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I'm Hardly Ever Wrong

Jerk Party

Miles Of Sleep

Fleas

Keel Her - Crutch Came Slinking

I'll Be Your

Recorded live to 16 track tape at Orchard Studios, Barton St David, Somerset, March 2014. Mixed at Stage 2 Studios, Bath, May 2014. Recorded and mixed by Ben Turner, with assistance by James Wilkes. Mastered by Shawn Joseph at Optimum Mastering, Bristol, May 2014.

Empty Pools formed in the halcyon days of fading summer 2011. They artfully combine elements of noise rock with teen dream melodies, late ’70s CBGBs angularity and the jazzy, world pop sophistication of the Thrill Jockey set. Following a handful of DIY releases, their first 7" for BATTLE (Frenchkiss Label Group) made it into Pitchfork’s top tracks of 2012, alongside coverage in the NME, Drowned in Sound, The Line of Best Fit, and on BBC 6Music and Radio 1. The band have since shared stages with Eleanor Friedberger, Sharon Van Etten, Destroyer, Menomena, White Denim, The Dismemberment Plan, Sky Larkin, Tom Tom Club and Speedy Ortiz.

Empty Pools' debut album ‘Saturn Reruns’ was released in November 2013 by Enclaves / BATTLE to acclaim and 'Liberation Prayers' is the first new material from the band. The EP is released worldwide on 28th July 2014 by Enclaves.

Praise for 'Saturn Reruns':

NME

"Lyrically deft and sonically diverse, this is a devastatingly accomplished debut. Scuzzy, dreamy, ferocious, reckless. There are only peaks on this record. - 8/10"

________________________________

SPIN

“Chameleonic beauty…blends the angular riffs of Television with the jazzy rock of The Sea and Cake.”

________________________________

THE GUARDIAN

"…charmingly ramshackle alt-rock … deliciously crumpled sweetness…"

________________________________

Q MAGAZINE

"Exploded View - Track of the Day."

________________________________

THIS IS FAKE DIY

“[Saturn Reruns] is a special debut; one that should, given time, be considered as a cult triumph.”

________________________________

PREFIX MAG

“The foursome concocts a record of raw energy and intellect. Empty Pools may echo a love of the nineties alt-rock, yet on a closer examination, their music packs a whole history of rock and then some."

EMPTY POOLS - Shirtless

Our debut single. Self-recorded, self-produced.

Mastered by Tim Lengfeld/TL Mastering.
Beautiful artwork by Gitte Moller.
Logo by Thomas Pepler.

Lacuna

We're very pleased to be releasing 'This is the This Young Sinclairs' album on 13th October.  This collection of various compositions demonstrate the spectrum of The Young Sinclairs’ sound.  To live is to grow and this young sycamore puts the listener on a firm branch of their tree. 
Out 13th October 2014 vinyl/download formats. Order your plastic here: http://bit.ly/1ljAvb6

The Young Sinclairs "You're Tied" - ample play records

Maston - Potemkin
Track lifted from the 'Opal Collection'.

Out October 13th on LP & Digital.

http://strollonrecords.bigcartel.com/product/maston-opal-collection

Maston - Potemkin

Allo Darlin’ are set to release their eagerly awaited new album "We Come From the Same Place" this October. The third full-length recording from the much loved Anglo-Australian four-piece is made up of smart, beautiful pop music, with lyrics that resonate with experience and melodies that chime, echo and soar.

The album combines the eagerness, urgency and immediacy of their 2010 self-titled debut with the contemplation, sophistication and ambition of their 2012 follow-up "Europe," and yet it goes beyond either both sonically and in the songs. It was written at a time of considerable change for songwriter Elizabeth Morris, a time during which she fell in love, moved to Italy and got married - not that that seems to have hindered the songwriting process, as Elizabeth explains, "So many things have happened since I first wrote the songs that make up this album, it's difficult to remember back to where it all began. The songs were written very quickly, during a period when I found writing songs very easy, whereas I often find songwriting very difficult. Some of the songs were written so fast I can't even really remember writing them. The songs were a joy to write, and writing them made me feel better about lots of things."

If the songs came quickly the recording of the album was a more considered process, with the band first testing out the new material at a series of small shows – christened the Compass Shows – in North, South, East and West London. They then returned to their spiritual home of Soup Studios, where they recorded their first album, to work with their long-term collaborator, producer Simon Trought. The intention was to capture a more instinctive and fluid live studio sound and to play as well as possible while the red button was on, a different approach to the more piecemeal recording of their previous two albums. Or as Paul Rains put it, "We've used three years of touring to try and get some of that sweat and grime and togetherness and sweetness and anxiety onto a record."

One of the themes of the new record is new beginnings and things drawing to a close. "Nothing feels the way it did before and I am grateful for that", sings Elizabeth on "Crickets in the Rain", a song written after her move to Italy and which she describes as "anti-nostalgia". Built along the same lines is the gorgeous "History Lessons", of which Elizabeth says, "I guess at some point I became a bit tired of everything seeming better in the past, from music to relationships to buildings to societies. We're a bit obsessed with it and it can become overwhelming. We don't live in the present. This song is trying to express that frustration."

Among the highlights of the album is "Bright Eyes", a duet with guitarist Paul Rains. Elizabeth again, "I wanted to write another duet, but the only problem with doing that is that when you play live it's very rare that the person you recorded it with can be there. So I thought it would be great to write a song with Paul singing the other part. I love Paul's singing and I wanted to hear him do it more, so it's quite selfish really!" Another standout is the Twin Peaks-referencing "Half-Heart Necklace", based on a true story from Elizabeth’s hometown. "There had been some murders, and this girl who was my age was missing and presumed killed. It turned out she had been hiding for years in her boyfriend's cupboard, and she was charged for wasting police time". 
 
Other notable tracks include the rollicking "Kings and Queens", inspired by a show they played in the USA with their friends and kindred spirits The Wave Pictures, and "Romance and Adventure", originally earmarked for a film soundtrack and written in response to a challenge from Paul to write a pop song in a minor key. Bass player Bill Botting sums up Elizabeth’s remarkable songwriting ability by saying, "The key to Elizabeth’s songwriting appeal is that she’s so adept at pinpointing certain ideas and moods; leaving one city and finding a new one and realising that beginnings and endings have a lot in common."

Allo Darlin’ were formed after Australian Elizabeth Morris arrived in London and bought a ukulele from the Duke of Uke shop in Shoreditch. She began writing music and was soon joined by fellow Australian Bill Botting (bass), Paul Rains (guitar), and Michael Collins (drums).  Their debut album attracted many plaudits including being named No. 2 record of the year by online retailer eMusic, and a glowing 1,200 word essay by Robert Forster of The Go-Betweens in the Australian critical magazine, The Monthly. Their second album "Europe" scored 8.1 on Pitchfork, was made USA Today’s Album Of The Week, and garnered praise from Uncut, Q, NME, The Quietus and The Guardian. It was also named Rough Trade Shop’s Album Of The Month, where it went on to become the biggest selling album of the year. The band have been playlisted at BBC 6Music and have recorded sessions for Lauren Laverne, Marc Riley and John Kennedy (XFM), as well being Steve Lamacq’s personal pick for BBC Introducing. Their releases to date, along with their joyous and effervescent live shows, have seen them build an intensely loyal and ever-increasing fanbase.

The truism is that third albums are difficult beasts, but by remaining true to themselves Allo Darlin’ have side-stepped the pitfalls to produce a wonderful record - thoughtful and exciting and exquisitely played – that will please their existing army of fans and newcomers alike. On first reading the album’s title may seem enigmatic, but from the very personal nature of Elizabeth Morris’ finely drawn vignettes to the more universal connections between the band and their audience, its meaning will be obvious to all who fall under the spell of this magical band.

"Breezy rom-pop brilliance." 8/10, NME

"Classic indie pop... doesn't rewrite the formula for wistful bedsit charm as much as show that it can still be carried out masterfully." Pitchfork

"A masterclass of modern cult pop." The Guardian

"Terrific, witty and heartfelt, like a less moody Belle & Sebastian." The New York Times


Allo Darlin' - Romance And Adventure

Taken from the "She Seems Quite Free" 7" EP, released September 1, 2014 on Slumberland Records (US) and Occultation Records (UK).
Pre-order vinyl 7": http://smarturl.it/quite-free
Pre-order iTunes download: http://smarturl.it/quite-free-itunes

The June Brides are back again with two Phil Wilson songs ("Being There," "She Seems Quite Free") plus guitarist Simon Beesley's "I'm Undone." The EP sees a return to the band’s original harder-edged sound, following acclaimed 2012 single Moon/Cloud (“Glorious” Sabotage Times (UK), “...a stunning comeback” Critical Mob (USA), “...Song of the summer by a mile” PennyBlackMusic (UK), “Wonderful” The Big Takeover (USA)). On this recording original Brides Phil Wilson, Simon Beesley, Frank Sweeney and Jon Hunter have been joined by Steve Beswick (drums) and Arash Torabi (bass).

Background: The June Brides are true indie innovators, with fans including Manic Street Preachers, Morrissey and Belle and Sebastian. In the mid-1980s they produced five singles/EPs and one LP, There Are Eight Million Stories, which reached no. 1 in the UK Independent Albums Chart. They appeared on the cover of NME, toured with The Smiths and were cited by Morrissey as his favourite group of 1985. After The June Brides broke up in 1986, Phil Wilson cut two solo singles for Creation Records. His final single of the 1980s, Better Days was a collaboration with Primal Scream guitarist Andrew Innes on Bob Stanley of Saint Etienne’s Caff Records.

After 20 years as a civil servant, Phil Wilson returned to music in 2008. He has since recorded several solo singles and the lauded God Bless Jim Kennedy LP to excellent reviews from David Quantick (Uncut), Gavin Martin (Daily Mirror), Stewart Lee (Times) and Andrew Perry (Mojo) plus three Marc Riley BBC sessions. Performances in the UK, Europe and USA have included Indietracks, the Port Eliot Festival, and the San Francisco and Madrid Popfests. When Phil was rejoined by original guitarist Simon Beesley in 2011 it became natural to revert to the “June Brides” name.


The June Brides - Being There

Taken from the Tourists EP, a six-track split for our UK tour with Slowcoaches (15-19th Sept)

https://featureband.bandcamp.com/album/tourists-ep

Tourism Fiction

Download for free from www.slugband.co.uk

Slug - Cockeyed Rabbit Wrapped in Plastic

Out now on Slumberland Records (N & S America) and Fortuna Pop! (ROW).

iTunes: http://smarturl.it/wcftspitunes
LP/CD: http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/catalog/show/278


Allo Darlin's new album "We Come From The Same Place" combines the eagerness, urgency and immediacy of their 2010 self-titled debut with the contemplation, sophistication and ambition of their 2012 follow-up "Europe," and yet it goes beyond either both sonically and in the songs. It was written at a time of considerable change for songwriter Elizabeth Morris, a time during which she fell in love, moved to Italy and got married - not that that seems to have hindered the songwriting process, as Elizabeth explains, "So many things have happened since I first wrote the songs that make up this album, it's difficult to remember back to where it all began. The songs were written very quickly, during a period when I found writing songs very easy, whereas I often find songwriting very difficult. Some of the songs were written so fast I can't even really remember writing them. The songs were a joy to write, and writing them made me feel better about lots of things."

Among the highlights of the album is "Bright Eyes", a duet with guitarist Paul Rains. Elizabeth again, "I wanted to write another duet, but the only problem with doing that is that when you play live it's very rare that the person you recorded it with can be there. So I thought it would be great to write a song with Paul singing the other part. I love Paul's singing and I wanted to hear him do it more, so it's quite selfish really!" Another standout is the Twin Peaks-referencing "Half-Heart Necklace", based on a true story from Elizabeth’s hometown. "There had been some murders, and this girl who was my age was missing and presumed killed. It turned out she had been hiding for years in her boyfriend's cupboard, and she was charged for wasting police time". 
 
Other notable tracks include the rollicking "Kings and Queens", inspired by a show they played in the USA with their friends and kindred spirits The Wave Pictures, and "Romance and Adventure", originally earmarked for a film soundtrack and written in response to a challenge from Paul to write a pop song in a minor key. Bass player Bill Botting sums up Elizabeth’s remarkable songwriting ability by saying, "The key to Elizabeth’s songwriting appeal is that she’s so adept at pinpointing certain ideas and moods; leaving one city and finding a new one and realising that beginnings and endings have a lot in common."

The truism is that third albums are difficult beasts, but by remaining true to themselves Allo Darlin’ have side-stepped the pitfalls to produce a wonderful record - thoughtful and exciting and exquisitely played – that will please their existing army of fans and newcomers alike. On first reading the album’s title may seem enigmatic, but from the very personal nature of Elizabeth Morris’ finely drawn vignettes to the more universal connections between the band and their audience, its meaning will be obvious to all who fall under the spell of this magical band.

"A masterclass of modern cult pop." The Guardian

"Terrific, witty and heartfelt, like a less moody Belle & Sebastian." The New York Times

Allo Darlin' - Bright Eyes

Written by The Yetis
Produced by Kyle "Slick" Johnson

Recorded on August 4, 2014

Christian - lead guitar, vocals
Nick - rhythm guitar, vocals
Stefan - bass guitar
Patrick - drums


Photograph by Walter Pierson Palmer IV
Logo by Freddy Kempel

Little Surfer Girl

Color It In

From the forthcoming album "Ultimate Painting", out OCTOBER 28th, 2014 on Trouble In Mind Records (www.troubleinmindrecs.com)

Ultimate Painting - Ten Street

Washer's new single "Rot" from the upcoming split 7" with Big Ups on ECB&B and EIS. Pre-order at https://explodinginsoundrecords.bandcamp.com/album/big-ups-washer-split-7

Check out Washer's music at www.okwasher.bandcamp.com

Washer - Rot

From Parquet Courts upcoming album Content Nausea, available Nov 11th Digitally and Dec 2nd on CD/LP. 

Pre-order the record from What's Your Rupture?  http://whatsyourrupture.bigcartel.com/product/parquet-courts-content-nausea-preorder-cd-lp-2xcd 

Or internationally from Rough trade.  

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cello_m