20 YEARS AGO: Whistler - If I Give You A Smile

Throughout this year, we have been revisiting the brilliant music released in the year 1998. on the final day of the year, we've saved the best for last. Out of all the many singles released 20 years ago, my favourite 7" of 1998 was a little-known single by a trio called Whistler. The stunning 'If I Give You A Smile' puts a heartfelt narrative to a gloriously relaxed acoustic backdrop, and offers a sweet, infectious chorus.

Whistler were another late 90's indie group who were formed by an ex member of the band EMF. Guitarist and songwriter Ian Dench formed Whistler, while Zac Foley ended up in Carrie, and singer James Aitken fronted the short-lived Cooler (who will be featuring on this website soon). Whistler also featured Brian Eno collaborator James Topham, and vocalist Kerry Shaw, who had previously scored a minor dance hit in 1993 with a single on the EMI label called 'Could This Be Love'. They released two albums on the Wiiija label, their self-titled debut from 1999, and 2000's 'Faith In The Morning'. The band also played a session for the legendary John Peel show.

Dench now plays in a reformed EMF, while Kerry Shaw became a journalist, recently writing articles about gun culture, and also editing the MindBodyGreen and gildedbirds.com websites.