Sassafras Records & Distribution

Wow! I just got in the vinyl for John Fryer’s (This Mortal Coil) ‘solo’ album. The project is called Dark Drive Clinic and the name of the album is ‘Noise In My Head’. These songs have been tinkered with by John for upwards of two-and-a-half decades and were assisted in their completion by Stripmall Architecture vocalist Rebecca Coseboom. John’s production hallmarks are all over this record, you’ll swear this is an unearthed reissue of a late 90s gem. But no! It’s brand new and a must-have for fans of goth/industrial as well as John Fryer completists. The release date is June 5th on this, but we’re shipping to stores right now! Speaking of Stripmall Architecture, we also have in copies of their limited-edition double-10-inch album ‘Feathersongs For Factory Girls’ on white vinyl. It is a perfect companion piece to that Dark Drive Clinic record, so pick up both! Also newly in is ‘Bola Vol. 7′ released thru Awesome Tapes From Africa! I received 50 copies today all the way from Germany and these cassettes are going to move fast. Lastly, I got another goodie in from Gold Robot Records, the Mane 7-inch by Conveyor. It’s very summery and comes to you straight out of Brooklyn. Consequence of Sound says it “is quite gentle and flow-y, utilizing lush, layered harmonies and folksy, whimsical guitar to create a track that tip-toes through the air.” Doesn’t that sound nice? You betcha! Don’t forget to add some Empty Cellar Records to your order, along with some of the other Gold Robot Records titles [Roman Ruins LP...ahem], the critically-adored MERCH album ‘This Betrayal Will Be Our End’, some garage-rock from Chocolate Covered Records, and the ever-popular Future Twin cassette!

Dark Drive Clinic Noise In My Head

Stripmall Architecture Feathersongs For Factory Girls

Awesome Tapes From Africa–Bola Volume 7

Here’s an interesting write-up about this release on Tiny Mix Tapes

Gold Robot Records Conveyor ‘Mane’ 7-inch

See below for lots of cool stuff from the last couple of months! For example…

Roman Ruins – Homebuilding 12″

The debut album from the drummer for Beach House and The Papercuts!

“Quasi-tropical percussion and subtly energizing bass lines sneak in and out of the track while layer upon layer of everything under the sun (vocals, rainsticks, synth squeaks, oohs and aahs) flesh out the rest. Part high life, part Beach Boys, part post-Animal-Collective musical hieroglyphics, it’s exactly the sort of music I get all giddy for in 2012… which is why Homebuilding has rushed near the top of my albums-to-watch list.”–I Guess I’m Floating

Yalls – Fantasy 7″

This new guy on the scene just played a sold out show at the Noise Pop Festival with Grimes!

Empty Cellar Records

We are so very excited to be adding Empty Cellar to our roster of labels. If you, like us, can’t get enough of that somewhat unclassifiable sphere of music inhabited by artists ranging from Bonnie Prince Billy to The Fresh And Onlys–these releases are going to make you a happy camper indeed.

The Sandwitches

Just a few excerpts of the phenomenal press ‘The Sandwitches’ have received for the below releases:

“finds former Fresh & Onlys Heidi & Grace at the height of their powers, a perfect marriage of the group’s genre-spanning debut and their darker, haunting/heartbreaking Duck Duck Goose EP”—Gorilla Vs. Bear

“throughout three 7-inches, a 12-inch, and a smattering of compilations worth of material, the Sandwitches have created some of the most unusual and challenging music I’ve heard and wrestled in years”-Coke Machine Glow

“pulls you down in the dirt where the lost souls of Mrs. Jones’ Cookies live and breathe” –The A.V. Club

“Makes the primordial sound fresh”–Pitchfork

The Sandwitches – Mrs. Jones’ Cookies – LP + Download

The Sandwitches – Duck, Duck, Goose! 12″ e.p.

From Tim Cohen, the inexhaustible visionary behind The Fresh & Onlys, we offer these titles—the 2^nd pressing of his first solo album and an album featuring his more experimental side which is released under the name of his backing band Magic Trick.

Magic Trick (Tim Cohen) – The Glad Birth of Love, LP

The Two Sides of Tim Cohen (2nd Pressing), LP + Download

Pillars and Tongues – The Pass and Crossings, LP Poster + Download

“Over 6 tracks, The Pass And Crossings formulates, constructs and exhibits some of the most unique (yet not unfamiliar) music being recorded today. In the most simplistic terms, you can file this album under genres like folk, drone and even blues; what’s unique about it is that the music doesn’t sound played, but rather it sounds induced. 8.5/10—Sic Magazine

The Cairo Gang – Holy Clover 7″ ep

Yes, the Cairo Gang of Bonnie Prince Billy fame:

“HOLY CLOVER” new EP by THE CAIRO GANG. features four NEW songs recorded in a risen cornfield in shelby county, kentucky. A departure from previous cerebral and primarily acoustic efforts, this record is tight and electric with choruses and vocal harmonies all supported by an enforced bass and drums set. One mic at a time and brought to you in 33 rpms on glorious 7 inch vinyl”

We finally have the MERCH LP ‘This Betrayal Will Be Our End’! It’s getting tons of great press, some of which we’ve excerpted below:

“I know we’re not even halfway into the year, but I’ll make the perhaps bold proclamation that San Francisco band Merch’s album “This Betrayal Will Be Our End” will be the surprise of 2012.”

– Vinyl Under Review: A-

“reaches to be a time-forgotten concept album…recommended for anyone who gets off on that merciless gut knot that comes with true loss.

–I Must Find Atlantis

“Really nice psychedelic album with high quality production and orchestration. You can hear some quite unique sounds on it. So if you are for modern psychedelia, go for it!”

–Psychedelic Baby Magazine

“The army of string instrumentation which Medina uses in “This Betrayal Will Be Our End” is certainly enhanced when listening to the record on vinyl…has taken the pain and agony of a broken relationship and converted it into art.”

–Modern Vinyl

“unfurls darkly and dramatically, shifting constantly from sound to sound…minor key miserablist downer pop blurs into stripped down bluesy rock, fuzzed out indie rock blossoms into bombastic almost progginess, twang flecked drifts sprawl into propulsive hypnotic minimalism which in turn transforms into shimmery acoustic folk and back again”–Aquarius Records

“right away, the record is off to a powerful start…rich with orchestral genius…the presentation here is unique and fresh…I like how this album is not afraid to leap from genre to genre without losing consistency…this recording is something to be heard.

–Tuning In To The Obscure: 4.7 out of 5

“plumbs the depths of personal misery and human suffering in a relationship gone bad…songs that could be Arthur Russell or Yo La Tengo outtakes. Plenty of depression, bedroom-symphonic arrangements, and brutally honest lyrics…High quality sound, good mixing and arrangements.

–The Record Geeks

And still available…

Gold Robot Records Enjoy Some Tracks From Gold Robot!

GRR020 – Primary Structures 12″

GRR018 – Not the 1s 12″

GRR015 – Ned Oldham 7″

GRR014 – Colossal Yes / The Good Fear Split 7″

GRR012 – Roman Ruins 7″

Chocolate Covered Records Go here for some chocolately goodness

CCR006 – Rantouls – Little Green Hat 7″

CCR07 – Skipper – Cold Pizza 7″

CCR08 – Saucy Jacks – Saucy Jacks 7″

CCR09 – Rantouls – In The Village Of Rantoul 12″

CCR10 – Shrouds/Hondettes – Shrouds/Hondettes split 7″

Self-Released

Future Twin – Situation – cassette EP Have A Listen

Warren Teagarden & The Good Grief 12″ LP Hear A Sample Or Two!

KRAAK Records Check Out The Latest Sounds From KRAAK

Just added 1/1/12: GOD DAMN, I HATE THE BLUES–A double 7-inch gatefold release of compelling new songs from artists on the KRAAK label. Remarkable stuff.

K072 – Various Artists – God Damn, I Hate The Blues A bit more info from the label