Half A Cow Records is proud to announce the streaming re-release of one of its all-time favourite and successful releases – The Orange Humble Band’s critically acclaimed debut album Assorted Creams.

This deluxe edition re-release includes the complete recordings from the 1994-1996 Assorted Creams’ studio sessions, providing 20 superbly produced which have been remastered in High-Resolution Audio (88.2 kHz/24-bit recordings) by the legendary Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound NYC, 2024.

Released exactly 30 years to the day since Darryl Mather’s star assembled Orange Humble Band entered a recording studio in Sydney, Australia on 22nd October 1994, this mammoth recording project (some two years in gestation) was ultimately masterfully mixed by wizardry indie-pop icon, Mitch Easter in the US October 1996.

This 30-year milestone release of The Orange Humble Band’s Assorted Creams – Anniversary Deluxe Edition presents a band now recognised as true power pop royalty. A classic and timeless recording showcasing beautifully crafted and melodious songs presented at their absolute finest. Messrs, Darryl Mather, Anthony Bautovich, Matt Galvin, Bill Gibson, Pete Kelly, Steve Harris, Ken Stringfellow and Mitch Easter, collectively all please take a bow. You have created a record for the ages.

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Formed in early 1995, The Orange Humble Band is the brain child of Lime Spiders and Someloves founder Darryl Mather. The studio band released three albums: Assorted Creams in 1997, Humblin’ (Across America) in 2001 (both of these on Half A Cow) and Depressing Beauty in 2015 (on the Citadel label).

Along with Mather, mainstays of the band are Ken Stringfellow of US outfit the Posies, former Lonely Hearts member Anthony Bautovich and American producer Mitch Easter. From the first album there have been many talented musicians who have helped Mather realise his timeless and majestic brand of pop, starting with homegrown heroes Matt Galvin, Bill Gibson and Peter Kelly on Assorted Creams right through to bonafide musical legends such as Spooner Oldham, Jody Stephens and Jim Dickinson on the follow-up albums.

Assorted Creams unique sound arises from Mather’s creative synthesis of influences ranging from 60s and 70s pop and rock, bluegrass, country, folk and 50s barrelhouse Louisianan rhythm and blues. This combined with the vocals of Ken Stringfellow and Anthony Bautovich results in an eclectic brew some call powerpop. Others may be more descriptive and say it’s a rollicking yet majestic rock and roll experience highlighted by Mather’s melodious song writing and Easter’s glimmering and glazed presentation of the material.

The players on the follow up Humblin’ (Across America) reads like a pop fans’ dream band with a line-up including Spooner Oldham (Dan Penn, Aretha Franklin, Neil Young’s “Silver and Gold”), Jim Dickinson (producer of Rolling Stones, Alex Chilton) and Jody Stephens (Big Star drummer). There’s also co-producer/mixer Mitch Easter (twiddled the knobs for REM, Pavement), Jamie Hoover (bassplayer for The Spongetones), Anthony Bautovich and lead singer Ken Stringfellow.

Humblin’ was recorded at Ardent Studio in Memphis (home of the classic Big Star albums) which gave these pop songs their authentic ‘southern-soul’ sound. As Mather says, “To fulfill the concept of the album, we needed the integrity and input of the players who understand the Southern music idiom. There was no point going to record this type of record in Memphis if we couldn’t call upon the authentic great players of this region”.