I'm diggin the guitar tones on this song!!!

if you need anyone to mix or master your music, just drop me a message at thoughtcloudproductions@gmail.com

get happy

The third and final single from Redspencer's new forthcoming album - Dreamworld.

Hard Feelings

Disgraceland

The Orwells - Southern Comfort

Pre-order Terrible Things Happen & The Last Match: http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/aislers-set

Pre-order How I Learned To Write Backwards: http://suicidesqueeze.scdstore.net/

The Aislers Set occupy an enviable place in the pop pantheon. Brimming with drunken romanticism, sharp pop sensibilities and timeless melodies, The Aislers reveled in the history of great POP, spiking their classicist 60s-tinged tunes with pure post-punk energy and originality of bands like the Fire Engines and The June Brides. Every song is a meticulously constructed sound world, where the arrangement and instrumentation sublimely, uncannily bring each tune to completeness.

The Aislers Set began in 1998 as a vehicle for the songs of Linton, who had most recently co-led San Francisco's legendary Henry's Dress and drummed in Go Sailor with her pal Rose Melberg. With Henry's Dress she had helped guide the band from it's noise/drone beginnings to the explosive mod/punk fusion that made them such a force to be reckoned with. With The Aislers Set the original goal was just to write, record and document.

The result was the first Aislers Set album, 1998's "Terrible Things Happen." Not content to merely (!) write some of the most sublime pop tunes this side of Ray Davies, Linton got busy in her garage studio and recorded and produced almost the whole record by herself. It's a remarkable feat, and a love for such producers as Phil Spector and Brian Wilson shines from each and every groove. This is no shameless 60's pastiche, though, with the echoes of classic pop past filtered through a totally 90's aesthetic. It's a beautiful,  multi-layered record and a genuinely great achievement of home recording.

During the course of recording TTH, Linton was joined by some friends who became the full-band Aislers Set line-up: Alicia Vanden Heuvel on bass, Yoshi Nakamoto on drums, Wyatt Cusick on guitar and Jen Cohen on keyboards. It's this fantastic line-up that toured in 1999 and put together the second album, 2000's "The Last Match." Where "Terrible Things Happen"s synthesis of 60s mod-pop, 70s punk and 80s/90s indie flavors provided an end-of-the-century summation of where pop had been and where it was heading, "The Last Match" upped the ante even farther.

More ambitious in conception, "The Last Match" expanded the band's sound into more orchestral areas. While the songs are still driving and catchy as a fish hook, the arrangements are far more sophisticated. The instrumentation has been augmented by a Jen's vintage keyboards/organs and various horns, giving the tunes the timeless feel of classic groups like the early Bee Gees, The Zombies and The Millennium. Still preferring to record in the garage where they are allowed unlimited time for experimentation, the band had no problem crafting an amazing sounding album that could have sprung fully-formed from the hallowed studios of Gold Star. This is no murky lo-fi production, but a fully-rounded and rich-sounding recording with a warm, analog sound.

"The Last Match" was a roaring success, garnering fantastic reviews and spurring the band to tour the US, Japan and UK multiple times, with bands (and fans) including as Belle & Sebastian, Black Dice, The Gossip, Erase Errata, Comet Gain and Sleater-Kinney. The band even achieved the ultimate badge of indie honor, recording a session for the legendary John Peel. Even more, "The Last Match" established The Aislers Set as one of the most beloved indiepop bands of their generation. It was a must-listen album, one that fueled fond memories, sparked love affairs, set off spontaneous dance parties, and reminded us all of the power of songs and song-craft and POP. It's chiming guitars and indelible melodies were heard everywhere from London to Tokyo, from Glasgow to Malmo: The Aislers truly came into their own with "The Last Match."

2003 saw the release of the band's final album, "How I Learned To Write Backwards." At once more baroque and edgier than its predecessor, "How I Learned To Write Backwards" expertly wound together so many strands of pop history with such personality, atmosphere and style that there's never any doubt that you're listening to a band with vision. Far from being a "name the reference" game, The Aislers used the past as inspiration rather than a blueprint, so the echoes you might hear of, say, Phil Spector's Wall of Sound or Laura Nyro's soulful lyricism are so well-integrated into the Aislers' sound that they're more akin to the spice in the stew rather than the stock of the soup.

While the band had stopped playing and recording together by 2004 thanks to life commitments, their reputation has only grown and sporadic reunion shows and mini-tours have met with rapturous response. Now Slumberland and Suicide Squeeze are proud to join hands to re-release these fantastic, seminal albums in remastered form, and on vinyl LP again for the first time in over a decade. All three albums will feature new liner notes, updated art and sharp sound. Further, the band will play a select set of shows this Fall, and a new album of singles and rarities is being prepared for release in early 2015.


The Aislers Set - Falling Buildings

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 their new single "Memory." Out this Fall on Slumberland Records/Les Disques Steak/SDZ.

pre-order 7": http://smarturl.it/memory-single
pre-order iTunes: http://smarturl.it/memory-itunes

Euro tour dates:
24/10☉PARIS (FR), ESPACE B
25/10☉RENNES (FR), LE MARQUIS DE SADE
27/10☉OVIEDO (ES), LATA DE ZINC
28/10☉SANTANDER (ES), ESCENARIO SANTANDER
29/10☉MADRID (ES), COSTELLO
30/10☉BARCELONA (ES), LUPITA DEL RAVAL
31/10☉GENEVA (CH), LE CABINET
02/11☉UTRECHT (NL), EKKO w/ Sebadoh
03/11☉ANTWERP (BE), TRIX w/ Sebadoh
04/11☉BRUXELLES (BE), MADAME MOUSTACHE
07/11☉AUGSBURG (DE), CITY CLUB

A. Memory
B: Undelivered

The Bay Area has a rich history of garagey, folk-rock bands and since their formation in 2007 The Mantles have carved themselves out a very unique spot in that lineage. From their roots as a loose & loud Velvets/Nuggets-bashing outfit through a series of excellent releases on labels like Siltbreeze and Mexican Summer, the band developed their sound and moved towards a more contemplative, melodic vibe. In 2013 they released their second album, the Kelley Stoltz produced "Long Enough To Leave," which saw them consolidate the progression of the previous records into a uniquely impressionistic brand of psychedelic pop.

Now the band is back with their first new recordings since "Long Enough To Leave" and a tweaked line-up featuring the swirling keyboards of Carly Putnam and the rock-solid bass of Matt Bullimore. "Memory" is an upbeat song that recalls some of the finest of the Paisley Underground bands. Buoyed by Justin's twangy lead guitar and Carly's organ, "Memory" boasts the kind of easy lope and indelible melody that The Mantles make seem so effortless. 

On the flip we have "Undelivered," a rootsy tune whose psychedelic keyboards and moody demeanor align it firmly with the best of New Zealand's Flying Nun label. It's yet another side of The Mantles and shows some of the exciting directions that their newly-augmented line-up is taking the band. Simple but never simplistic, The Mantles breathe new life into familiar sounds and create something special and vital through song-writing talent and sheer personality.



The Mantles - Memory

As we enter the home run of our Pizza Club series (5 more to go) we are delighted to welcome Broadbay to the fold. Landing on our radar back in March, the band had just played a gig with Home School, Bloody Knees and Birdskulls. Hopefully that should give you a pretty solid indication of what to expect from 'Plasticine Dream' - grungy emo-tinged punk rock with hooks a-plenty!

Buy a physical pizza version from our shop at 1pm: http://artishardrecords.limitedrun.com/products/523909-the-pizza-club

Broadbay - Plasticine Dream

Our Leeds-based pop heroes return with a stunning sophomore album. Carefully conceived as a proper album rather than "merely" a batch of great songs, Ben, bassist Joe Margetts and drummer Bruce Renshaw have created what could be one of the top albums of 2008, and certainly a great album in the long tradition of UK guitar pop. More textural and varied that its predecessor, "Life Is Sweet" is still filled with gorgeous melodies and some of the catchiest tunes you'll ever have stuck in your ear, but it also is deeper and more thoughtful, full of emotional peaks and valleys. Rather than just chip in with an album of "more of the same," the band has paid extra attention to the arrangements, with judicious use of 12-string and acoustic guitars, lap steel and violin adding crucial detail and depth to the tunes.

And what about the songs? These are easily the strongest set of Lodger tunes yet. Opener "My Finest Hour" is an upbeat charmer that reminds one of The Pale Fountains, setting a wistful tone for the rest of the album. First single "The Good Old Days" is pure Sound of Young Scotland energy; with it's scratchy riff, driving drums, sing-along chorus and bouncing bass it's bound to fill dancefloors for years to come. "Honey" is a beautiful country-tinged lament, setting the table for "The Conversation," whose tough verses set the listener up for the chorus' surprising melodic burst. "A Year Since Last Summer" is pure strummy pleasure, a two minute tribute to the genius of The Housemartins.

And so it goes - superb tune after superb tune, each one distinct from the others but taken together building Life Is Sweet into an assured example of the pop songwriter's and band's craft. It's a true classic, a brilliantly written, produced and sequenced album that reveals new facets and produces new favorites with each listening.

The Lodger - The Good Old Days

@paerisgiles

Written and produced by Paeris Giles

Mastered by Kristian Smith

Paeris Giles - Change Change

7" hand cut record, limited to 25. Available from our site from 1pm, 13.03.15: http://artishardrecords.limitedrun.com/products/546911?preview=true

It might be March but we've decided it's definitely not too late to launch our 2015 singles club - The Handcut Record Club.

We're kicking things off with a new track from The Red Cords, ramshackle, roof raising, garage pop from Cornwall. 'Scratch it Off' takes all the promise they exhibited in their first two EP's and solidifies it into one of the best sub 3 minute pieces of shout-a-long surf rock you'll hear this side of the summer.

The Red Cords - Scratch It Off

The Money War (Original)

Sweet spell is a nostalgic, gentle, and captivating album written and recorded by Tyler Burkhart, a musician currently working in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This collection of songs is intended as a soundtrack to growing up, with bittersweet melodies that shimmer and reflect memories of simpler times. Through washed out layers of guitars and melancholy vocals, this album is to look back with yearning, and to look forward with hope of redemption. 

We recommend this title for people interested in the likes of Eels, Pedro The Lion & Death Cab For Cutie.

All songs written / performed / recorded by Tyler Burkhart. Released physically in the UK on Friday 1st July 2016 via Hail Hail Records, under the serial number HHR-TYB-001.

Sweet Spell

Tyler Burkhart's Sweet Spell

Tyler Burkhart - Pavement Gazing

Naked Giants - "Surchin 4 U"

Another sad pop superhit from Gorgeous Bully with vocal duties shared with Rebecca Lima of Whorish Boorish . 

Thomas has allowed us to share this track as a musical apology for the delay with the Gorgeous Bully / Something Anorak split 7" that was due out in June. Due to extreme delays at the pressing plant, frustratingly we won't have the records until the end of September. This is obviously horrible for us, the bands and of course anyone that pre-ordered. Hopefully these two and a half minutes of fuzzy brilliance will go some way to thanking you for your patience.

If you didn't pre-order, it's not too late: http://artishardrecords.limitedrun.com/categories/gorgeous-bully-something-anorak

the worlds an oyster
lifes a race
but im stuck lying here 
half awake

nothing to do but dream of you

its motivation i cant find
always something
never the time

nothing to do but dream of you

Gorgeous Bully - Nothing To Do

Self titled album due out 26/6/17. Pre order:
UK: http://www.artishardrecords.co.uk/products/588507-the-sea-life-the-sea-life-12
US: http://store.babecityrecords.com/products/587716-the-sea-life-s-t

These are turbulent times we’re living in. Sure, you can have someone ride a burrito to your house in a matter of minutes or use the internet to speak to anyone basically anywhere, but you only have to catch the smallest snippet of news to get the sense we’re rolling downhill with the brake chords cut. Washington punks, The Sea Life know this all too well. Their self titled album is full to the brim with themes of disillusionment and self-awareness, while still infused with a real push for something, anything better. The second single to be taken from the self titled debut is Blame, a fuzzy pop masterpiece that sounds like The National getting drunk with Pinegrove.

The album is set to be co-released on 12" by Art is Hard in the UK and Babe City Records in the US, both on May 26th.

The Nothing That Steals You

The Sea Life - Blame

DIY label based in south west England releasing great music on weird things.

You can stream all our releases in full over on our bandcamp - http://artishardrecords.bandcamp.com

Broadbay - Plasticine Dream

Art Is Hard Records

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