Together Daisy and Simon have conjured some of the most compelling songs to have seeped out of the cracks in London's streets for quite some time. Daisy's story could have come straight from the silver screen images of 60s British cinema. The daughter of Ghana's leading saxophonist, she went through her school years learning classical guitar and telling everyone that she was a singer. Only she hadn't really sung anything apart from the odd classical piece.
Then one night a friend of hers suggested she meet up with Simon. That friend was Barney Calman, who had been writing lyrics for Simon's latest, post-Adventures in Stereo project. It was put up or shut up time for Daisy as she went along to record some vocals to one of Simon's tracks. But as soon as she opened her mouth it was obvious that Daisy was the O' natural that Simon had hoped for. Here was a singer with raw energy, pure passion and an instinct for a killer melody. She instantly fused with Simon's disjointed soul collages. Not before breaking one of the studio speakers along the way though, thanks to the power in her voice.
Noonday Underground don't make ordinary soul. In fact Portsmouth born Simon Dine probably couldn't make 'ordinary' music if you held a gun to his head.
Further proof of this came with the limited issue of the debut album 'Self Assembly' which followed the 'When You Leave' single, and the 2001 release of 'The Light Brigade' single on Blow Up! Releases which highlighted Simon's almost obtuse pleasure in creating montages which are every inch twenty first century creations. With the critical acclaim that surrounded every Noonday Underground release, and the patronage of Paul Weller (who chose the band as his contribution to NME's 'Most Influential Bands of all Time' issue. Much to Simon's amusement) it seemed criminal that 'Self-Assembly' was to remain largely unheard. Now Noonday Underground re-release that almost lost album re-mastered with extra tracks on Setanta. From the Velvet Underground-do-Northern Soul opening of 'The Light Brigade', through the bourbon voiced sleaze of 'When You Leave' and onto the lysergically charged easy listening surrealism of the closing 'Wonderful Tonight', this collection offers the finest homage to the skips of Eastern Europe you'll ever hear.
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