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Penny Novelettes

by The Cleaners From Venus

supported by
Geoff Hayton
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Geoff Hayton The 4-track has been switched for Garageband (I'm guessing), but his writing hasn't lost a thing. Turns out it wasn't about the Tascam. Favorite track: Standard Day For Bachelor Grey.
Dan Cahillane
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Dan Cahillane Amazing collection of songs that touch the soul with wit, jangle, and well placed cynicism. Nobody writes better lyrics than Martin Newell. Favorite track: Standard Day For Bachelor Grey.
Victor Nicholls
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Victor Nicholls In 1981, you could get the cassette, Blow Away Your Troubles, for nothing if you wrote to the address in the NME and sent a SAE (remember those...). I loved it - and lost the cassette and lost touch with the Cleaners.... This new album is like opening a time capsule but with modern tunes leaping out. I'm 20 and 59 all at the same time...wonderful.
norm tandberg
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norm tandberg It is a joyous occasion anytime Martin releases another gem. England's best kept secret master of songs! Cheers,Norm in Canada Favorite track: Goodnite Andromeda.
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1.
Estuary Boys 03:23
There's a yellow moon idling at the end of my street Hanging around Tarnished old crown over the town On a Friday in the summer when the sun has gone down And there's a sound; Estuary boys, making a noise And there's Paco Rabanne In the back of the van Levis and Lois Estuary boys Saturdays are glittery stars All reflected in cars Cos Heaven employs estuary boys Take a team to Thailand or a week in Berlin Give 'em a spin Bevvies and gin You'll be well-in. They be circling the suburbs on the day they return Spend as they earn And what do we learn? Money to burn And there's Paco Rabanne In the back of the van Levis and Lois Estuary boys Saturdays are glittery stars All reflected in cars Cos Heaven employs estuary boys
2.
He was a throwback to some much earlier time Dressed like his dad's dad had done, when still in his prime Out on his boneshaker Taking down the orders for a hipster baker He was an old-fashioned boy. Now, there was a girl on his rounds – He spoke to her most days She lived with her mum, Some retired singer; set in her ways There on her doorstep In houndstooth check, she really looked quite retro. This was no ordinary girl. Then, out on the chalk down When spring warmed the small town He suddenly summoned up the sum of what he wanted to say He said "Ah Sally, let's marry It wouldn't have to be exactly Meghan and Harry Just you and me and the moon." (and she said….. 'soon')
3.
Goodnight Andromeda See you on some starry night When the lights go on and the world turns round again Crashed in the Twilight Zone Now I'm using a psychic phone You can call me when my ghost gets home tonight. Lost my heart to a flaming star (oh yeah, oh yeah) Weren't related but now we are Where's that Einstein when you need him? Aahhhh When the lights go on and the world turns round again And how are you now my dear? There is nothing to keep me here When the lights come on and the world turns round again There's nothing I’d rather do Than return to the sea with you As we disappear in the green and blue like rain. Lost my heart to a flaming star (oh yeah, oh yeah) Weren't related but now we are Where's that Einstein when you need him. Aahhhh When the lights go on and the world turns round again So Goodnight Andromeda See you on some starry night When the lights go on and the world turns round again
4.
Smoky days that bring you back to me Standing by the sea The night we lost a day And that was then but this is nearly now If you will allow… The time went astray And I wish I'd had a picture But its not like we're a fixture And I can't erase the memory of the day Never found out much about you If I have to live without you I'll leave you with one thing I have to say. But I can wait. Yeah I can wait. I will wait for your call Or my decline and fall I can wait, yeah I can wait I will wait for you. And suddenly the world turns upside down The beggar wears the crown And runs off with the Queen But just as soon, the cameras move away Another misty day An ending never seen...
5.
I was not blind, I only needed help to see I lost my mind But for a minute I was free There was no prison cell that could hold me There were no rules to tie me down No freezing common-sense to enfold me Or bring me round And everytime I go up, I come down Yeah everytime I go up I come down Walk out your door Before the daylight disappears Your palace floor is gonna wait a thousand years. There is no turnaround No way round it No easy way to turn back time And if there was a way No one found it And it's not mine. And everytime I go up, I come down Yeah everytime I go up I come down
6.
Up with the birds and the Amazon van Checking the gas shares in Azabaijan Nothing he does isn't there in his plan of the day On with radio, the top of the hour News is 'the knowledge' and knowledge is power Singing like Sting in the shower, with Bachelor Grey It's down to the station and onto a train Overheads down over Romford again Gazing at some distant church in the rain as you do. Being you. But then, time is still money and money is time Art should be pretty and poems should rhyme Long as they do, you'll be fine with Bachelor Grey Maybe in summer he'll take a breather Taking his ease with some E's in Ibiza Nice to breath a more rarified ether with him 'Sunny Jim' Then he's back on the plane, with that tell-tale glow Standstill Airport will twinkle below Mind on promotion and ready to go the next day Home to his minimal Barbican flat Plastic begonia and hologram cat Council tax bill on the mat for Bachelor Grey
7.
Goodguy Sun 03:20
Goodguy Sun, now that the summer has run They can look back and say they cherished every day And we had such fun Goodguy Sun – here before we had begun You were there for the whole affair Till the best man had won The spinners shimmy down, and in the working town August comes with her make-up run She's such a blowzy dame and she forgets your name When the day is done Goodguy Sun – gunslinger slow on the draw But now the breeze is cool, the shops say 'Back To School' Then the clock strikes four Goodguy Sun – here before we had begun You were there for the whole affair Till the best man had won The showers kiss the dust, the leaves begin to rust They catch the light at the end of day A single blackbird sings and now September rings to say she's on her way. Goodguy Sun Goodguy Sun
8.
Let's ride out in an early September gale We can catch the summer cloud-fleet before they sail Where the rosehips and hawthorn Wait in the grey light before dawn In the Bumper Book of Broken Dreams for Boys As lights come on in a terrace seen through rain The buddleia flowers brush the passing train Where Edwardiana meets the Major Arcana In The Bumper Book of Broken Dreams for Boys (She enjoys) The Bumper Book of Broken Dreams for Boys Standing at a party Looking all pale and arty Deep in discussion Smoking Sobranie Black Russian Let's walk through the town on an autumn afternoon When the sun goes down like a Portuguese doubloon. The season is turning And all the bonfires are burning In The Bumper Book of Broken Dreams for Boys (She enjoys) The Bumper Book of Broken Dreams for Boys
9.
Down the stairs to the foggy river Where the sails of the ships would shiver in the days when the old tea clippers sailed. Here she'd wait for her long-gone daddy. Few quid left in an old tin caddy on the mantlepiece. If her mum was running late. Then, round the shop with her best friend, Cerys Up the top of Kohima Terrace Where Mrs Khan sold Indian ice cream "Be indoors by nightfall. Skinny chips and trifle." Cos nothing stifles the dreams of a latch-key girl "Now don't wander far, Our Elaine Not now the nights have drawn in Past Halloween." The wind calls their names in the lane Back of the houses Of the boys and girls who courted in the alley. Better days than…..these. better days than these." "There'll be work soon." say the boys in bars. "It's all to do with these electric cars." And when the vaccine comes, they say we're gonna be okay. When ships come back to the empty dock You can wait down there in your nice new frock. Because you never know, your dad might get home anyday. Then, round the shop with her best friend Cerys Up the top of Kohima Terrace Where Mrs Khan sold Indian ice cream "Be indoors by nightfall Skinny chips and trifle." And nothing stifles the dreams of a latch-key girl
10.
When the night comes along Like an old desert song And the birds have all gone from the sky The remains of the day brush the pale milky way Like the train of a bride going by When you smoke your regret like a last cigarette With the words that you said grainy blue You will walk down that lane To a place of no pain Where the one that you loved waits for you Secret looks in passage ways Kites aloft on windy days Kisses stolen in cafes Hearts that danced a pollonaise When the autumn was ablaze And the golden lion was the sun But the night came along Like an old desert song And the birds have all gone from the sky
11.
First frost. Look out the window pane See the pale gold sun beckon me down the lane Where the fields lie still under sugar dust And the season turns again There -- look up the river Here comes a whooper swan Where the reeds all quiver, now that the geese have gone And I promised you I would get there soon As you light the fire in the afternoon And the night hangs shrouds on the misty moon But the things that I remember Are the flowers of December… Are the flowers of December… And I kept this place in my heart for you Like a secret room of the things you do It's a great escape from the human zoo But the things that I remember Are the flowers of December The flowers of December How long I've felt this way How long we've been apart How much I missed your kiss But the things that I remember Are the flowers of December The flowers of December
12.
Statues 03:05
Now you dare to ask your rulers what they meant? It's a paper chase of flaming discontent But the spokesmen are not speaking And the stories are still leaking Someone wants to know where all the money went. So a virus brings a planet to its knees Mummy can I get down from this table please? I must hit those streets and running Since a change is surely coming I can hear the sound of protest on the breeze. Statues will tumble And fortunes must crumble There may be a rumble today I must hit these streets and running Since a change is surely coming I can hear the sound of protest on the breeze. Some may favour gold and silver over freedom Till the sun sets on their plastic demi Eden You can stand there and pretend you're deaf and dumb And delude yourself the time will never come When the aeroplanes cease flying And we stop the poor from dying And the world is dancing to a different drum
13.
At Dunwich 03:01
So we stood on the shingle in October light The soul of the siren and me And a churchbell rang Underneath the sea So we went back inside And I asked how she felt And she said that she feared she might fall And the light came in, to an empty hall. Then the dragon-tongue waves met the marram-grass shore And they rose and they fell on the dunes, And the wind remembered medieval moons.
14.

about

All words and music by Martin Newell / Cleaners from Venus

Recorded on an 8-track Tascam Portastudio

Everything recorded using various guitars,keyboards and
drum sounds and kitchen implements. What's the point
of blathering on about them?

This is worth listening to in the headphones.

credits

released June 25, 2021

Music Publishing by Notting Hill Music
Artwork by Ms Jodie Lowther at Karakasa
Management and Prudence by Johnny Vertigen

Martin Newell and Cleaners from Venus are sufficiently
well-known to be easily contacted. You know what to do.

© Martin Newell / Cleaners from Venus 2021

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The Cleaners From Venus Wivenhoe, UK

The Cleaners from Venus are these four 70 year-old guys in a band who dress the same and look a bit like each other. They have loads of tawdry adventures, usually with a group of over made-up women a few years younger than themselves. As a consequence they often spend their free time in prayer and quiet contemplation trying to atone for a shared guilt which they find very difficult to process. ... more

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