Miaow is one of those curious groups whose mystique and influential sway greatly overshadowed their meager recorded output. Between 1985-1987, the band contributed "Sport Most Royal" to NME's original C-86 compilation, recorded two sessions with legendary British DJ John Peel, and released an unforgettable single on Factory Records. If these feats don't solidify
Miaow's old-school indie cred, vocalist
Cath Carroll also wrote for NME, married
Big Black guitarist Santiago Durango, and went on to be the fanboy fantasy of TeenBeat's
Mark Robinson. But the best thing about
Miaow's legacy? They actually deserve it. Songs like "Did She?," "Grocer's Dead Daughter," and "Following Through" sound so impossibly fresh, it's difficult to believe they aren't 21st century recordings from
Slumber Party,
Belle & Sebastian, or
the Shermans. No matter what the genre was eventually called -- twee, indie pop, shambling, etc. --
Miaow's effortless melodies, bittersweet lyrics, and complete lack of musical pretense contributed significantly to its blueprint.
When It All Comes Down is the definitive
Miaow retrospective. It includes all of the trio's studio material, their two John Peel sessions, and previously unheard demos of "Fear of the Sun" and "Carnal Drag," which were recorded for the infamous, unfinished Factory release Priceless Innuendo. ~ Johnny Loftus