Middle of the Road

Over to Scotland, then, for a next wave of bubblegum-esque music. There are subtle yet important differences between American and British bubblegum, and the latter seems to sit more neatly alongside the ‘junkshop glam’ aesthetic – lesser-known glam groups from the first half of the seventies, rough around the edges but full of spark and verve – and the novelty hits of the likes of Lieutenant Pigeon’s “Moldy Old Dough.” But Middle Of The Road had something extra in the tank; while “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep,” the song they’re still best known for, might feel corny at first glance, subsequent covers by indie artists Lush and PJ Harvey have exposed the bizarre melancholy at the heart of its super-pop-ness. Listening to the songs on Middle of the Road, it’s no surprise that they were an influence on ABBA.