the book to find out more.this
Pointy Birds Gallery
Can you spot any characters from the book? The infamous Shelley Arms gig is documented here when a certain Ninja Landlord led the audience out into the beer garden to watch a flaming martial arts display…
