Record Labels

RECORD LABELS

Andmoresound PO Box 16103, Glasgow, G11 7YA, info@andmoresound.co.uk, www.andmoresound.co.uk. Known to John Peel listeners for releasing Camera Obscura, Andmoresound also boasts Tacoma Radar and Mac Meda Together they do pop, chilled, and with the odd Belle & Sebastian connection, even twee, but always catchy and fun.
Bellboy PO BOX 32043, London, NW1 9GE, 0207267 1447, www.hookbellboy.com. Another Aberdeen label relocated from Camden, Bellboy and its sister label Hook mainly releases ill and producer recordings. If you ‘re a ill or producer, you can upload your demo online.
Benbecula PO Box 23250, Edinburgh, EH15 2WW, mail@benbecula.com, www.benbecula.com. Fascinating and at times odd electronic based music. Among the ambient, down tempo and electro sounds can be found Mikael Romanenko and Beluga, plus various compilations.
Bosque PO Box 16069, Glasgow, G12 8YU. Like Brigadoon, it seems that Bosque emerges once every few years, spits out a classic (Dominic Waxing Lyrical or Gilded Lil) and then vanishes from sight once again. We can expect the Male Nurse album around 2006.
Chemikal Underground PO Box 3619, Glasgow, 0141 550 1919, www.chemikal.co.uk. Founded by the Delgados to release their own records, the label quickly signed up other bands. a hit with bis followed by Mogwai (now gone) and Arab Strap (who came back). A cosmopolitan streak appeared with Cha Cha Cohen and the Radar Brothers releases, but current favourites are Glasgow’s finest, Aerogramme.
Chute PO Box 211, Dundee, DDI 9PH. Founded by Spare Snare to put out their early releases, the label has seen a variety of Dundonian guitar bands make their first steps into the world via Chute (as well as the odd Belgian techno act).
Creeping Bent PO Box 3645, Glasgow, G43 9AU, 0141 5643060, www.creepingbent.org, creepingbent@rocketmail.com. One of the most varied rosters anywhere, Creeping Bent has released punk rock (Vic Godard), electro (Alan Vega), and indescribable (apart from brilliant) avant noise in tRANSELEMENt. its newest release ventures into countryish Americana with Monica Queen’s debut solo album.
Diskono www.onoksid.freeserve.co.uk. Avant garde mixed media and experimental to a fault, with performances as much to the fore as physical releases.
Evol www.evolnation.com Run by Pilotcan and releasing their records initially, Evol has also dealt with I Am Scientist, the Zephyrs and Laeto.
Flotsam And Jetsam Records 47 Innerwick Drive, Hillington, Glasgow G52. Loosely affiliated with the 13th Note, F&J is best known for the Club Beatroot series which has featured Mogwai, the Karelia, Urusei Yatsura and anyone who’s anyone in Glasgow indie. Founded by members of El Hombre Trajeado, the Poison Sisters and the Amphetameanies, it was possibly the first Scottish label to discover the potential of the Czech Republic for vinyl pressings.
Glasgow Underground 279 Crow Road, Broomhill, Glasgow G11 7BG, 0141 357 1000, info@glasgowunderground.com, www.glasgowunderground.com. Well-thought of in dance circles, GU has been making a name for itself with releases from DJQ and Daniel Ibbotson.
Glass Cheque Reid Kerr College, Renfrew Road, Paisley PA3 4DR, info@glasscheque.co.uk. A subsidiary of Reid Kerr College’s creative arts department, it describes itself as ‘quasiindependent’. Acts include Mary Jane and Haywire.
Geographic PO Box 549, Glasgow G 12 9NQ, info@dominorecordco.com. Rather than merely employ Stephen McRobbie as its talent-spotter (northern Britain), Domino Records instead set up an entire label for him to release an eclectic mix of avant garde and simply pop. Very civil. Future Pilot AKA, Bill Wells and the Pastels themselves are only a few of the international array of artists who call Geographic home.
Human Condition Chamber Studio/Human Condition Records, 120A West Granton Road, Edinburgh EH5 1PF, 01315516632, mail@chamberstudio.co.uk. Famous for three minutes after releasing Idlewild’s debut, the label which doubles up as the acclaimed Chamber recording studio has found acts of similar potential, from the unashamed rock of imperial Racing Club to the electronics of Sputniks Down.
Intimidation Records PO Box 14627, Leven, Fife KY8 2ZD, intimidationrecs@blueyonder.co.uk, www.geocities.com/intimidationrecords. Punk rock. Very much so. ‘Uncompromising’ might describe it quite nicely. Swellbellys, the Patrol and Overspill, which is apparently home to ex-members of the Exploited.
Lithium Cairnbarra, Kingcausie, Marycoulter, Aberdeen AB 12 5FR, www.lithiumrecords.co.uk/ Aberdeen releasing records from the outpost. The Needles are longest standing but Josephine might be most successful. Also Quincy and Yellow Sundays Real Shocks show expansion outwith the north.
Mint Blue 8 Market Court, Kilsyth G65 OBJ, www.mintrecords.com, mintrecords@yahoo.com. A bunch of odd stuff to be sure, none odder than the collection of the ‘worst’ demos sent in, released on tape in a sealed bag. Rather redeemed itself by providing a home for the mighty Old Solar last year.
Mouth Moth mouthmoth.go.to 07790327820. ‘Pioneers of nu metal’ according to its web site In fact it’s the strangest mix of electronica and abrasively mental machine music. Frog Pocket: need I say more?.
Path 6 Pathhead Court, Kirkcaldy KY1 2PQ 01592 265440, johnpath@freeuk.com. A pub that’s also a record label? Sounds like a good deal and when it’s home to Rising son - Fife’s triphoppunkrock explosion - then so much the better. And recent local signings Single skin prove that it’s not all a one-band show.
Play Records 1/R 9 Hampden Terrace, Glasgow G42 9XQ, 0141 632 5173, pedarama@yahoo.co.uk, www.playrecords.co.uk. Not a bad lineup at all for a small and new label (admittedly one which already has distribution in the UK). Odeon Beat Club, Wow Kafe and Heirloom are three ‘most likely to’ in the country at present, and all can be found here.
Rock Action PO BOX 15107, Glasgow, G I I US, info@rockactionrecords.co.uk. Being the rather successful act they are, Mogwai have got their major label parent to set them up with something to keep them occupied in between albums. So Rock Action has signed up some of the nation’s top talent such as the James Orr Complex and the Zephyrs. But could you be next on its roster? ‘We are happy to receive demos, but due to Mogwai’s live commitments, we cannot guarantee individual (or timely) responses.’ Still worth a shot, I’d say.
Shaved Records JEVC, Milton Road East, Edinburgh EH15 2PP, 0131 6577215, shaved-records@hotmail.com. Students with too much time on their hands? Eight people studying music marketing at Jewel and Esk Valley College followed promoting a club night, featuring the Falkland Hill Yaks, by setting up a label. Their first release in March 2002 was by Edinburgh act Psyche Essential.
Shoeshine/Spit and Polish PO Box 15193, Glasgow G2 6LB, www.shoeshine.co.uk. As a label established by the ex-drummer from the BMX Bandits, and indeed current occupant of Teenage Fanclub’s stool, you’d maybe not expect to find Scotland’s premier alt.country label here. Francis Macdonald (for it is he) set this up to release some of his own solo stuff, but it’s grown, affording him releases by some of his personal heroes such as Alex Chilton, some real up-and-coming top acts like Laura Cantrell, and even the odd member of TFC under assumed names.
Seminal Records 25 Kirkton Place, Carronshore, Falkirk, FK2 8AG, 01324 555135, www.geocities.corn/seminalrecordsuk, derek@jenni7freeserve.co.uk. Recently re-launched home of the Diesel Kings and the International Pop Assassins, Seminal, as the latter band-name hints, likes to release pop with a barbed edge.
SL 70 Arden Street, Edinburgh, EH9 1 BN, 0131 4472135, slrecords@ntlworld.com, www.slrecords.net. Reputedly standing for ‘student loan’, SL is home to ballboy. Long-standing labelmates Khaya have split, but Desc have emerged from the ashes, joining Barrichello and new signings Degrassi as SL celebrates its fifth birthday. Soma Soma Quality Recordings Ltd, 2nd Floor, 342 Argyle Street, Glasgow G2 8LY, 0141 2296220, info@somarecords.com, www.somarecords.com Spearheading Glasgow’s reputation as ‘the city of dance’, Soma’s catalogue reads like, I dunno, the Slam Tent lineup at T in the Park. Which is hardly surprising. Silicone Soul, Funk D’void, Universal Principles, Maas and of course Slam are all part of the ever-expanding Soma reputation.
Too Many Fireworks 6 Staffa Drive, Airdrie, ML6 8NG, neil-milton@yahoo.com, www.kasino.co.uk/2mf/. Formed by students at Stow College, Too Many Fireworks hopes to release several EPs every year (having already put out Troika ‘s Missing Passport) and is also engaged in gig promotion, so unused demos will hopefully still prove useful.