That this happened without any of these acts having to go abroad to improve their chances was almost as gratifying an achievement as the music itself. Dead Famous People were an exception; after a five-song 12" for Flying Nun, Lost Persons Area, they decided to cross hemispheres and try their luck in London. It started well. Three London recordings were added to their Flying Nun EP and released by Billy Bragg's Utility label—a mini-album as perfect as any before it. The response was positive, more songs were recorded, the group had a John Peel session and performed frequently, but the somewhat impoverished group began to fall apart.

Singer and principal songwriter Dons Savage—determined to make it—narrowly missed becoming the lead singer of Saint Etienne on an early recording of their cover of "Kiss and Make Up," and she gave a fine performance on The Chills' "Heavenly Pop Hit"... but disillusionment had set in. Upon learning of her mother's death, Dons returned to New Zealand and remained silent for decades. Most of her London recordings were later released in tiny runs by very small labels, but these received little press attention and sold almost nothing. Their time had passed, and the band has suffered the odd fate of being the least known of the truly brilliant bands associated with Flying Nun. Listening to these "lost" songs, it seems incomprehensible that they could have been left behind. No New Zealand songwriter comes as close to Martin Phillipps' pop genius as Dons. Aside from their wonderfully sweet vocals, delicious harmonies, and sophisticated arrangements, the songs sensitively addressed the universal follies of youth and longing, combined with a then-unusual turn in the lyrics, which dealt matter-of-factly with their sexuality, at a time when "women's music" was considered exclusionary (put in a separate drawer in stores, if it existed at all) and the Riot Grrrl movement was still years away, only later gaining traction due to its radical stance.

Dons is a pioneer in many ways, and the irony that her transcendent brilliance didn't lead to a wider career may be that she rose to the top of her class too quickly for people to grasp; a fate that has befallen so many musical geniuses who are recognized today but less so in their time—something tragically acknowledged in the song "A Song For Randy Newman, Etc." by old friend Martin Phillipps with The Chills. None of these thirteen songs fails to deliver something both immediate and unique. And we are proud to present "Vampirella," an enchanting fantasy song full of longing and intrigue—surely one of the most perfect pieces to have lain unreleased for decades! Dons is busy again conjuring up new songs; in the meantime, we are delighted to unveil these obscure gems from the past.

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