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German Shepherd Records Newsletter #14 – KIT B, Four Candles, Cambridge Calling Vol. 3, and, gig guide

Hello and welcome to this weeks edition of the German Shepherd Records Newsletter.

This week:

  • Four Obscure B Sides from KIT B
  • Four Candles put on their Chastity Belt
  • The third Volume of Cambridge Calling announced
  • Gig News

KIT B RETURN WITH FOUR OBSCURE B-SIDES

Manchester’s purveyors of quality popular music KIT B return with a new four-track EP “Four Obscure B-Sides” on August 24th. Founder members Danny Cusick (Guitar, Vocals) and John “Monty” Montague (Bass) are joined by new member Vicky Middles (Keyboards) and have created an amazing set of songs to launch this phase of the KIT B experience. With assistance from Craig Bodell the trio has crafted four pop nuggets which combine elements of Cusick’s tongue in cheek outlook on life, sex and death with electronica, motorik beats, and rock vibes all mixed in a tasty stew with a piquant Manchester flavouring. The band are still in the process of hiring a drummer so there are no live appearances planned at the moment.

You can hear track three from the EP “Swisser Swatter” here

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FOUR CANDLES – CHASTITY BELT AND DIPPING A TOE IN THE WATER

The final pairing of tracks from Four Candles “Spiritual Rapture” album sees digital release as a single on August 24th. The intense “Chastity Belt” which chronicles vocalist Moet’s experiences in a previous band, and the groovin’ “Dipping A Toe In The Water”, which concerns Muddy Waters battle with the conservative music press on a UK Tour, complete a set of three releases which celebrate the bands biggest seller to date

Forthcoming gigs for the band:

26th August – The Station Hotel, Ashton Under Lyne
27th August – 2nd annual Pressure Drop summer gig (private by invite only)
21st September – The Peer Hat, Manchester with Poppycock and Charlie Marshall

Check out the “Chastity Belt” video on line

FACEBOOK

CB_DATITW Thumbnail

THIRD VOLUME OF CAMBRIDGE CALLING ANNOUNCED

“Cambridge Calling” is a series of compilations of emerging artists from Cambridge which has been curated by Dave Hammond whose fortnightly show on Cambridge 105 Radio, The Smelly Flowerpot, is a mainstay of the cities music scene. The first compilation was released in March 2017 and a second in October of the same year. What started out as a vague idea to pull a few tracks together soon snowballed into the current multi-genre epic, fired by the enthusiasm of the artists involved. The more the perpetrator scratched the surface of the local music scene, the more it became apparent how much excellent music was out there. Aside from putting some superb music out there, the aim is also to raise money for deserving charities. A third volume comprising 21 tracks is currently at the post-production stage with a release date of August 31st planned. Stewart Harris (The Scissors) excellent artwork also adorns this volume. This will be a Bandcamp only release.

The featured artists are

Artist
Ember Rev
Carolyn’s Fingers
Goddammit Jeremiah
Lemondaze
The Fifths
Elma
Jessica Law
The New Fools
Blue Alatar
Grieving
Eeeyore
Section 3
Crackleford
Romy Gensale
Honeywitch
False Adults
Manic Mannequin
Influx of Insanity
Self Love
Moody Swing Things
Fay Roberts

FACEBOOK

cc3 THUMBANIL

GIG GUIDE

Forthcoming gigs featuring artists released by German Shepherd

17th August – The Strays play Swan With Two Necks Macclesfield
17th August – The Junta and Special Friends Live At The Peer Hat, Manchester – album launch
17th August – Drink and Drive play The Railway, Shaw Hall Bank Rd, OL3 7JZ
19th August- The Strays play West Street Live Sheffield
25th August – Electric Cheese play Lucky 8s Rock and Blues Bar, Chorley
25th August – The Mind Sweepers play the Carlisle Fringe Festival
25th August – Umbrella Assassins play Rugfest, Haverhill
25th August – Toska Wilde plays It Came From the Sea, It Died On the Beach- festival afterparty at 101 Social Club, Cliftonville.
26th August – The Mind Sweepers play Solfest – Cottage Stage
26th August – Four Candles and Sam Smith play The Station Hotel, Ashton Under Lyne
27th August – Four Candles play The 2nd annual Pressure Drop summer gig (private by invite only)
27th August – Taser Puppets play Glaston-Bury, Bury
15th September – The Scissors and Charlie Marshall play The Cornerhouse, Cambridge
15th September – Mesmer Disciples play Music Lounge, Stockton on Tees
16th September – Mesmer Disciples play Museum Vaults Sunderland.
21st September – Four Candles, Poppycock and Charlie Marshall play The Peer Hat, Manchester
27th September – Inferior Complex play Ferndown RBL
27th September – Electric Cheese support Tom Hingley at Preston Guildhall
28th September – Inferior Complex play The Shooting Star, Southampton
5th October – The Scissors are at Oxford Wheatsheaf (Klub Kakofanney).
5th October – Shaun Maxwell of Taser Puppets plays a solo acoustic set at Chorley Live
6th October – Toska Wilde plays Saks Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13 Showcase
14th October – Taser Puppets play TNT Punk Fest at The Peer Hat
19th October – Taser Puppets play Old Courts, Wigan
2nd November – German Shepherd Records Fundraiser at The Peer Hat, Manchester – with Drink and Drive, Taser Puppets, The Strays and Flea
1st December – Toska Wilde plays Saks Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13 Showcase
8th December – Boz Hayward, Poppycock and Ketrix play The Peer Hat, Manchester
22nd December – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club

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German Shepherd Newsletter #13 – Toska Wilde, KIT B, Dominic Carlton Jones and Four Candles

Hello and welcome to your weekly news from German Shepherd Records

This week

  • Toska Wilde releases new EP
  • KIT B announces a new four-track release
  • Dominic Carlton Jones debut album
  • New Video from Four Candles
  • Gig Guide

TOSKA WILDE – OSCAR IN EARNEST

The shy and retiring Toska Wilde is back with a new six-track EP on 17tth August. Considerably more dance-focused than previous releases, Toska has embraced his inner Disco Diva and produced some remarkable dancefloor friendly stompers. From the high energy beats of “str8m8” with guest vocalist Brucie Bitch, through the Jamaican rhythms of “Choc Ice Boy” with Kev Daintree, to the Trump baiting martial beats of “My Camp” Toska feeds a diet of camp classics. Partnering with a range of producers and mixers he has produced his best work to date.

You can hear the Auster Boys/Space Museum remix of the lead track “str8m8” below

KIT B RETURN WITH NEW FOUR TRACK EP

24th August sees the return of KIT B with a new release “Four Obscure B Sides”. Following a few line-up changes the original members Danny Cusick (Guitar, Lead Vocals) John Montague (Bass) are joined by Vicky Middles (Keyboards) with assistance from Craig Bodell for this set of songs. The trio is still in search of a drummer for live work but this four tracker gives a strong indication of what to expect. The focus, as is usually the case with the band, is a pure Manchester Indie Sound.  Check out next weeks newsletter for more info.

Kit B

DOMINIC CARLTON JONES COMPLETES DEBUT ALBUM

5th October will see the release of the debut album from Salford based singer-songwriter Dominic Carlton Jones. The new release follows his highly regarded debut EP “1”.
Entitled “Salford Punk Poetry Sadness Death New Life” the album is an emotional journey through recent major events in Dominic’s life. Featuring spoken word, acoustic ballads, electronic pop and more experimental pieces we are extremely pleased with this new release. Watch this space for more details.

Dom CD Thumbnail

FOUR CANDLES LAUNCH NEW VIDEO FOR FORTHCOMING SINGLE

The fourth and final single from Four Candles’ Spiritual Rapture album “Chastity Belt/Dipping A Toe In The Water” is previewed with a hot off the press brand new video which has been shared on Facebook – we’ve not had a chance to put it on YouTube yet but it has a lot of views on Facebook! The single will be released on August 24th as a digital-only release.

Bastity Chelt

GIG NEWS

Here’s what we have coming up :

17th August – The Strays play Swan With Two Necks Macclesfield
17th August – The Junta and Special Friends Live At The Peer Hat, Manchester – album launch
17th August – Drink and Drive play The Railway, Shaw Hall Bank Rd, OL3 7JZ
19th August- The Strays play West Street Live Sheffield
25th August – Electric Cheese play Lucky 8s Rock and Blues Bar, Chorley
25th August – The Mind Sweepers play the Carlisle Fringe Festival
25th August – Umbrella Assassins play Rugfest, Haverhill
25th August – Toska Wilde plays It Came From the Sea, It Died On the Beach- festival afterparty at 101 Social Club, Cliftonville.
26th August – The Mind Sweepers play Solfest – Cottage Stage
26th August – Four Candles and Sam Smith play The Station Hotel, Ashton Under Lyne
27th August – Four Candles play The 2nd annual Pressure Drop summer gig (private by invite only)
27th August – Taser Puppets play Glaston-Bury, Bury
15th September – The Scissors and Charlie Marshall play The Cornerhouse, Cambridge
15th September – Mesmer Disciples play Music Lounge, Stockton on Tees
16th September – Mesmer Disciples play Museum Vaults Sunderland.
21st September – Four Candles, Poppycock and Charlie Marshall play The Peer Hat, Manchester
27th September – Inferior Complex play Ferndown RBL
27th September – Electric Cheese support Tom Hingley at Preston Guildhall
28th September – Inferior Complex play The Shooting Star, Southampton
5th October – The Scissors are at Oxford Wheatsheaf (Klub Kakofanney).
5th October – Shaun Maxwell of Taser Puppets plays a solo acoustic set at Chorley Live
6th October – Toska Wilde plays Saks Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13 Showcase
14th October – Taser Puppets play TNT Punk Fest at The Peer Hat
19th October – Taser Puppets play Old Courts, Wigan
2nd November – German Shepherd Records Fundraiser at The Peer Hat, Manchester – with Drink and Drive, Taser Puppets, The Strays and Flea
1st December – Toska Wilde plays Saks Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13 Showcase
8th December – Boz Hayward, Poppycock and Ketrix play The Peer Hat, Manchester
22nd December – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club

 

 

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German Shepherd Newsletter #11 – The Junta. Loop-Aznavour, and Inferior Complex

Hello and welcome to this weeks edition the German Shepherd Records Newsletter

This week :

– The Junta’s second album “Network”
– A new single from Loop-aznavour
– Inferior Complex release video for “You’re The Only One For Me”
– Gigs

THE JUNTA RETURNS WITH “NETWORK”

Salford’s electronica maestro The Junta returns on August 10th with a brand new album “Network” with lots of special guests. As well as his recording debut on vocals on one of his own songs “All Roads”, The Junta has brought in friends Loop-aznavour on the wonderfully quirky “Welcome to my village”, Aidan Cross (The Bacillus, Weimar) on the darkly gothic “Ghost In The Machine” , and fellow Salford City Radio DJ Stephen Doyle on “They All Lead To”.

Along with the usual hi tempo Junta dance workouts there are also some slower more evocative pieces creating a marvellous collection of songs which demonstrate considerable progress since his debut album “Art Of Glass” and a subsequent run of EPs and Singles.

The video for the song All Roads can be found here

The Junta launches the album at a free gig at the Peer Hat, Manchester on August 17th with special guests Loop-aznavour and Poet & The Loops. The Junta will be joined on stage for his set by Ian Moss, Aidan Cross and Loop-aznavour.

The Junta on Facebook – @thejuntauk

NEW SINGLE FROM LOOP-AZNAVOUR

Also on August 10th we welcome back to the weird and wacky world of Theremin master Loop-aznavour with his special brand of Electronic Punk. The frontman of the highly respected Adventures of Salvador returns in solo mode with a two-track single including the dark “Requiem For A Mouse” and the high-tempo attack of “Snivelling Shit”. Loop’s caustic wit and punk attack make him one of the must-see artists on the Greater Manchester scene. His next gig is at the aforementioned Junta album launch at the Peer Hat on August 17th

Single B-Side “Snivelling Shit” ………

INFERIOR COMPLEX VIDEO

Southampton post-punkers Inferior Complex have released a new video to support their first single “You’re The Only One For Me”. The trio are currently working on a new EP which is planned for release later in the year.

GIGS

Please find below a list of forthcoming gigs featuring artists on our label

17th August – The Junta and Special Friends Live At The Peer Hat, Manchester
17th August – Drink and Drive play The Railway, Shaw Hall Bank Rd, OL3 7JZ
25th August – Electric Cheese play Lucky 8s Rock and Blues Bar, Chorley
25th August – The Mind Sweepers play the Carlisle Fringe Festival
25th August – Umbrella Assassins play Rugfest, Haverhill
25th August – Toska Wilde plays It Came From the Sea, It Died On the Beach- festival afterparty at 101 Social Club, Cliftonville.
26th August – The Mind Sweepers play Solfest – Cottage Stage
27th August – Four Candles play The 2nd annual Pressure Drop summer gig (private by invite only)
27th August – Taser Puppets play Glaston-Bury, Bury
15th September – The Scissors and Charlie Marshall play The Cornerhouse, Cambridge
15th September – Mesmer Disciples play Music Lounge, Stockton on Tees
16th September – Mesmer Disciples play Museum Vaults Sunderland.
21st September – Four Candles, Poppycock and Charlie Marshall play The Peer Hat, Manchester
27th September – Inferior Complex play Ferndown RBL
27th September – Electric Cheese support Tom Hingley at Preston Guildhall
28th September – Inferior Complex play The Shooting Star, Southampton
5th October – The Scissors are at Oxford Wheatsheaf (Klub Kakofanney).
5th October – Shaun Maxwell of Taser Puppets plays a solo acoustic set at Chorley Live
14th October – Taser Puppets play TNT Punk Fest at The Peer Hat
19th October – Taser Puppets play Old Courts, Wigan
2nd November – German Shepherd Records Fundraiser at The Peer Hat, Manchester – with Drink and Drive, Taser Puppets, The Strays and Flea
8th December – Boz Hayward, Poppycock and Ketrix play The Peer Hat, Manchester
22nd December – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club

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German Shepherd Newsletter #10 – Umbrella Assassins, Moff Skellington and Positronik

Hello and welcome to the German Shepherd Newsletter for releases on August 3rd

This week-

  • Haverhill purveyors of Shed Punk – Umbrella Assassins – join German Shepherd
  • Positronik deliver their pop stylings with a Summer EP
  • Moff Skellington is back with the first of two new EPs
  • Gig News
  • What’s in the pipeline

UMBRELLA ASSASSINS JOIN GERMAN SHEPHERD

Haverhill based and self-styled Shed Punk trio Umbrella Assassins have moved from the confines of their usual recording set-up in The Shed to a fully fledged studio for the release of a new three track EP “Live at The Crunch” in late August.

As long admirers of this band, who already have a massive back catalogue of 24 releases via Bandcamp  we were extremely pleased when they agreed to join us on the label.

UA Profile 2

Recorded at new studio “The Crunch” in Norwich, the band – Steve guitar/vocals, Bunge bass,vocals, and Garry – Drums –   have delivered some of their best material to date. Recorded by Mr Jason in a location which was an Operations Control Centre during the Battle Of Britain. and built in 1939, they played live onto 7 tracks of a vintage 8 track reel to reel tape machine, using vintage mics, vintage drums, and 70s little 5 watt WEM guitar amp to create a gutsy earthy sound. Look out for more news on the band who play PIM JAM Festival Haverhill on 28th July and Rugfest Haverhill on 25th August, in the near future.

FACEBOOK @Brollys1

POSITRONIK POP PICKS FOR SUMMER

Greater Manchester’s finest purveyors of electro-pop, Positronik,  return with a four-track EP “Summer” featuring two new tracks, and two reworkings of classic material from their first album. Featuring Nathalie Haley – Vocals , Monty – bass and Captain Black on guitar and keyboards, the trio’s powerful pop is perfect for those long hot summer nights bringing back memories of classic chart hits from the 60s onwards. This is a digital only release which comes out on August 3rd via Bandcamp, Spotify, I Tunes, Google, Amazon and lots more platforms.

Here is a sneak preview of lead track “Caged Bird”

FACEBOOK – @positronikband

MOFF AND UNCLE ROY

The ever-prolific Moff Skellington is back with a new six-track EP which looks at the life of the mysterious Uncle Roy and his Utopian Vision. Uncle Roys is a shadowy figure from Moff’s childhood who was partially inspired by the work of legendary science fiction writer James P Blaylock. In the first of two EPs with the same title, Moff delivers his usual unique and thought-provoking music examining the nether regions of life at the edge of your imagination. Moff’s music is described as Eddodi which is best explained as a form of music which has no boundaries and is not constrained by what has gone before or indeed may happen in the future. If you have not heard Moff before the best comparison we can is that of a surreal version of Ivor Culter who has been infested by post-punk.

The second volume Uncle Roy’s Utopian Vision will follow in September

FORTHCOMING GIGS

Here is our latest gig list

25th July – Mesmer Disciples play Santiago Bar, Leeds
26th July – Pearl Divers play Jimmy’s, Manchester
27th July – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Mama Liz’s Voodoo Lounge in Stamford
28th July – Drink and Drive and Poppycock play Peer Hat, Manchester
28th July – The Strays play Fuel, Manchester
28th July – Bouquet of Dead Crows and Umbrella Assassins play Pim Jam Festival, Haverhill
29th July – The Strays play Red Lion, Chesterfield
17th August – The Junta and Special Friends Live At The Peer Hat, Manchester – album launch
25th August – The Mind Sweepers play the Carlisle Fringe Festival
25th August – Umbrella Assassins play Rugfest, Haverhill
26th August – The Mind Sweepers play Solfest – Cottage Stage
27th August – Four Candles play The 2nd annual Pressure Drop summer gig (private by invite only)
27th August – Taser Puppets play Glaston-Bury, Bury
15th September – The Scissors and Charlie Marshall play The Cornerhouse, Cambridge
15th September – Mesmer Disciples play Music Lounge, Stockton on Tees
16th September – Mesmer Disciples play Museum Vaults Sunderland.
21st September – Four Candles, Poppycock and Charlie Marshall play The Peer Hat, Manchester
27th September – Inferior Complex play Ferndown RBL
27th September – Electric Cheese support Tom Hingley at Preston Guildhall
28th September – Inferior Complex play The Shooting Star, Southampton
5th October – The Scissors are at Oxford Wheatsheaf (Klub Kakofanney).
5th October – Shaun Maxwell of Taser Puppets plays a solo acoustic set at Chorley Live
14th October – Taser Puppets play TNT Punk Fest at The Peer Hat
19th October – Taser Puppets play Old Courts, Wigan
2nd November – German Shepherd Records Fundraiser at The Peer Hat, Manchester – with Drink and Drive, Taser Puppets, The Strays and Flea
8th December – Boz Hayward, Poppycock and Ketrix play The Peer Hat, Manchester
22nd December – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club

IN THE PIPELINE – WHAT’S COMING NEXT IN THE RELEASE SCHEDULE

The release schedule is hotting up as summer moves into autumn with the following in the pipeline

10/08/2018 The Junta – Network : brand new album – check out the launch gig at The Peer Hat in the list above
10/08/2018 Loop -Aznavour – Requiem for a mouse : a new single
17/08/2018 Toska Wilde – Oscar In Earnest : a new EP
17/08/2018 Poppycock- Iggy Pop/Magic Mothers ; the long awaited second single and a taster for next years debut album
24/08/2018 Four Candles – Chastity BeltDipping A Toe -: the third pairing from the Spiritual Rapture album
24/08/2018 Inferior Complex – Reflections : a new EP
31/08/2018 Umbrella Assassins – Live at the Crunch : see above
31/08/2018 Various Artists Cambridge Calling Vol 3 : a new compilation from Dave Hammond – this will be a Bandcamp only release
07/09/2018 The Screaming Love Collective – Imola : a new album
14/09/2018 The Strays – new EP
21/09/2018 Moff Skellington – Uncle Roys Utopian Vision #2 : the second volume!

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German Shepherd Newsletter #9 – Four Candles and The Strays

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the German Shepherd Records newsletter.

This week

  • Second Four Candles single
  • Strays live for Charity
  • Gigs
  • In the pipeline

SECOND FOUR CANDLES SINGLE

Following on from the “Strange Things (Are Happening” single of last month Four Candles return with two more tracks from the critically acclaimed “Spiritual Rapture” album with the effortlessly funky “You Can’t Be What You Pretend” and the blues-drenched “Basket Weaving”.

The band return to live action in August with a private party for Pressure Drop and supporting Australian visitor Charlie Marshall in September (see list below).

This digital-only release compliments the CD only full album which can be acquired at gigs and of which there is a limited number still for sale from our Bandcamp Page. The single releases on July via Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, Amazon and many more digital outlets

FACEBOOK – @FourCandlesManchester

STRAYS LIVE FOR CHARITY

Dynamic Punk duo The Strays return with a live album which captures them playing the best of their releases to date at The Globe in Glossop. Working through standout tracks like “Don’t Mither Me”, “Death In The Viper Room” and recent single “Richard Dreyfuss” the pair demonstrate why they are a must-see live act. All proceeds from the sale of the album will be donated to Mary’s Meals to help support famine relief in South Sudan.

The band continue to play live on a regular basis and have upcoming shows in Rotherham, Chesterfield and Manchester (see list below)

Here is opening track  “Don’t Mither Me”

FACEBOOK – @thestraysofficial

GIGS

Forthcoming gigs featuring our artists:

20th July – The Strays play The Cutlers Arms, Rotherham supporting System of Hate
21st July – Mesmer Disciples play Alston Festival
25th July – Mesmer Disciples play Santiago Bar, Leeds
26th July – Pearl Divers play Jimmy’s, Manchester
27th July – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Mama Liz’s Voodoo Lounge in Stamford
28th July – Drink and Drive and Poppycock play Peer Hat, Manchester
28th July – The Strays play Fuel, Manchester
28th July – Bouquet of Dead Crows and Umbrella Assassins play Pim Jam Festival, Haverhill
29th July – The Strays play Red Lion, Chesterfield
17th August – The Junta and Special Friends Live At The Peer Hat, Manchester – album launch
27th August – Four Candles play The 2nd annual Pressure Drop summer gig (private by invite only)
27th August – Taser Puppets play Glaston-Bury, Bury
15th September – The Scissors and Charlie Marshall play The Cornerhouse, Cambridge
15th September – Mesmer Disciples play Music Lounge, Stockton on Tees
16th September – Mesmer Disciples play Museum Vaults Sunderland.
21st September – Four Candles, Poppycock and Charlie Marshall play The Peer Hat, Manchester
27th September – Inferior Complex play Ferndown RBL
27th September – Electric Cheese support Tom Hingley at Preston Guildhall
28th September – Inferior Complex play The Shooting Star, Southampton
5th October – The Scissors are at Oxford Wheatsheaf (Klub Kakofanney).
5th October – Shaun Maxwell of Taser Puppets plays a solo acoustic set at Chorley Live
14th October – Taser Puppets play TNT Punk Fest at The Peer Hat
19th October – Taser Puppets play Old Courts, Wigan
2nd November – German Shepherd Records Fundraiser at The Peer Hat, Manchester – line-up to be announced shortly
8th December – Boz Hayward, Poppycock and Ketrix play The Peer Hat, Manchester
22nd December – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club

IN THE PIPELINE

We have busy few months ahead with the following releases planned

03/08/2018 Moff Skellington – Uncle Roys Utopian Vision #1
10/08/2018 The Junta – Network
17/08/2018 Toska Wilde – Oscar In Earnest
17/08/2018 Poppycock – Iggy Pop/Magic Mothers
24/08/2018 Four Candles- Chastity BeltDipping A Toe
24/08/2018 Inferior Complex – Reflections
31/08/2018 Various Artists – Cambridge Calling Vol 3
07/09/2018 The Screaming Love Collective- Imola
14/09/2018 The Strays – new EP
21/09/2018 Moff Skellington – Uncle Roys Utopian Vision #2

HalfEdgeMedia Newsletter

German Shepherd Newsletter 8 – Mesmer Disciples, The Junta and The Strays

 

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the German Shepherd Records newsletter.

This week

– NEW SINGLE FROM MESMER DISCIPLES
– JUNTA NETWORK ALBUM LAUNCH
– STRAYS ANNOUNCE LIVE ALBUM FOR CHARITY
– FORTHCOMING GIGS

NEW SINGLE FROM MESMER DISCIPLES

Leeds based psychedelic blues-rock band Mesmer Disciples return with a new single “Real Loud” on 20th July. Coupled with the track “Freaking Out There” this new digital release further cements the growing critical praise that this unique band has been gathering. With two tasty cuts of the bands’ intense music, you have a perfect example of why this is the must-hear band of the moment…..

“Leaps out at you as an unctuous mix of Arthur Brown and Tex-Mex imbibing something mind-expanding in an opium den in a Bill Burroughs tract. Moody, brooding and sensuous” – Aural Delights Blog

” creating an all-enveloping throbbing and entrancing psychedelic rock experience of two guitars, vocals, drums, and the occasional tamboura. Like a stoned early Cramps jamming with the Buffalo Springfield. Indeed – menacing, experimental and at times unhinged. Gorgeous, subversive, and completely mesmeric!” Micheal Canning, Music research UK

“Musically they are moody, psychedelic, and gritty with tracks building in layers creating a truly menacing atmosphere” – Counterfeit magazine

“Their double guitar attack was brilliantly executed creating a blues-infused wall of sound, , the guitars and drums were rhythmically very tight and they all played brilliantly, one of the guitarists at hyper-speed. Mesmer Disciples are definitely a band to watch out for “- Leeds Music Scene

real loud front (3)

Lead by Stewart Kinloch’s unique vocal stylings, the band has another EP in the pipeline for release in the autumn. The single will be released as download-only via the following:

Bandcamp, I Tunes, Spotify, Amazon, Play Music, Napster, Medianet, 7 digital, Rdio, Deezer, zvook, Slacker Radio, Nokia, eMusic, 24/7, Shazam, akazoo, asprio, kkbox, and saavn.

The band has two gigs coming up tying in with the release of the single

21st July – Alston Festival
25th July – Santiago Bar, Leeds

Both tracks can be previewed via You Tube

 JUNTA NETWORK ALBUM LAUNCH

The Junta is back with a brand new album in August and has already announced the launch date. With support from Loop-aznavour and Poet & The Loops (Martin Christie) and guest appearances from Ian “Moet” Moss (Four Candles) Aidan Cross (Weimar, The Bacillus) and Loop-aznavour this will be a fun packed night of cutting edge electronica. The album is launched on August 10th and the gig will be on August 17th from 7:30pm to 10:30pm at The Peer Hat in Manchester. It’s free entry.

Junta Album Launch Poster

The stunning single from the album “All Roads” can still be viewed via You Tube

THE STRAYS ANNOUNCE LIVE ALBUM FOR CHARITY

The punk polemic of The Strays was captured in full effect at a gig in Glossop earlier in the year. The dynamic duo was so impressed with the results that they have decided to share it with the rest of the world. All proceeds from the sale of the 12 track album will be donated to the charity Mary’s Meals to aid the fight against the terrible famine in South Sudan. It is called “Live and Unwell” and is released on July 27th

Live And Unwell EP - Cover

The boys have a busy schedule of gigs coming up (see below) and are one of the hardest working bands on our roster.

Here’s a timely reminder with the video of recent release “Richard Dreyfuss” –

 

FORTHCOMING GIGS

Future gigs featuring bands on the label are listed below, including a new fundraising gig to support the continued existence of this label and maintain its “not for profit” status

14th July – Drink and Drive and The Strays play Whittles, Oldham with Little Avis
14th July – The Mind Sweepers and The Screaming Love Collective play the QOS bar, Dumfries
14th July – Electric Cheese play The Golden Ball of Longton · Longton as part of Longton Live
17th July – Scissors supporting KOLARS at The Portland Arms Cambridge
20th July – The Strays play The Cutlers Arms, Rotherham
21st July – Mesmer Disciples play Alston Festival
25th July – Mesmer Disciples play Santiago Bar, Leeds
26th July – Pearl Divers play Jimmy’s, Manchester
27th July – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Mama Liz’s Voodoo Lounge in Stamford
28th July – Drink and Drive and Poppycock play Peer Hat, Manchester
28th July – The Strays play Fuel, Manchester
28th July – Bouquet of Dead Crows and Umbrella Assassins play Pim Jam Festival, Haverhill
29th July – The Strays play Red Lion, Chesterfield
27th August – Four Candles play The 2nd annual Pressure Drop summer gig (private by invite only).
15th September – The Scissors and Charlie Marshall play The Cornerhouse, Cambridge
15th September – Mesmer Disciples play Music Lounge, Stockton on Tees
16th September – Mesmer Disciples play Museum Vaults Sunderland.
21st September – Four Candles, Poppycock and Charlie Marshall play The Peer Hat, Manchester
27th September – Inferior Complex play Ferndown RBL
28th September – Inferior Complex play The Shooting Star, Southampton
5th October – The Scissors are at Oxford Wheatsheaf (Klub Kakofanney).
2nd November – German Shepherd Records Fundraiser at The Peer Hat, Manchester – line-up to be announced shortly
8th December – Boz Hayward, Poppycock and Ketrix play The Peer Hat, Manchester
22nd December – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club

HalfEdgeMedia Newsletter

German Shepherd Newsletter 7 – When The Lamb Became Lame

Hello again and welcome to the latest edition of the German Shepherd Records Newsletter……this week

  • A brand new album from m.t. scott
  • This year’s Australian visitor
  • Forthcoming gigs
  • What’s next in the pipeline

m.t. scott CONFOUNDS HIS RECORD LABEL WITH A COUNTRY ROCK ALBUM

When m.t. scott approached us about his latest project and mentioned he was heading in a folk/country direction we were equally bemused and concerned. Our better angels should have reminded us that whatever “scott” does it is not going to be within the realms of perceived genre norms. He has drip-fed us the tracks on this album for a while now. Each time there have been subtle changes to the form and content with a marked improvement at each stage in the process of development.

Lame lamb image

He wants to call this ‘Country Rock’ which is fair enough but, as usual, with his work, it is much more than that. Starting with an obvious nod to a certain band from Prestwich (mining and melding several parts of their career and perversely involving Dick Emery) and then moving through phases of country and folk music with his usual anarchic abandon, “scott” has created a unique suite of songs. The addition of Josephine Dechamps’ vocals towards the latter end of the production process was an inspired move and added that certain magical element that was needed to conclude the project.

The subject matter, as with all his work, is both biographical and autobiographical, inspired meta-fiction in musical form with tangential psychogeography woven into the cover of the release and the backbone of the collection. He continues an exceptional run of groundbreaking and unique music with his trademark witty, sardonic, and sometimes cynical view of the world. Embrace his vision and abandon your preconceptions.

 

Opening track “Starving Artist Rock” can be streamed here:

 

THIS YEARS AUSTRALIAN VISITOR

Longstanding German Shepherd watchers will know that for the last four years we have hosted visits from visiting Australian musicians – two visits by Dave Graney and Clare Moore (The Moodists, The Coral Snakes, MistLy), and one by Harry Howard and the NDE (Birthday Party, Crime and City Solution). This year it’s the turn of Charlie Marshall. Charlie is over for a short solo tour of the UK and we have organised gigs in Cambridge on 15th September at The Cornerhouse (with support from the Scissors) and Manchester on 21st September at The Peer Hat(with support from Four Candles and Poppycock). Charlie will also be playing gigs in London.

Charlie Marshall

Gig details and information will be emerging shortly but until then here’s a brief biography of Charlie.

Charlie Marshall is an acclaimed singer-songwriter from Melbourne, Australia who has been an important part of the scene in that great music city since the 1980s. As a performer and songwriter, he comes from a similar place, and stands comparison, with better known Australian exports like Nick Cave, Ed Kuepper, Robert Forster, Dirty Three, Kim Salmon and Dave Graney.

Charlie has been the guitar-slinging backbone for many of Melbourne’s finest bands, starting with the legendary Harem Scarem who were a dynamite force in the key of punk blues, followed by the soulful intensity of The Body Electric whose stellar lineup included members of Dirty Three, Beasts of Bourbon and the Avalanches. Lately, he’s been backed by The Curious Minds featuring Clare Moore (Dave Graney ‘n the Coral Snakes), Bryan Colechin (Hugo Race True Spirit) and Tim Deane (Ron Peno & the Superstitions).

His songs are poetic, romantic meditations on life, love, philosophy and the universe, combining colourful chords with incisive lyrics and plenty of soul. In solo mode he’s a passionate, foot stomping, electric guitar slinging force, ranging from gentle, intimate moments to raging, beguiling intensity when in full flight. The latest album ‘Sublime’ is a unique blend of music, politics and science – try imagining Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys collaborating with the BBC’s rock star scientist Brian Cox. A new recording due out September 2018 promises lots of late 60s/early 70s soul-inspired grooves.

“My musical adventures have taken me on many paths since the 90’s but still some of my fondest musical memories are of playing with Charlie in The Body Electric and recording our first album, which I still regard as a great piece of work. A stone cold classic.” Warren Ellis, Paris, 2016

You can check out his most recent and stunning album “Sublime” here:

For more information:
http://www.charliemarshallmusic.com
https://charliemarshall.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/charliemarshallandthecuriousminds

FORTHCOMING GIGS

Our busy schedule of gigs continues unabated, here is the latest listing. Gigs are added on a weekly basis so please check on our gig page regularly…..

6th July – Inferior Complex play The Shooting Star, Southampton
6th July – The Strays play The Globe, Glossop
7th July – The Strays play Sharrow Fest After Party, Sheffield
7th July – Toska Wilde plays SAKS, Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13
14th July – Drink and Drive and The Strays play Whittles, Oldham with Little Avis
17th July – Scissors supporting KOLARS at The Portland Arms Cambridge
20th July – The Strays play The Cutlers Arms, Rotherham
21st July – Mesmer Disciples play Alston Festival
25th July – Mesmer Disciples play Santiago Bar, Leeds
26th July – Pearl Divers play Jimmy’s, Manchester
27th July – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Mama Liz’s Voodoo Lounge in Stamford
28th July – Drink and Drive and Poppycock play Peer Hat, Manchester
28th July – The Strays play Fuel, Manchester
28th July – Bouquet of Dead Crows and Umbrella Assassins play Pim Jam Festival, Haverhill
29th July – The Strays play Red Lion, Chesterfield
27th August – Four Candles play The 2nd annual Pressure Drop summer gig (private by invite only).
15th September – The Scissors and Charlie Marshall play The Cornerhouse, Cambridge
15th September – Mesmer Disciples play Music Lounge, Stockton on Tees
16th September – Mesmer Disciples play Museum Vaults Sunderland.
21st September – Four Candles, Poppycock and Charlie Marshall play The Peer Hat, Manchester
27th September – Inferior Complex play Ferndown RBL
28th September – Inferior Complex play The Shooting Star, Southampton
5th October – The Scissors are at Oxford Wheatsheaf (Klub Kakofanney).
8th December – Boz Hayward, Poppycock and Ketrix play The Peer Hat, Manchester
22nd December – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser at Oldham Rugby Club

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE PIPELINE

We are pleased to announce a brand new single from Mesmer Disciples which will be released on 21st July which ties in with the bands appearance at the Alston Festival in Leeds

Combining two firm favourites from the bands’ live set the two tracker comprises Real Loud and Freaking Out There

Check out videos for the two tracks below

The band is currently working on a new EP for the late autumn

HalfEdgeMedia Releases

Are You Ready To Catch The Colourful Disease?

Once again Ian “Moet” Moss and Moff Skellington have combined to weave their aural magic with a new combo called “The Colourful Disease”.

Moet says ” The Colourful Disease, a sexy trans-Pennine boy band , a duo in the manner of Wham with hip shakingly catchy tunes that sound like everything else , lyrics of total banality they are content to trade on their cute good looks and ability to strike glamorous poses they could be this year’s bright new things decorating the bedroom walls of the nation’s teens, superstardom surely awaits bad boy Moff and boy next door Ian.”

Bringing the world of Eddodi into Moet’s rich lyrical landscape offers a variety of music hitherto experienced in the modern world. Confound your expectations and have a listen…

The Colourful Disease_Economics Cover

 

HalfEdgeMedia Gigs, Label News, Limited Edition CD, Merch

Four Candles get huge praise for Spiritual Rapture

The new Four Candles album has been getting loads of praise and some very positive reviews. Spiritual Rapture was released as a CD on 22nd June via our Bandcamp Page and will also be released digitally as three separate two-track singles in June, July and August.

Lead track “Strange Things Are Happening” has a video which has had over a 1,000 streams and is now available on You Tube….

 

The bands gig at Manchester Meltdown on 23rd June, which was also the album launch was caught on video by Paul Forshaw….and reviewed by Emily Oldfield

 

Reviews of the album have come from Ged Babey via Louder Than War and also via Aural Delights.

The available stock CD is very low, although some copies have been held over for sale at gigs. Grab your CD now at our Bandcamp Page before they sell out.

SR Cover

 

HalfEdgeMedia Newsletter

German Shepherd Newsletter 6 – Unnatural Appetites

Hello again and welcome to our weekly newsletter. In this edition

  • Auster Boys team up with Moet for a new album
  • The Strays embark on a summer tour
  • The Mind Sweepers reach record streaming levels on Spotify
  • Forthcoming gigs
  • In the pipeline
  • Four Candles album launch captured live

AUSTER BOYS MEET MOET

July 6th sees the release of a first collaboration between the Auster Boys and Moet. Titled “Unnatural Appetites” this seven-track collection contains some fantastic and fascinating new music.   Whilst Bob Auster South works on new pieces of text Moet has been co-opted to work within the Auster catchment area. The music is deliberately more brutal and scary than the usual Auster offerings. Descriptions of the tracks are as follows
  • HMK – aka the Heavy Metal Kid. You’ve seen him at gigs, he a flaneur of rock and roll, a wandering immortal of the music scene.
  • Ghosts – not the Albert Ayler tune but delivered in the same spirit. “What Am I Going To Find At The End of The Rainbow…..?”… a psychogeographical journey,
  • Spit – this has since morphed into a Four Candles song. When the establishment becomes the enemy,
  • Iceland – No falling down drunk in the Cafe Iol. Tales from the edge of the world. Austers like Travelogues very much
  • Monster – deep into the belly of the beast
  • Quit – The continuing story of Ian vs The Disease
  • The Species – Sci-fi in a Phillip K Dick style. Paranoia and the dark arts.
Bob Auster North – Sound Design and Production
Moet – Vocals & Lyrics
Bob Auster South – Conceptual Continuity
Adopting a brutalist electronica approach the Austers combine perfectly with Moet’s rhetorical polemic
You can preview opening track “HMK” here

THE STRAYS EMBARK ON A SUMMER TOUR 

Increasingly popular Punk Duo The Strays share their wit and wisdom in a variety of towns and venues as listed here. Don’t miss a chance to see Jon and Georgie mixing politics, humour and punk and creating a great live experience.

THE MIND SWEEPERS

We are pleased to reveal that our band from north of the border The Mind Sweepers have broken our own record for streams on Spotify following a successful festival appearance in June. Almost doubling our usual Spotify streams the band have certainly made an impact with their album “States of Mind”. Here’s a reminder of the bands’ work with the excellent “Threesome”;.
Check out the album on our Bandcamp Page

FORTHCOMING  GIGS

The gig calendar is filling up with some excellent events in coming months. Here is the latest list:
26th June – The Strays play Zombie Shack, Manchester
28th June – The Strays play West Street Live, Sheffield
29th June – The Strays play The Angel, Nottingham
30th June – The Scissors play Knackfest, Karma Farm, Isleham Fen
6th July – Inferior Complex play The Shooting Star, Southampton
6th July – The Strays play The Globe, Glossop
7th July – The Strays play Sharrow Fest After Party, Sheffield
7th July – Toska Wilde plays SAKS, Southend on Sea as part of Cult 13
14th July – Drink and Drive and The Strays play Whittles, Oldham with Little Avis
17th July – Scissors supporting KOLARS at The Portland Arms Cambridge
20th July – The Strays play The Cutlers Arms, Rotherham
21st July – Mesmer Disciples play Alston Festival
25th July – Mesmer Disciples play Santiago Bar, Leeds
26th July – Pearl Divers play Jimmy’s, Manchester
27th July – Bouquet of Dead Crows play  Mama Liz’s Voodoo Lounge in Stamford
28th July – Drink and Drive and Poppycock play Peer Hat, Manchester
28th July – The Strays play Fuel, Manchester
28th July – Bouquet of Dead Crows play Pim Jam Festival, Haverhill
29th July – The Strays play Red Lion, Chesterfield
27th August – Four Candles play The 2nd annual Pressure Drop summer gig.
15th September – The Scissors and Charlie Marshall play The Cornerhouse, Cambridge
15th September – Mesmer Disciples play Music Lounge, Stockton on Tees
15th September – Drink and Drive play Agueda, Portugal
16th September – Mesmer Disciples play Museum Vaults Sunderland.
21st September – Four Candles, Poppycock and Charlie Marshall play The Peer Hat, Manchester
5th October – The Scissors are at Oxford Wheatsheaf (Klub Kakofanney).
8th December – Boz Hayward, Poppycock and Ketrix play The Peer Hat, Manchester
22nd December – Drink and Drive play Strummercamp Fundraiser and Oldham Rugby Club

IN THE PIPELINE

Forthcoming releases – a sneak preview
29/06/2018 The Colourful Disease Economics EP
06/07/2018 Auster Boys With Moet : Unnatural Appetites Album
13/07/2018 m.t. scott When The Lamb Become Lame Album
20/07/2018 Mesmer Disciples Real Loud Single
27/07/2018 Four Candles You Can’t Be What You Pretend/Basket Weaving Single
27/07/2018 The Strays Live Album
10/08/2018 The Junta Network Album
17/08/2018 Toska Wilde Oscar In Earnest EP
24/08/2018 Four Candles Chastity BeltDipping A Toe Single
31/08/2018 Various Artists Cambridge Calling Vol 3 Compilation Album (Bandcamp Only Release)
07/09/2018 The Screaming Love Collective Imola Album
14/09/2018 The Strays new EP

FOUR CANDLES LIVE

Multiple thanks to our resident video historian Paul Forshaw for capturing Four Candles in all their glory live a the Peer Hat last Saturday launching the new album “Spiritual Rapture”. WARNING – THERE IS SOME VERY STRONG LANGUAGE IN THIS VIDEO