News has been received via Phil McMullen of the Ptolemaic Terrascope of a forthcoming compilation with band 'LADYBUG TRANSISTOR' - they take up the story...

"the most exciting news for us of late though is something we thought you might like to hear:

we have been asked to record a song for a compilation and the required condition is that it be a french pop song, so... we decided to do a cover of kevin ayers' may i/puis je? (any excuse to cover k. ayers). after recording the instrumental tracks we came up with this mad notion to contact kevin and ask him to sing the vocals. so, via the all-invasive website channels, we managed to track him down during a brief stint in california. we called the club in SF where he was performing one evening and spoke to a SF D.J. who recommended that we draft a proposal to kevin's belgian manager. this was done, and accepted, and the DAT was sent off to england and then sent back to us containing an inspired vocal performance by kevin, with vocals deeper and greater than ever. we are not yet sure when this release will be out (late 1998?) but it is supposed to include the magnetic fields, the apples, air, francoise hardy, luna, etc. we are still stunned that this whole thing has occured, as we are huge kevin ayers fans and were told by his promoter that all kevin likes to do these days is eat a good fish dinner AND go fishing.

thanks again for writing and take care. happy summer,

the ladybug transistor: jennifer, gary, jeff, sasha, mike, san

WAWS then received more details .....

martin:

thanks a ton for your response to and enthusiam about our kevin ayers cover/collaboration. we are so ecstatic about the whole thing and remain in a state of blissful disbelief that it all actually worked out! we still have to complete and mix the intrumental tracks for "Puis-Je" (which include guitars, accordian, trumpet, cornet, electric piano, and percussion). Skippy McFadden of March/Emperor Norton Records (located in nyc) is putting out the compilation entitled "Pop Romantique." All bands/musicians were asked to record a french pop song, the definition of which could be quite stretched. there is an article about the project in the current issue of Magnet magazine, Number 35, July/August 1998. Other artists include: Lloyd Cole, Luna, Ivy, The Apples in Stereo, and Air with Francoise Hardy. The compilation was supposed to come out this fall, but as most projects go, will most likely be delayed until the winter, or possibly January/February 1999. We will certainly let you know once we learn more about the release date and the distribution situation.

It was, in fact, through your website that we first learned of kevin's recent shows in california and that led us to speaking with micheal clare who was extremely helpful in the process. so, thank you and have a terrific summer,

the ladybug transistor

gary, jeff, sasha, jennifer, mike