I saw Tender Trap in 2001, supporting The Magnetic Fields at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin. Though to be honest, I think I spent a fair bit of their set in the bar: I'd just met up again with my old friend Paul Lacey for the first time in three years, and we had some catching up to do. In live performance their sound reminded me of Young Marble Giants.
Amelia Fletcher and her husband and fellow band member Rob Pursey are clearly close friends of Stephin and Claudia from The Magnetic Fields. Amelia sang on the first 6ths' album, and is generally indie-pop royalty, having also sung on The Wedding Present's best records, and early Hefner. She's even had records out on Sarah. And aside from that she's Chief Economist at the Office of Fair Trading. I think of my old boss, Malcolm Killcross, Chief Psychologist at the Employment Service, and wonder what kind of indie bands he might have fronted.
I ordered this album when it came out a year later. Wikipedia claims that "the songs demonstrate an eclectic mix of musical styles, with a clear nod to the similarly eclectic approach taken by The Magnetic Fields on their 69 Love Songs album." Hmmm, I'm not really buying that. Yes, the songs differ from each other in their approach, arrangements and attitude. Maybe Tender Trap were inspired by 69 Love Songs — who wouldn't be — but this album is not in the same league.
 MusicBrainz entry for this album
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