22|05|02 without special equipment or clothing

Another month goes by and I have still not yet resolved the next release issue. Yes I know I have been pretty unprepared for something like this but I in the process of moving house soon too. How come things like this all happen at the same time? Anyway I'll get the new address posted on the website soonish. There's a great review of the Malory single in Record Collector that you can read here. Also some of the releases are available from an American mail order company - Clairecords, soon to be called Tonevendor, you can get the releases from their website www.clairecords.com. Sorry for being vague and incoherent again, just a lot of things need to be sorted out.

20|04|02 i will wait until it all goes around with you inside

I was meant to be getting my act together and writing more frequently about the going's on with the label. However the String Builder setback has really caught me on the backfoot. I have been agonising over the next release which is not an easy decision. Luckily it seems to have been made for me as my favourite band of all time are (fingers crossed) getting together some tracks for me to release. Those people who know me will instantly know who the band are but I'm keeping it under wraps until I'm certain of the go ahead. Don't want to rise your hopes too high do we, but believe me they're good. For those of you still waiting to get your hands on the Malory single, it should be in shops soon, there was a terrible mix up at Cargo my distributors. The records have been sitting in the warehouse for a good few weeks.

It was my birthday the other day, a day I dread every year because I know I've not moved any further towards the things I want to do from the previous year. This past year has been no different, although this label is one thing I am proud off. A farewell to Earworm Records who are a great independent label due to close in the Summer. It will be sorely missed. I hope it's not going to start a trend in small labels folding.

Hope you've managed to get to the Anna Kashfi gigs. Okay that's all I've got to write about at the moment. News should be much better next time. Also I will be moving this website to a different server soon, so some early warning that your bookmarks will need updating.

27|03|02 boy i wish that balloon would come floating down

Again it's this is really unfortunate but String Builder are having problems recording the songs for the 10" that was meant to be due this Spring. The songs are more complicated than first thought and so the arrangement is taking much longer. This means that the release will probably not appear until much later on in the year. Sorry to all those of you who were looking forward to this release as much as I was. I'm trying my best at the moment to find something else that will fill the schedule in the meantime listening to past demos that bands have sent me and I've got a few ideas. You never know, if you've sent me a demo I might in contact soon. Keep your fingers crossed or toes or something.

If you've not discovered the past releases then do have a browse around the releases pages. Oh and some of you have asked the Anna Kashfi Liverpool gig starts 3pm at Masque(which I've been informed is a venue and not a record shop), Anna Kashfi should be onstage about 4pm.

09|03|02 couldn't even see the water right in front of you

Hello, how you all doing? Anybody miss these little bits of news that aren't really that riveting? Thought not. Anyway hope everybody is keeping their heads up, for me I've been have a struggle trying to keep my full time job from affecting this label but I haven't been that successful in doing so hence the lack of going's on. Good news is that the highly anticipated Malory release is now available. Should have happened last year but compilcations meant it was delayed. Two superb heavenly songs. Remember to play LOUD. Get it from me using the mail order form.

Oops forgot to say that the sleeve for the Malory release is my favourite yet, that's not to say the others were bad. The Malory cover for me works really well with the textured card and a black/ivory contrast. Well hope you all like it as much as I do.

14|02|02 out of the loop into the sky

Just a few words this time around, Anna Kashfi has been receiving some great reviews in the UK and has had radio play in Germany too. Most of the reviews are now on a lovely new section entitled 'what they say' which replaces the old press page. Most of reviews for each release have been gathered together plus links to places that still have the records etc. Take a look now if you like. The Malory release is getting put together as we speak and the String Builder release will be delayed for a few more weeks, so expect that at the end of April. Hope you're all having or had a wonderful Valentines Day whether by yourself or with someone special. Take care and remember to let music touch your heart.

03|02|02 talk about a mary going crazy at the grocery store

Hello again to another exciting update if record releases are what keeps you up at night. The Malory single has been sent off to the record pressers and should be on target for a end of February release. The Anna Kashfi single has been doing well, John Peel played 'Farewell Song' a few weeks ago which was very nice of him. In the latest edition of Record Collector you will see that they proclaim the Philokalia single as 'one of best singles of the year so far'. You can't say fairer than that, so if you haven't got your skates on getting this release then you better do so. I'm pleased to announce the next release after Malory will be from String Builder who are from Providence, Rhode Island in the US. They had a fabulous debut album last year and are putting together 4 tracks of old and new material for release on a 10". I hope you are looking forward to these releases as I am. Quick thank you to the bands who have sent me demos, some very good material in there. Hang on and the breakthrough will follow.

18|01|02 get off your horse and jam

The Anna Kashfi 10" has been getting more deserved great reviews. Latest being the one from Pennyblackmusic's e-zine which also features reviews of Tuna and La Nuit Américaine. If you haven't listened to them you can get a feel of their style from the sound samples on the info page. Cargo should be distributing it now so you should be able to ask for it at your local independent. Latest news regarding the much delayed Malory release. I am now in posession of the master and the songs are pure angelic, you can listen to a the samples on the ehr008 info page and read more about the release. I'm hoping the release will be at the end of February. Thanks for your patience on that one. The La Nuit Américaine release is also reviewed in the current issue of City Life. I am going to have to revamp the press page to stop it from turning into a mess. Remember if you like what you hear, go and tell your friends about it and support the independents.

04|01|02 you can't bank on this

Quick one this, I've just found out that my bank has started charging me to cash Eurocheques, so from now on I will not be accepting Eurocheques as a form of payment. Sorry to the European customers, you will have to find some other way of paying for records. Alternately, you could pay by credit card from many online stores like Pennyblackmusic.com. See the releases page for a list of stockists. I know it is a hassle but unless you want to pay extra to cover the charges that's the way it's going to be. Crap banking corporations for you. I don't really understand why there is a charge as the money is already in pounds anyway. I suppose being in single currency market will get rid of these silly issues. I might have to start sticking prices in €'s.

01|01|02 unauthorised photography is not permitted in the galleries

Happy New Year to all the followers out there if there are any. A cracking end to the year after 'Chard' by Pico was voted into the John Peel Festive Fifty at you guessed it number 50. Quite unbelivable really. John thought it was a demo, but it was released on the label and snapped up in double quick time. See the full Festive Fifty. Number 1 was Melys with the cracking 'Chinese Whispers'. Congratulations to Lianne and thanks to Lianne for letting me release a single by Pico and all the people who voted for it. Anyway hope the festivities haven't taken too much of a toll on you. I was busy working hard at my full time job and putting finishing touches to the next release which is a superb 7" by La Nuit Américaine. Go to the releases page if you haven't listened to the samples already. It should be available in a few weeks time and you can pre-order it from the order form.

Hopefully this year will also be as good for the label and more bands that have released records get noticed. Remember you can let me know what you think of the label and my direction through the info on the contact page. Thank you muchly, more exciting adventures can be found shortly.

07|12|01 unlike love this is something stupid

More Anna Kashfi news, losingtoday.com has put Three Wise Men as no.1 in their fortnightly chart. Americana-UK has a great review in the homegrown section too. For those of you who know about the excellent magazine Comes With A Smile, there is going to be a review in that too. Again it's available from me, see the mail order page, if you are quick I should be able to get it to you in time for Christmas, otherwise it will be waiting for after the New Year due to the high risk of things getting lost or delayed.

As promised here's my list of favourite albums/singles/tracks that I've heard this year, so it could be that they weren't released this year. I didn't include any from the label as it seemed a bit unfair as I like every one of my releases in their own right.

• Kelly Hogan & The Pine Valley Cosmonauts - Beneath The Country Underdog (personally I think this is better than her new album)
• The White Stripes - De Stijl (again I think is better than White Blood Cells)
• David Tyack/DOT - Am Deister/with Richard Tomlinson & Naomi Hart/Across Shawcroft (David Tyack, only one word for him 'genius', absolutely brilliant)
• Ko & The Knockouts - Black And Blue (Can't wait to listen to their debut album)
• Ballboy - I've Got Pictures Of You In Your Underwear (with a title like that, you can't go much wrong can you)
• The West Coast Experimental Pop Band - Part One (musicians gone crazy and back again)
• Stereolab - Moodles (so great to hear from you again)
• Stringbuilder - s/t (super dooper loviness in acousticity)
• Amores Perros Soundtrack (great film and excellent soundtrack to match)
• Future Pilot AKA - Tiny Waves Mighty Sea (and what mightiness has Sushil come up with too)
• Low - Dinosaur Act Video (Exact opposite of the song, but perfect)
• Camera Obscura - Eighties Fan (bliss)
• Greasy Kid's Stuff - WFMU (great radio show from the East Coast, just right for Saturday singalongs)

01|12|01 huge venn diagram to get close

It's not funny that all the days are being taken from right underneath my nose. Too much to do yet so little time. With Christmas coming doubly quick this year I'm rushing to get the Anna Kashfi release ready before you go for the pudding. It's nearly there and the white vinyl is quite marvellous. If you fancy it, you can go to losingtoday.com and read the first review and also read reviews of the Kimonophonic 10" too. You can purchase it directly from me using the mail order form. I've put up a new page which has pictures of all the sleeve designs for you to look at and possibly critique over. You may have noticed none of the designs were featured on each of the release information pages. This was because the sleeves are all hand made or customised and I don't have a big scanner to put pictures of them on the page. Anyway the sleeves were always changing up until the point I was making them so it didn't make sense to put up a misrepresentation. Hope you like it.

In the next bit of news I will also be putting a list of my favorite tracks/releases that I've heard this year, as is the norm with every magazine/ezine in the world. Bet you can't wait can't you. A last note, Pico are doing a John Peel session this Thursday on the 6th, be sure to listen. You can listen via the Web from this link and while you are at it you can vote in the Festive Fifty, putting a release from the label in there would be good if you enjoyed them. Catch you all later.

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