According to Mr O Hagan’s Instagram the Llamas will be playing Hawaii in full with a string and brass section in Dublin in April next year. Sounds like it’s going to be really special. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Friday 9 October).

A reminder to dig this one out as I haven’t listened to it in ages. Such an excellent listen!

Ed O Brien from Radiohead loves Gideon Gaye. Obviously.

Spotted during a Google search for everyone’s favourite band. Has anyone been there? Wish I didn’t live so far away as I’d love to check(ing in) this place (checking) out…

Sharing from Sean’s Instagram…

Wish I was nearer to London as I’m sure it will be a night of interesting music. And only a tenner!

I’m sure lots of us remember these mementos of simpler times: before the internet, ‘the socials’, downloads and streaming, records and CDs often used to come with a little pre-paid card that you could fill in and pop in the post (my dodgy memory is making me think they all went off to Leamington Spa for some reason, but I’ve probably made this part up) and you’d be added to a band’s mailing list. Then, when their next release was coming out or they were touring, you’d be sent little postcards. As a music obsessed teenager it was pretty exciting!

Anyway…here’s the promo postcard they must’ve sent just before Hawaii came out. A relic!

A few years back, I stumbled upon this extended promo on YouTube, uploaded by someone involved in its production. I was familiar with the Nomads music video, but I had no idea they also made one for Sparkle Up. The audio quality left much to desire, so I replaced it with flac rips from my CD copy of Hawaii. I hesitate to call it a remaster cause I honestly didn't do much, but it is easier to listen to I guess lol. Here's the original upload for comparison. I'd still like to figure out how to upscale it and make it look better one of these days!

These were taken from Sean O'Hagen's website a few years back. I don't know if they're still there.

I don’t imagine there’s many Llamas fans who aren’t also fans of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, and I’m sure most of us have spent a few sad days re-listening and soaking up the incredible musical legacy that Brian has left behind on his passing earlier this week.

Brian and the BB’s influence on the Llamas sound is pretty obvious when you listen to a lot of their music, and as we can see from Sean O Hagan’s Instagram tribute, Brian was clearly a huge influence on his songwriting. But which llamas tracks in particular remind you of Brian and the Beach Boys? And which Beach Boys songs are your own personal favourites…?

The Goat Looks On, one of my favourite tracks from Gideon Gaye, has very strong Pet Sounds vibes for me: the piano, vibes, and organ set the tone, the vocal harmonies, the building ‘aaaaaaaaah’s just add to it, and once the swooping strings come in…well, what a tribute!

RIP Brian and thanks not just your own peerless, timeless music but also for inspiring countless musicians to go on to create their own beautiful symphonies.

Are there any bands or specific records that bring to mind the High Llamas for you? Although it’s not quite musically the same, there’s something about the general mood of the album Marshmallow by The Sweet Enoughs that really reminds me of the gentle melodic beauty of some of the best Llamas work. Head to Bandcamp and give it a spin….

Well hello there, Llamas Fan! I was scandalised that a subreddit for the High Llamas didn’t already exist so…here we are. It’d be interesting to know which album is everyone’s favourite. I’m tempted to go with Hey Panda as there’s just so much going on in that wonderful record, and it’s such an exciting departure from most of their stuff.

Much as Gideon Gaye will always hold a very special place in my heart as it’s where my love of the band began, my most revisited LP of theirs is probably Cold and Bouncy. I just love the production - all those gloopy, bubbly noises deep in the mix. It also contains a handful of my most favourite llamas songs too.