We're so psyched to announce catalog number CRR-020 - our 20th release to date, aka, Talking Birds' "There, Now" EP.
The recording of this EP happened as a complete collaboration between label and band. It was mixed and mastered by Brian Russ of CRR, and tracked by a combination of Brian and the band. It's a real treat of a record, just in time for your Springtime affairs.
Pick up a limited edition cassette now, before we run out:
http://www.campersrule.com/products/615224-talking...
Arc Waves, "the sound the circle" cover art
We are pleased to announce that the Brooklyn band, Arc Waves will be releasing ‘the sound the circle,’ their first full-length album, and first for Campers’ Rule Records. Their Cassette Store Day Release on October 14 is an exclusive one-day release (Cassette Store Day USA headed by Burger Records) with worldwide release on November 17, 2017.
Listen to the first single "Walking in Space” HERE
Elaine Lachica (vocals, keyboards, bass, guitar) and Brandon Jaffe (lead guitar) met at a rehearsal space in Brooklyn in 2013 and discovered a musical chemistry and started writing songs together. Shortly thereafter, Mike Hodges (drums and drum programming) and William McCormack (bass) joined the duo, and as a quartet they began writing and performing as Arc Waves. Following the release of their 2014 self-titled EP, which gave nods to early 4AD and Factory records, bassist William McCormack left the band in 2015. As the trio searched for a new bandmate, Arc Waves’ music started to move in a new direction. When Joe Beach (bass, keyboards, guitar, vocals) joined the band in summer 2015, he brought in his versatility as a multi-instrumentalist. The band changed their approach to songwriting and a new sound emerged. Their music gained layers and textures, equal measure guitars and synths, a darker and more introspective dreamy indie rock. ‘the sound the circle’ was recorded in a five-day marathon session during a heat wave in July 2016 at Rare Book Room Studios (Deerhunter, War On Drugs, Wye Oak) in Brooklyn. Recorded, mixed and co-produced by Gabe Wax (Here We Go Magic, Beirut, Palehound), the album was mastered by Paul Gold at Salt Mastering in 2017.
Arc Waves has performed at CMJ Festival, Northside Festival, Hypnocraft Presents, Rooftop Films, Bowery Presents at Mercury Lounge, Popgun Presents, as well colleges, TV, and radio (WFMU’s Dark Night of the Soul). Album Art by Aaron Williams. Photo by Kevin Blumenthal.
(Photo L-R: Mike Hodges, Elaine Lachica, Joe Beach and Brandon Jaffe)
"Youth Moose" the new Spirit Plate record is here! Official release date: August 4, 2017
(album artwork)
Inspired by New York City's rapid pace of change, decay and rebirth, and the dichotomy NYC presents of arriving at tranquility though chaos and clutter, "Youth Moose" is a complex collage of sound, delivered through gritty, succinct songs.
On "Youth Moose," Spirit Plate reacts to New York City as well as our greater globe through many sharp lenses. To initially gain inspiration for songs, the band closely observed and cataloged street art tattooed to Brooklyn buildings, some of which were scrawled decades ago and others part of the modern resurgence of murals, tags, and visible art everywhere from Bushwick to the Bronx (hence the title "Youth Moose," which in itself is a reference to a commonly seen NYC tag). As a result, there is as much of a nostalgic aspect to this record as there is forward-thinking. Songwriter Brian Russ has personally been living in, playing shows and recording music in Brooklyn for the past 12 years and "Youth Moose" has many reflections to offer from someone who can now safely call Brooklyn his home.
The record unfolds like a tarot card reading. It brings out your past (from the song "Everything's a Joke;" "do you remember when we would shoplift CDs?"). Examines your present (from the song "Open Automatic;" "I feel loved by a machine") and makes some predictions for your future (from the title track - "the times have surely changed on me, but hey man that's ok, cause I ain't gonna leave.").
This is a record also offering unavoidable political statements. And even though the songs were written a year or more before our presidential election results came in, they tell the tale of what was already and about to unfold, with lyrics peppered throughout reminding us of the dangerous and toxic times we live in:
"Every phone call, every conversation traced..."
"I can't sleep, if 'I can't breathe' is not a reason to back the fuck off."
"Every witness can't be sure what they saw..."
"All across the USA temperatures are rising, ain't nobody dancing in the streets, mostly they're just hiding and afraid."
Recorded with no budget, mostly live in a tiny warehouse rehearsal space in the industrial section of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, the base of "Youth Moose" is full of gravel and grime and honestly captures the vibe of 6 people coming together to bring an artistic vision into fruition - right in the moment.
The raw tracks from the warehouse were taken into Brian Russ' home studio (aka, tiny apartment) and meticulously mixed and mastered, with the goal of bringing a polish and a sense of clarity to the dizzying array of live mics, bleed, room noise and unbalanced tracks. Being a dad with two small kids and with a day job as a middle school teacher in tow, Brian carved away at this record on nights, weekends and holidays. An hour here, an hour there. Slowly but steadily, Brian fussed over every detail possible to bring out the final mix. "Youth Moose" is a real labor of love, created by New York artists who have no choice but to create music in order to face this confusing city, this confusing country, and this fragile planet that we live on.
Paying homage to visionary New York City artist such as The Velvet Underground, Talking Heads, and Swans, Spirit Plate shines a light on the past and hopes to present a lasting statement for the future in "Youth Moose."
Campers' Rule Records stands for peace, unity, sisterhood, brotherhood, equality, and social justice for all. We are taking a similar pledge to Bandcamp and the hundreds of artists and labels who followed suit. For the rest of the month of February, purchase anything from our site and we will donate 75% of the sale to the American Civil Liberties Union.
Brandon White has written and recored around 20 records at this point in his life. Growing up in the swamps of Louisiana, he experienced everything from Southern Gospel to Pop-Country on a day-to-day basis. His Papaw was a bluegrass strummer at the church and the neighborhood kids were tuned into the southern rap radio stations. As a teenager in Baton Rouge, Brandon's friends turned him on to experimental and avant-garde music. He took this whole hodge-podge to New Orleans, and then New York City - where he started the project, Cuss Words, a name written in lightening bolts and appearing to him in a boiling fever's dream. When you listen to Cuss Words you'll hear all the influences of Brandon's past somehow coming at you at once, but in a slow and subtle way, like the southern gentleman that he is.
Like the R Stevie Moore's before him, Brandon is a prolific songwriter, plays every instrument, arranges, records, mixes and produces on the fly, and the creative bursts seem to never end. He is satirical, ironic, loose, but purposed. He references electronic music from the 80s, while throwing Outlaw 70s Country in at the same time.
His latest release is a double album + book of short stories.
Spellbreaker is the sound of someone trying to not be pessimistic and ultimately losing and giving in to that kind of solipsism. It's a quiet, introspective, sit-by-the-fire folk album.
Spellbreaker was mixed and engineered by John Ried.
Drums For The Lonesome is the yin to Spellbreaker's yang. the sound of that same person learning to worship the small moments of joy that life throws at you in total surprise and finally respecting the random turns of the universe, which eases you towards happiness. It is a record built from electricity and sub-woofers, and made to be blasted with the windows down.
In conjunction with Cassette Store Day, 2016 we are psyched to be releasing Spellbreaker and
Order your copy now: HERE
