News, and lots of it!!

We live in strange and interesting times which means that our usual plans can often be changed at the last minute to accommodate the circumstances.

We had planned on telling you about just one release this week but events and their impact and consequences has lead us to a slightly different state of affairs.

So, we have four announcements in total this week.

Lets start with the one we were planning to announce……

WEST COAST SICK LINE

Dusty Moonan returns with West Coast Sick Line after a more than two year wait – the last release was 2018’s album “Flat of Engels” – with a brand new five track EP called “Colour Climax”.

Trademark Sick Line biting wit and slightly dangerous humour are in play for a great set of new tunes. The best description is alternative rock with a pop edge, Pounding beats, great guitars and riffs, and catchy melodies are to the fore for this set. Perhaps the overall sound is a little heavier and a touch more in your face than previous releases.

It’s mostly Dusty on his own this time with the main man providing vocals, guitars, bass & keyboards. Main support is from Dragan Rolivic who adds Mandolin on track 3, Backing vocals on track 5 and drums throughout, as well as mixing the release. Further support comes from Mark Shrieves who plays Bass on track 4.

The whole affair was recorded at recorded at Tucky Park Studios,in Colwyn Bay, North Wales.

It will be released to the world as a download only on June 12th.

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FOUR CANDLES

One of the great things about owning your own record label is that you can make fairly quick decisions about when and what you can release.

A new four track from Four Candles was recorded with Simon “Ding” Archer at 6dB Studios in Salford just before lockdown.

With the ongoing impact of the lockdown materially affecting some of the important players in the live music business in Manchester the band took the view that their latest recordings ought to try and assist the financial impact on the venue that has been both the label and our musicians main provider of somewhere to play and present what we do. That venue is The Peer Hat, in Manchester City Centre, and all the proceeds from the Bandcamp sales of the new release “Alternative Golf” will be dedicated to that wonderful place with the hope that when the current situation has been resolved we can see Nick, Dom and co. up and running again as soon as possible.

There are four tracks on the EP, one of which, Loose Lips, was previously released as a live recording from the Yerrrr bar in Manchester.

Opener Doughnuts, with a video already up on You Tube, saw it’s live debut at The Eagle in Salford around a year ago with a memorable impromptu set of backing vocals from Julia and Anne from Matthew Hopkins performed from the audience. Basket Case is a typical punk infused rant and closer Requiem is a stunning attack on failings in the Care system for vulnerable people. All in all a great set of tunes.

Release date: June 5th – download only.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS ANOTHER FREE FEE DAY ON BANDCAMP SO PURCHASE ON THIS DATE MAXIMISES OUR INCOME TO SUPPORT THE PEER HAT.

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2 LOST SOULS

If the decision on the Four Candles release was quick then we approached warp speed on the new release from 2 Lost Souls.

The behaviour of a certain individual and his boss sparked a flurry of activity on Sunday May 24th. The two Paul’s laid down guitars and bass and Ian added his trademark vocals to a pointed attack on the self-styled elite that “run” the country at the moment. Within two hours the finished track was sent to Bandcamp for release and sharing with the world. A few hours later Ged Babey had penned a review for Louder Than War.

The release is offered for free on Bandcamp with a pay what you want option. Any money raised will as with the Four Candles release be dedicated to supporting The Peer Hat.

OUT NOW!!

and finally…..

COSMIC PANTHERS

NYC and Manchester have proud and distinct musical heritages , think of The Velvet Underground and the Fall , The Ramones and Buzzcocks , Suicide and Joy Division all different in location and output and yet there is something similar in terms of attitude that links them.

Fuzzy Warbles and German Shepherd as labels existing on separate sides of the Atlantic Ocean still share an ethos of releasing and promoting music of true quality by artists who exist outside the mainstream making music out of love and emotional necessity rather as a career choice , both champion the underdog.

And so what does a musical collision between these two cities , these music capitals sound like ? With the world in lockdown they decided , with the aid of smart phones and laptops, to find out.

Ben from Fuzzy Warbles and Ian from German Shepherd swapped ideas and wrote four songs long distance. Happy with what they had created, they were recorded and, for our fourth release this week, we give you rumbling synths, guitars that sting, and acid tongued vocals. We welcome you to the cross pollinated world of Cosmic Panthers and the EP Ball The Wall.

Fuzzy Warbles will release the EP in Cassette Format and provide digital download via Bandcamp. German Shepherd will facilitate wider distribution via A1 Music to all the major digital download and streaming sites. Release date is June 5th.

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This one speaks for itself….free download or pay what you like….any income will go towards supporting The Peer Hat

June 5th releases from Moongoose and Crab Dance GIs plus new videos from Bouquet of Dead Crows

Hello, here are the details of our releases for June 5th plus some video news.

MOONGOOSE

We are very pleased to be working with Moongoose for the release of two EPs.

Any income generated from the sales of these releases will be donated to the homelessness charity Shelter.

The two EPs entitled “Yellow” and Black” are respectful homages to cinema and its soundtracks.

The YELLOW EP is a tribute to all of the magnificent directors and composers of the Italian Giallo films from the 1970’s. Films such as SUSPIRIA, LIZARD IN A WOMANS SKIN, YOUR VICE IS A LOCKED ROOM AND ONLY I HAVE THE KEY, THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE, ETC. Directors such as Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, Mario Bava, Sergio Martini, ETC. Composers such as Ennio Morricone, GOBLIN, Claudio Simonetti, ETC.

The Giallo films were mysteries/thrillers/horror films that usually placed an innocent in danger from a knife-wielding assailant. Full of terror and suspense, they usually had groundbreaking visuals and stunning soundtracks.

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The BLACK EP is a tribute the wonderfully atmospheric and very bleak American Film Noir Movies of the 1940’s and 1950’s. Films such as DOUBLE INDEMNITY, IN A LONELY PLACE, KISS OF DEATH, THE BRIDE WORE BLACK, SUNSET BOULEVARD, ETC. Directors such as ALFRED HITCHCOCK, ROBERT SIODMAK, FRITZ LANG, ORSON WELLES, ETC. Composers such as BERNARD HERRMANN, MIKLOS ROSZA, MAX STEINER, ETC.

The American Film Noir movies were mysteries/thrillers/spy films that usually dealt with corruption, double-dealing and murder. The movies main features are the striking lighting design and weird camera angles

Each EP comprises four tracks. To tie in with the release German Shepherd Records Subscribers will receive an additional pair of tracks from the Yellow and Black sessions – ‘Raven Circles’ and ‘Bitter Consequences .

A series of ten videos will be released to tie in with the two EPs. Watch this space for details!

Some limited edition CDs of both EPs will be available from the Moongoose website.

David “Yorkie” Palmer has also put together a podcast to promote the two releases which includes tracks from older Moongoose releases plus a selection of his favourite film scores. This will be available from the German Shepherd Mixcloud page from June 3rd.

Established in 1999 by YORKIE, former bassist and producer for platinum selling indie giants SPACE, and producer of Liverpool legends SHACK’s last album ‘…the corner of Miles & Gil’ (for Noel Gallagher’s SOURMASH label). He has also produced many other bands, most notably SEVEN SEALS, IVAN CAMPO and WINDMILL.

MOONGOOSE have released five singles, three ep’s and four albums to date.

The main core of MOONGOOSE is:

YORKIE (THE DANCE PARTY, EGYPT FOR NOW, THE BALCONY, SPACE, WINDMILL)
PAUL CAVANAGH (THE BALCONY, THE ROOM, GLOSS, CABIN IN THE WOODS, THE ROOM IN THE WOOD)
MARK JORDAN (VIDEOS: DEREK JARMAN, THE ROOM IN THE WOOD, ATV)

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CRAB DANCE GIs

Manchester’s pop subversives Crab Dance GIs, featuring Danny Cusick (Kit B), Craig Bodell (The Hidden Gem) and Paul Smith (The Hidden Gem) are back with a brand new single called “Stage Fright” their fourth release with German Shepherd. Pizzicato strings and a moving synth bass create a bed for a special pop song.A sultry summer vibe runs through this hook packed tune which sees the Crabbies taking a more soulful route. If this one doesn’t grab your ears and give them a good shaking then nothing will.

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DEAD CROWS LAUNCH VIDEOS

To tie in with the release of “Hemispheres Part One :Celestial” Bouquet of Dead Crows have been hard at work producing videos to support the albums tracks. Here’s the video for Left To Rot.

A You Tube playlist of the videos featuring the whole album will be available soon.

Pre-order the album now:

Moff Skellington’s latest album released

We are pleased to announce the release of the latest album from Moff Skellington – his 42nd. It’s called “Wading With The Help Donkeys”. To mark the occasion Moff has recorded a special podcast where he introduces the album and plays a short clip of each track. It’s a fascinating half hour with lots of humour in the inimitable Moff style.

You can purchase the album from Bandcamp now.

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