La Varieté
Weekend

La Varieté was the 1982 debut album by Weekend, formed by Alison Statton of much-loved Welsh avant-garde/indie pioneers the Young Marble Giants alongside guitarists Simon Booth and Spike. A beautifully realised and delicate collection of songs set against a jazz backdrop, it switches across myriad musical settings including samba, cabaret, Afrobeat and highly personal, confessional pop.

The album was originally released in 1982 on the Rough Trade label and made it to No 4 in the independent charts staying in there for 15 weeks. It was revered by critics on release as a bold new departure from the prevailing post-punk ethos and served as a major influence on Saint Etienne, the Sundays, Belle And Sebastian and many others. This comprehensive reissue features nine bonus tracks, including demos and 12-inch versions of singles ‘A View From Her Room’ and ‘Drumbeat For Baby’, and liner notes prepared by the band itself.