HalfEdgeMedia Album, Releases

Words and Music

German Shepherd co-owner Ian Moss is set to release two volumes of new material. The first “Words and Music” will be released on 22nd September, the second “Music and Words” a fortnight later.

Of this new body of work Moss says

“For a period during 2017 I had been unable to sing due to the pneumonia. Whilst I was recovering from I instigated a series of collaborations with a cast of musician friends with the starting point being a spoken word piece I provided them. What they have done has far exceeded my expectations and the fruits of their labours are provided via two albums of material.

All proceeds from the sales of these album will be donated to UNICEF.

I know what each of us regards as good or bad music is purely subjective but I think this is very good indeed and hope a lot of people will agree.

I need to thank everyone who has helped not least Bob Osborne and doff my cap towards JD Meatyard, CP Lee and Mike Kerins who have all encouraged me to proceed in this direction.”

From the first volume please find below Ian’s collaboration with Mark Corrin (Salford City Radio DJ and musician with Rose & The Diamond Hand, and his own solo projects). It’s called “Ali Baba” and is an indication of the strength of the material across the 39 song project.

The Bandcamp version of the album will also include a PDF booklet with background notes and images to view alongside listening to the tracks. The album will be released digitally only via all the usual platforms.

Collaborators on this first volume are

m.t. scott
Johann Kloos
Neil Moss
Guy Nolan
Space Museum
Andy T
Aidan Cross
The Screaming Love Collective
Steve of the North
Toska Wilde
Dave Thompson
Moff Skellington
Carl Lingard
Keltrix
Dominic Carlton Jones
The Scissors
The Junta
Steve Strode
and the aforementioned Mark Corrin

Ian can be found on Faceboook at : : https://www.facebook.com/ian.moss.146

WAM first atttempt

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HalfEdgeMedia Album, Releases

Our 200th release

After two and a half years of operation Greater Manchester based not for profit label German Shepherd Records has reached the milestone of a 200th release.

To celebrate this auspicious occasion label owners Ian and Bob asked the artists on the roster to contribute material for a compilation album. As with previous milestone releases from the label all proceeds will be directed towards a charity, in this case the Salford based homelessness charity Coffee4Craig which is based in Weaste which is close to the German Shepherd kennel in Eccles.

The compilation contains seventeen tracks and consists of a wide variety of musical genres reflecting the eclectic release policy of the label. From the proto punk of The Get through the psychedelic disco punk grooves of the Screaming Collective, a massive piece of post-rock ambience from Issac Navaro, the alt folk of Keltrix, and the rock styliings of Berllin’s PrunX, amongst many others there is fascinating musical variety from all over the UK, and all the way from Berlin. We are very grateful to JD Meatyard for contributing a track from his new album “Collectivise”. There are brand new tracks, new versions of previously released tracks, and remixes!

The artists contributing to the release are

The Get
JD Meatyard
The Screaming Love Collective
m.t. scott
Issac Navaro
Moff Skellingon
The Junta
Space Mueum
House Mouse
Toska Wilde
Keltrix
Pearl Divers
Night Operations
The Electric Cheese
Bouquet of Dead Crows
PrunX
Dominic Carlton Jones

The stunning artwork for the release was contributed by Andy Quayle (Moff Skellington).

Sample track “Come On” from The Screaming Love Collective :

The compilation is released on August 11th and people are asked to pay £3 or more via Bandcamp. There will be wider distribution via Amazon, I Tunes, Spotify and many other digital platforms but the album will be priced higher through those platforms.
All profits net of distribution costs will be directed towards Coffee4Craig.
Cover for 200
HalfEdgeMedia Album, Gigs, Releases

Pre-order Tennessee Ten Now

Boz Hayward’s brand new album Tennessee Ten is now available for pre-order in advance of the official release date of July 7th.

In addition videos are available for the two preview tracks “Night of the Fireflies” and “The People Are Good”

Boz launches the album at South West Manchester Cricket Club  on July 6th. It’s five minutes from the Chorlton Metrolink Stop.  Musicians performing with Boz on the night will be Phil Robinson (guitarron bass), Virginia Harvey (backing vocals/keyboards), Mark Greer (slide guitar/keyboards), Rick Burrows (trumpet/melodica/keyboards), Clive Mellor (harmonica), Pat Clarke (harmonica) and Eddie Wastnidge (percussion) and the show starts at 9pm sharp. Facebook Event.

 

HalfEdgeMedia Album, EP, Releases

July 7th releases from Boz Hayward and Issac Navaro

We are pleased to announce two releases for July 7th, 2017

Firstly we have a new EP from Issac Navaro called “Terminals”. This five track release follows from the highly successful “Paths to the Shore” album from earlier in the year.

Melding state of the art electronica with a post-rock vibe Issac has created an ambient and reflective soundscape which reflects the geography of his native Scotland.

Comparable with the ground breaking mid 70s Tangerine Dream releases on Virgin Records but also incorporating the epic elements of Mogwai or Sigur Ros this delightful collection is a worthy successor to the debut album.

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Secondly we have the brand new album from Manchester musician Boz Hayward. We have previously worked with Boz on distribution of his material but this time he has taken the plunge and given us the honour of releasing his music.

Boz returns with a deeply personal album which combines his particular take on modern folk, and adds a a vibrant slice of country music, together with his trademark whimsical pop elements. Entitled “Tennessee Ten” it consists of, naturally, ten new songs which were written during and around two visits with his mother in 2014 and 2015 to care for his aunt in Tennessee. whose health was failing, and, who passed away during the second visit. There is a narrative that runs through the album creating a delightful and sometimes poignant atmosphere

Exceptional musicianship is a key component of the success of the album. Boz’s self deprecating comment that he writes “simple songs” with a “limited style” doesn’t quite fit with the quality of the album. It is beautifully arranged with well known musical elements being evident but not obvious.

Haywards work generally splits into three broad areas – his more strident punky work, the cinematic soundtrack vignettes, and this more song based approach. One can find excellence in all three strands of his output but this perhaps the place where hopefully he will get the attention and recognition he deserves.

Both releases will be available on Bandcamp and the usual digital outlets. We aim to have a CD version of the Boz Hayward album available on our Merch page in due course.

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HalfEdgeMedia Album, Releases

Limited number of Paths to the Shore CD now available for purchase

In anticipation of the release of the new EP “Terminals” we have made available the remaining 20 copies of the limited edition CD of  Issac Navaro‘s debut album “Paths to the Shore” on our Bandcamp page. Issac’s unique mix of ambient post-rock, dance  and electronica has proved highly popular and is one of our best selling releases to date.

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The album has received widespread critical acclaim and significant airplay from a range of radio stations and podcasters. Competitively priced at £6 with free p&p for UK purchasers you can secure a copy from our Bandcamp Page linked below.

Any and all money accrued through sales of this album go towards the First Base food bank in Dumfries.

 

HalfEdgeMedia Album, Distribution, Releases

Hydra Expanded

The Junta’s dance floor thumping classic EP “Hydra” goes to wider digital distribution on March 31st when we combine the original EP with   a selection of remixes of the track Agent Coulson to create a mini-album of classic techno tuneage.

Inspired by The Junta’s love of all things sci-fi and specifically classic show Agents of Shield this is electronica at its best….

The album will be available on Spotify, I-Tunes and Amazon and other digital outlets

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HalfEdgeMedia Album, Releases

Keltrix renew Salford Connection

Cambridge based alt.folk electronica band Keltrix renew their Salford connection by releasing their new album Bobby Says… on German Shepherd on 17th March 2017. Sharon and Rose from the band both have links to the city.

The opening track from the new album also features on the Cambridge Calling Compilation which will be released on the same day.

The band have a unique sound so they are completely at home on German Shepherd. Blending haunting vocals and soaring strings with electronic beats, bass and synth lines, the trio bridge the gap between alt/folk and electro creating a compelling and hypnotic sound.

The group launch the album on March 10th at the Portland Arms in Cambridge.

To hear Sharon from the band talking about the new album, and with some featured tracks then listen to the recent edition of Dave Hammond Smelly Flowerpot show where she guested.

bobby-says-front-cover-for-gsr

 

HalfEdgeMedia Album, EP, Releases, Uncategorized

A Whole Lotta Screaming Love coming your way

We are extremely pleased announced that we will be releasing a serious amount of music from The Screaming Love Collective in the next few months.

24th March will see an album teaser EP called “Orbital” featuring three new tracks. This will be followed by the debut album “Spirit Radio” which features singles to date, the EP and other new tracks. Later in the year the sophomore album “Thought it would have been better by now” will emerge.

The music is a powerful mix of hypnotic dance rhythms and psychedelic interventions, we think it’s rather special and cannot wait to share it with you.

Bryn has recently completed both albums and feels they are linked with the first taking an optimistic look at the world whereas the latter looks at modern times from a “where the hell is my jetpack”. The basic message is where is all the cool stuff we were promised as kids?.

Here’s teaser with the lead track from the EP.

 

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spirit-radio

HalfEdgeMedia Album, Releases

Observations from LS9

What was supposed to be our final release of 2016 – has been somewhat downgraded to pre-penultimate – the penultimate and ultimate will be revealed in the week before Christmas. Pending that we offer you “Owed To Spectral Mummy” by Moff Skellington.

Moff’s 32nd release is an EP and is a more personal collection of Eddodi observations than usual. Memory and dreams dominate like a Harold Wilson era fried egg, that special tin of peaches on the sideboard, Camp coffee with its chicory essence, meat and potato pie with a thick crust and unctuous gravy. The dust of time settling on fractured thoughts

Moff does not want it to be seen as an afterthought though.

The project is very important.

The opening and closing poems are dream portraits of his parents, comprised of conjoined and distorted memories. The passage of time and all the associated ramifications of catabasis.

Family Heirloom is an invented memory. If you can imagine the river of time has many ox bow lakes. This is one belonging to the Skellington family.

A smuggled postcard home is an evocation of what it’s like i.e. Weapon’s grade Edoddi.

Viaduct is about a very realistic book Moff once read. The Viaduct by David Wheldon. A kind of Pilgrims Progress taking place on an endless railway. Pertinent given Moff’s earlier career worrying metal with a hammer.

LS9 is where the Skellingtons abide. It is a scrupulously accurate piece of reportage, particularly the huttyphone seizure at the end.

The Golden Trump is self proclaiming.

In anticipation of 2017 and a concerted effort to get Moff and chums music to a wider audience at the next Smoked Ears Grow Back event this collection ties up a very busy Eddodi year with an apposite selection.

releases December 16, 2016

Moff Skellington – vocals, accordion, melodica, harmonicas, whistles, ukulele, guitar, huttyphone, stylophone, bodhran, jaw harp, kalimba, dulcimer, metronome, tenor horn, baritone euphonium, various percussion and elastic bands.

otsm-cover

HalfEdgeMedia Album, Releases

The ascension release debut, but final, album

Salford based architects of gritty urban rock, The ascension ,release their long awaited album “Hierarchy” today. Boasting ten tracks which bring together re-recorded older material and brand new tunes the duo’s swansong is a fitting tribute and end to their eight year career.

All proceeds from the sale of the album will be donated to the homelessness charity Coffee4Craig. Purchasers are asked to pay a minimum of £3 for the album.

For a review of the album and an interview with Doug from the band visit the Aural Delights Blog.

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