Cardigan Girl

The Scaremongers – Cardigan Girl

Personnel:
Vocals: Armitage, Sue Roberts, Smith
Bass: Glen Smith
Keyboards: Nick Watts
Guitars: Martin Malone
The Rest: Smith
Recorded and mixed: Steve Whitfield (aided by Dez)

Recorded and mixed at Chairworks in Castleford, 1st-3rd March 2008
Mastered by Pob

Smith says:

The annoying thing about Cardigan Girl is the composition was pretty much all Armitage's work. The guy is bored of a weekday, picks up his guitar and writes his first song, and it's a corker. I added the acoustic bit at the beginning, (and that's my first vocal on record, three cheers for me) but other than, it's Armitage all the way. Doesn't he have enough stuff he's good at without invading my turf?

This is the first appearance of real drums on our songs, (along with Modesty and Grace), which is a big step forward. And it's also the first appearance of Martin Malone on guitar. Martin used to be in the band Eskimo Chains, (in fact, I think he used to be the band Eskimo Chains) and his magificent jangle-athon really makes this record. The other great characteristic, from our point of view, is Nick Watts' excellent Hamond work. We were after something that hinted at Felt without being transparently a Felt rip off, and Nick nailed it. Similarly, we wanted Martin's guitar work to be Johnny Marr-esque, (we were thinking Big Mouth Strkes Again) without being blatent, and Martin's naturally exhuberant fretwork caught that mood perfectly.

Ned Williams created a great video for Cardigan Girl. Thanks, Ned:

Cardigan Girl

Cardigan Girl on the worn-out station
Trains haven't stopped here since the dawn of creation
I'm watching you now through the upstairs curtain
Cardigan Girl, Cardigan Girl

Cardigan Girl on the unmanned station
Trains haven't stopped here since the dawn of creation
Watching you now through the upstairs curtains
Cardigan Girl, C-C-C-Cardigan Girl

Cardigan Girl, with your retro shades on
A boy like me could kill your reputation
But it's not in my nature to try and suggest some shenanigans, girl
C-C-C-Cardigan Girl

Have you really got somewhere better to go
Like a Cardigans gig or a Charlatans show
Are you feeling the heat in this most un-English weather
If I came down there with melted snow
And some tunes I taped from a radio show
Could we sit and dream, listen and talk together
Until whenever

Cardigan Girl, with your knitwear and jeans on
Are you cold to the bones or is coolness the reason
Your feathers are white at the height of the season
Ptarmigan Girl, C-C-C-Cardigan Girl

Would you think I'm forward if I smiled or waved, girl
Would you think me backward if I opened my cakehole
Am I something stuck to the taproom carpet
Am I something left over at the farmer's market

Cardigan Girl, on the empty platform
I'm thinking of entering terminal freefall
I'm thinking of chucking myself at your feet, girl
Cardigan Girl, C-C-C-Cardigan Girl

Cardigan Girl on the unmanned station
Trains haven't stopped here since the dawn of creation
Watching you now through the upstairs curtains
Cardigan Girl, C-C-C-Cardigan Girl

Have you really got somewhere better to go
Like a Cardigans gig or a Charlatans show
Are you feeling the heat in this most un-English weather
If I came down there with melted snow
And some tunes I taped from a radio show
Could we sit and dream, listen and talk together
Until whenever

Cardigan Girl
Cardigan Girl
Cardigan Girl
Cardigan Girl
Cardigan Girl
Cardigan Girl
Cardigan Girl
Cardigan Girl