Posts Tagged ‘Shelflife Records’

STAR TROPICS – ” Lost World “

Posted: January 6, 2018 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Following the two fantastic singles that the band has put out in the past, Shelflife and Fastcut Records are incredibly excited to be releasing the debut full-length by Chicago’s Star Tropics. “Lost World” cements the band’s pop songwriting prowess, and its nine tracks all have equal likelihood of ending up ingrained in your brain.

Formed after a chance meeting thanks to an early Smiths b-side, Star Tropics have been playing shows since 2012, including a performance at the 2013 NYC Popfest. Their previously released singles “By My Side” (b/w “Tempest”) and “Summer Rain” (b/w “Swept Away”) have established Star Tropics as a group that fans of dreamy, jangly pop need to keep their eyes on.

Chicago’s Star Tropics blend of indiepop jangle, have come up with one the best Dreampop releases of 2017.
They deliver on the promise set up by its previous BC Singles.
Jangly Guitars, layered female/male vocals over pastoral melodies. Sarah records styled tunes, won’t win them any awards for originality, but the quality of their songs and the atmosphere they create is no rip-off either.

 

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The LUXEMBOURG SIGNAL – ” Laura Palmer “

Posted: December 28, 2017 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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The Luxembourg Signal’s ode to Twin Peaks has just the right amount of sad and mysterious. “Laura Palmer” just sort of drifts into the room and lingers. Their cover of the Close Lobsters’ Let’s Make Some Plans on the flip side is nice added insurance.

With the release of their first single and debut album on Shelflife Records in 2014, The Luxembourg Signal quickly found a loyal following among fans of dream pop/indie pop music, and received enthusiastic reviews for their pop sensibilities, angelic vocals and lush soundscapes.

Since the debut release, the band’s lineup of Beth Arzy & Betsy Moyer (vocals), Johnny Joyner (guitars), Brian Espinosa (drums) and Ginny Pitchford (keyboards) has been expanded with the addition of Kelly Davis (guitars) and Daniel Kumiega (bass).

The seven-piece played a handful of shows in the UK and Europe in the summer of 2015 to promote their debut album, including a Sunday evening performance at Indietracks that many cited as one of the highlights of the weekend. 2015 also saw the release of a split 7″ single with Soft Science (Test Pattern Records), which featured a remix of Dying Star by Robert Hampson (Loop/Main).

The band returned to the studio in 2016 to complete their second full length Blue Field coming out this fall on Shelflife and Kleine Untergrund Schallplatten. “Laura Palmer” is the first single from the album and one of our favorite tracks of the year. The b-side is a special cover version of “Let’s Make Some Plans” by the Close Lobsters.

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Band Members
Johnny, Beth, Brian, Ginny, Daniel, Betsy & Kelly

CLOSE LOBSTERS – ” Under London Skies “

Posted: December 11, 2016 in MUSIC
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Scotland’s OG jangle popsters are still at it. This is their second single since reforming and they haven’t lost a step. This high quality justifies an LP.

It’s been nearly two years since Shelflife has had the pleasure of putting out new music from the eternal Close Lobsters, and we’re proud to say that this will be changing shortly. In June the band were extremely excited to be releasing the Scottish band’s new EP featuring “Under London Skies” b/w “Wander Epic Part II” on limited gold 7″ vinyl with download and digital formats.

 

These self-proclaimed “Post-Neo-Anti-Close Lobsters” are back in a big way,

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The FIREWORKS – ” Black and Blue ” EP

Posted: December 11, 2016 in CLASSIC ALBUMS
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The Fireworks are a loud fuzzy pop band. We are Matthew Rimell (vocals/guitar), Isabel Albiol (bass), Emma Hall (vocals/tambourine) and Shaun Charman (drums/additional guitar). This London / Brighton band The Fireworks have given us the premiere of the debut track ‘All The Time’ from their forthcoming ‘Black and Blue EP’ out as a 10″ EP on ShelfLife records. ‘All the Time’ is an unstoppable snarling garage pop beast that matches the frenetic riffing and clattering drums reminiscent of the likes of the Buzzcocks or the Vivian Girls is matched by the sardonic sneer of lead vocalist Emma and backed by the call response bvs of guitarist Matthew, press play below. The band say its “about obsession and trying to get in the ‘head of’.

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One of those rare songs, which isn’t about something I’ve experienced. A sort of anti song/response to songs where the person is the victim or at least invisible, but ends up/is invisible anyway – as a sort of paradox. I’ve long been fascinated by Francis Bacon’s comment that he would – always get drunk when doing his art work. I hope there’s an element of that. Its always quite a fun song to play, during rehearsals it’s one we can muck around with.”

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The FIREWORKS – ” Tightrope “

Posted: February 16, 2016 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Shelflife Records is excited to announce the highly anticipated debut LP Switch Me On from The Fireworks, on LP, CD and digital formats. The LP comes in two colors: limited blood red vinyl will be offered exclusively at Rough Trade Shops (SOLD OUT), while limited white vinyl will be available at shelflife.com (SOLD OUT).

Second pressing 250 copies on red and white splatter vinyl.

After two brilliant 7″ singles, the sold out Fireworks EP and nearly sold out Runaround, and one flexi featuring the cover of Girls At Our Best! “Getting Nowhere Fast”, the band are ready to unleash their debut album Switch Me On to the world. Needless to say, those who have been waiting patiently will be rewarded. Recorded at Soup Studios by David Holmes and Simon Trought (Allo Darlin, Comet Gain), the album continues right where the band left off: more chainsaw fuzz-drenched feedback, more guitar pop hooks, more reverb-soaked Matthew and Emma vocals, and more jumping off your f**king seats! The LP also shows the versatility in sound of the band, when the distortion pedals take a back seat to shimmering 12 string guitars. All and all, this album is made up of thirteen “A” sides and if you can sit still while listening to this record, you’re surely walking dead!

The band continues to play around the UK and Germany, including London, Bristol, Nottingham, Manchester, and Hamburg, with more gigs planned for 2015.

The Fireworks are Emma Hall (Pocketbooks), Matthew Rimell (Big Pink Cake), visual artist Isabel Albiol, and Shaun Charman (The Wedding Present/The Popguns), based in London and Brighton, UK.

For fans of: Razorcuts, Buzzcocks, Girls At Our Best!, Revolving Paint Dream, The Shop Assistants, Meat Whiplash, Bubblegum Splash

Singles: “Runaround”, “On And On”, “Tightrope”, “Took It All”

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Taken from The Firework’s debut album “Switch Me On”, out now on Shelflife Records, available on white vinyl, CD and digital.

GOODLY THOUSANDS – ” Sunshine Hair ” EP

Posted: April 3, 2015 in MUSIC
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Shelflife Records presents the Sunshine Hair EP from Goodly Thousands, coming March 24th on limited 7″ vinyl and digital formats.

The EP is the follow up to the nearly sold out debut 7″ “Honest / I Wish,” which has earned a great deal of praise from guitar pop fans worldwide. We’re happy to say this EP continues right where they left off. The four songs are filled with their classic pop goodness that will absolutely knock your socks off! Lovely Bryds-y guitar lines, jangly rhythms, and Colm’s perfectly crafted vocal melodies will make this one release you do not want to miss!

The band started in 2010 in the small town of Dundrum, Ireland and since then have relocated to Dublin. Colm writes all the songs, plays guitar and sings, Aaron plays drums and Darren plays bass. Fiachra McCarthy, at Heftrax studio in Dublin, did the recording and mixing and contributed a couple of extra bits of guitar and percussion. The songs are all written about single moments in time in Dublin over the past six years. “If people listen hard they might catch where exactly I’m talking about…,” says Colm, “but you might have to be from here. Jangly guitars though, are for everyone.”

For fans of: The Hit Parade, early Primal Scream, Brian, The June Brides, Hurrah!

LANGUIS – ” Other Desert Cities ” EP

Posted: April 2, 2015 in MUSIC
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Shelflife presents the first of our reissue projects this year, starting off with a special 10″ vinyl re-release of our all-time favorite EP Other Desert Cities from Los Angeles Languis. The CDEP was previously released on the Pehr label in 2006 and we have been dreaming for the day when we could play these five amazing tracks on our turntables. 2015 also commemorates the 10 year anniversary of the EPs conception which makes it even more momentous. Limited to 250 copies worldwide, the first 100 are available on orange crush vinyl.

Languis started in 1991 by founding members Alejandro Cohen and Marcos Chloca when they were classmates in Buenos Aires, Argentina. After their landmark release, The Four Walls, Stephen Swesey (Tristeza) and John Girgus (Aberdeen) joined the group as they began exploring a more expansive sound. In 2005, the guys recorded and produced the five songs that make up the Other Desert Cities EP. The tracks were sent to Ian Catt (Saint Etienne, Trembling Blue Stars, Field Mice) for further production and the result was something truly magical. The EP is a post-shoegaze psychedelic masterpiece with walls of sun-washed pop melodies and breezy Byrds-styled harmonies all swirling around gorgeous blissed-out guitars, ambient explosions of reverb, and a loose tangle of organic and synthetic textures.

The LUXEMBURG SIGNAL – ” We Go On “

Posted: April 2, 2015 in MUSIC
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The Luxembourg Signal has evolved from the remnants of the band Aberdeen, which after a long and bumpy road dissolved back in 2003. Several years and several bands- including Fonda and Trembling Blue Stars- and a few reunions later, Johnny Joyner, Beth Arzy and Brian Espinosa began a project with Betsy Moyer and Ginny Pitchford to create a spacier, noisier, and more mature sound that occasionally harkens back to their early 90s roots.

Piecing together almost 10 years of ideas, and nabbing any recording time possible with the now London-based Beth Arzy, their long overdue self-titled first album will be out on Shelflife Records summer 2014.

To expect The Luxembourg Signal’s eponymous album to be a succession of sad songs or a mere return to familiar sounds quickly proves wrong though. Sure, this release offers just the right amount of darkness (enough to make you long for a lingering hug), but there are also a number of uplifting, danceable songs, as well as elements of shoe gaze, which transform this album into a noisier experience than the previous projects’ creations. In lieu of this diversity, the album really needs to be played several times in order to be fully appreciated. Beth Arzy’s beautiful vocals and the well-crafted melodies that reign supreme are the north star that will repeatedly guide you through these 10 exceptionally fine songs.

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You will hear a vocal appearance by Aberdeen’s John Girgus on ‘First Light,’ Daniel Kumiega lends guitar on ‘Let it Go,’ and special guest Dale Crover (The Melvins) also generously contributes the heavier drum sound on ‘Drowning.’

SHELFLIFE RECORDS – Labels We Love

Posted: April 1, 2015 in MUSIC
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Shelflife Records
Shelflife Records is a Portland and San Francisco based record label run by Ed Mazzucco and Matthew Bice and has produced such bands as Burning Hearts, Days, Brittle Stars, and The Radio Dept. Shelflife traces its 1995 origins to a bedroom in a southern California suburb, where it began in conjunction with a mail order and distribution service. A fan of 80’s britpop and inspired by labels such as Factory and Sarah Records, Ed launched the label as a way to expose foreign indie pop groups to US audiences. Shelflife’s first release was the August 1996 compilation Whirl-Wheels which included tracks by Club 8, Boyracer, La Buena Vida, and Ed’s own band The Autocollants.In 1997 the mail order and distribution service were discontinued in order to devote more time to the growing roster of artists, a move that quickly propelled the label out of its hobby status. During the late 90’s Shelflife steadily gained recognition as twee pop and indie music became increasingly popular. From 1998 until 2001 the label hosted The September Set, an annual showcase of live pop music from bands on Shelflife Records  and other labels.

 
The Fireworks – “Runaround” released as 7″ single in November 2013, included on the debut album “Switch Me On”, released in vinyl, CD and digital formats on Shelflife Records LIFE117. Shelflife presents the second 7″ release from The Fireworks with “Runaround” b/w “With My Heart” and “Asleep” released today. Limited to 300 copies, the first 100 will be available on transparent red vinyl, exclusively on shelflife.com.

In 2007 Ed and Matthew Bice relaunched the label with a new focus on blending art with music and a commitment to making every release worth collecting. With this came the launch of a new format, the 1000 series; a CD and a 7″ vinyl single are housed together in a limited edition gate-fold sleeve designed by an up-and-coming artist and packaged with free download of all mp3s at an ultra-high 320 kbps.

Close Lobsters. Emblems of the C86 generation and therefore pioneers of what we call indie, . The songs from “Kuntswerk in Spacetime” ep, published last year -the chorus to “Now Time” became one of the show’s highlights the video Directed by Mr Van Astra with Executive Producer Stewart McFadyen.

Order the “Kunstwerk in Spacetime EP”

Sunset – Moonrise appears on the 2013 album Ultramarine. The Ocean Blue, formed in Hershey, Pennsylvania and the video scenes are from the 1962 Czech movie “The Fabulous Baron Munchausen”

The Roster
Acid House Kings
The Arrogants
Artisokka
A Smile and A Ribbon
The Autocollants
Balloon Magic
Brittle Stars
California Snow Story
Call and Response
The Castaway Stones
Champagne Riot
Charming
Churchbuilder
The Consultants
The Crooner		   Den Baron
Evening Lights
The Fairways
Free Loan Investments
The Frenchmen
Horse Shoes
Katsen
Kawaii
Kuryakin
Language of Flowers
Le Coupe
Majestic
The Maybellines
Moving Pictures
Phoebe Quest		 Postal Blue
The Radio Dept.
River
The Ruling Class
Skypark
Socialist Leisure Party
Souvenir
Sushi
Sweet William
The Shermans
Thieves Like Us
Warm Morning
White Wishes

 

The TURNS – ” Gone ” EP

Posted: April 1, 2015 in MUSIC
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Shelflife Records presents the debut EP from Los Angeles based The Turns, a band who looks and sounds like the product of Creation Records 1989, but apply their own twist and turns to make their music uniquely modern. This EP was originally planned for a mid-2015 release, but we are releasing it early in digital-only format in cooperation with Lollipop Records who are making the EP available on limited edition cassette.

The Turns are Michael Eng (Lead Vox/Guitar), Danny Winebarger (Vox/Guitar), Marco Cortes (Bass) and Johnny Toomey (Drums). They have been playing live relentlessly in Southern California and were invited to play the official 2014 Austin Psych Fest party at the request of the “Committee to Keep Music Evil”.

For fans of: The House of Love, Spacemen 3, Jesus & Mary Chain, Loop, Ride

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