Recent Releases

Shrag release their 6th single for WIAIWYA on December 14th. Mixed by Woodie Taylor (Comet Gain/Love Is All), ‘Rabbit Kids’ is the first offering from their upcoming album.

The new single has already been previewed in Pitchfork (28/10/2009): “…

“Brighton, UK-based quintet Shrag, like many of their 1970s indie-punk forebears, are one of those bands whose tunes and natural charisma could easily endear them to a wider audience, but whom the vagaries of record release dates, hype cycles, and airline prices have so far conspired to keep a well-loved secret...(Rabbit Kids) is bright, scrappy, and exuberantly melodic enough to rank alongside tracks by Love is All, the Long Blondes, or early Los Campesinos!. A few more like this, and Shrag might break through yet…”

Shrag have played shows with Love Is all, Art Brut, Comet Gain, The Television personalities, The Thermals, Adam Green, and The 1990s amongst others. In 2009 Shrag were invited by The Pains of Being Pure At Heart to support them on their UK tour, and played at this years Offset festival. In October they joined The Cribs for a second UK tour, having supported them on two previous tours in 2007.

The band have recently finished recording their second album, ‘LIFE! DEATH! PRIZES!’ which will be released in early 2010

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Gregory first emerged during the mid-80s UK C86 scene with Razorcuts, who hit on a sound somewhere between the 12 string heavy folk-rock sound of mid-60s LA and the characterful pop sensibilities of the UK post-punk scene. The Carousel soon followed, a gorgeously out-of-time Psyche-Folk duo formed with Talulah Gosh founder member Elizabeth Price. After the acoustic simplicity of his first solo LP "My Wicked Wicked Ways" in 1995, Gregory put together perhaps his most prolific (and noisy) outfit, Sportique, with ex-TV Personality Mark Flunder and Heavenly's Amelia Fletcher & Rob Pursey.

Promised Land sees Gregory returning to matters of the heart, utilizing the acoustic 12 string based sound familiar to those who have seen his regular PopFest performances in recent years. Although never foolish enough to adopt the mannerisms of another culture for his own, Gregory's love of American folk and country greats such as Willie Nelson and Hank Williams clearly shines through. In fact the b- side is a radically different interpretation of Hank Williams' lesser known classic "Won't You Sometimes Think of Me?". Simplicity rules throughout, complementing the naked honestly of the songwriting.

Gregory's signature 12 string sound is augmented by haunting harmonium accompaniment from The Birthday Girl (Vatican Cellars) and beautifully uplifting vocal flourishes provided by Pam Berry of the legendary Black Tambourine.

As Gregory dreams of love away from the glare of city lights, take a ride out to the country with him on this beautifully packaged return to vinyl.

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The uniform elegance of Rose Melberg’s past work with Tiger Trap and The Softies is present on her new solo venture Homemade Ship . This album transcends her work with her previous groups – never has her voice sounded so full and refined as it does here. Her songs belong to her voice. Always tender and hushed, Homemade Ship is enchanting; its stark stillness is as hauntingly playful and familiar as the first days of Autumn.

Homemade Ship was recorded in the winter time in Vancouver. A small masterpiece, Melberg uses just a guitar and vocals (with occasional harmony vocal and piano work provided by Larissa Loyva of The Choir Practice and P:ano), offering helpful and insightfully delicate lyrics to perfectly ease out of sorrow and into contentment. At the forefront, her voice holds a warmth and generosity that adds strength and hopefulness to her aching lyrics. Set a table for two.

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EUX AUTRES, the pronounciationally challenging, Omaha born, New York and San Francisco based three piece release their UK debut "STRANGLED DAYS" on the magnificent WHERE IT'S AT IS WHERE YOU ARE label.

EUX AUTRES (pronounced errs-or-tra) means "those others", and have already released two albums and a number of singles of infectious SLEATER KINNEY meets the VASELINES POP! over the pond.

EUX AUTRES originally consisted of brother and sister HEATHER and NICOLAS LARIMER. Heather played drums, Nicholas played guitar, and they both sang. Practices frequently disolved into shoving matches. In an effort to quell these outbursts (and expand their sound), Eux Autres added drummer YOSHI NAKAMOTO (The Aislers Set, Still Flyin’) in 2008.

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a global pop tribute to BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

The songs of Bruce Springsteen have been re-born in the able hands of 38 indie, folk and underground acts, including the Wave Pictures, Darren Hayman (ex-Hefner), Glam Chops (with Eddie Argos from Art Brut) and even a fiddle solo from the Velvet Underground's Doug Yule. The double album is named "Play Some Pool, Skip Some School, Act Real Cool" (a line from the classic "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)"), and is brought to you from the ever reliable where it's at is where you are label (www.wiaiwya.com).

These acts have been inspired by Springsteen’s woodsman folk, tender ballads, fist-pumping anthems and emotional rock; their interpretations of Springsteen’s back catalogue – from the classics to the rarely visited side roads – reveal the breadth of The Boss’s influence and the inspiration his rich career gives to many bands from different strands of today’s underground.