Slacyr Blog

Physically and Digitally, It's Here

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:00:00 GMT

The physical copies of the long-awaited Genod Droog album, Ni Oedd Y Genod Droog, is now with us stacked up in the offices in the usual crate loads ready to dispatch to our pre-orderers. We hope to have the album with all pre-orderers by *this* weekend (2nd of August). If you do not receive them by 2nd August, we will endeavour to have them to you during the following week - in good time for the bands Eisteddfod performances in Cardiff next week.

Those of you who pre-ordered will have the limited 3D glasses supplied to make the most of the sleeve design. The 3D glasses will also be supplied to future web customers, and in limited stockists in independent record shops - while stocks last.

The album is now available as a download on iTunes, 3D glasses not included. For those who do not use iTunes, the album is also available at emusic.com.

As mentioned the band are performing at this year's National Eisteddfod of Wales with a headline slot at Clwb Ifor Bach on Thursday 7th August for Cymdeithas Yr Iaith, before closing the final Saturday night, 9th August, on the Maes B main stage at Cardiff's Student Union Hall. The label will be represented in one way or another throughout the Eisteddfod week.

Thank you for your interest in pre-ordering this record! In the meantime please visit http://www.myspace.com/genoddroog

Creaking Pixels a Revival

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:08:00 GMT

It has come to our attention that the site needs a bit of an overhaul from the old creaking pixels it has been rested on for the past 3 years... though the creaking can withstand for a bit longer, before anything as extravagant as a re-build is concerned.

Firstly, this is just a post to announce something of a return, and have a post on the blog which isnt 18 months out of date, but more importantly a return in the form of something to release; "Genod Droog - Ni Oedd Y Genod Droog". Available now (for a limited period) to pre-order at £8.00. Orders received should be posted in the 2nd week of August. Updates will be available here. All the Genod Droog info anybody could ever need is currently over on their MySpace page: www.myspace.com/genoddroog.

We hope to have our catalogue sections and other bits and pieces on the site brought up to date over the next month or two, so watch this (long neglected piece of cyber) space.

1st Stage on the Ladder

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 09:25:00 GMT

An hours drive out of N.Wales and straight into Manchester rush hour traffic, car overheating, warning lights aglowing. But it didn't matter because Texas Radio Band at In The City was the prize. Down into One Central Streets seemingly basement style venue, and into what seemed like little Wales - with Huw, Huw and Huw instantly recognisable, hello to Guto, Mr Rostron and Mario "king of the road", a quick chat to the band, before finding my Manchester dwelling friend Owen in amongst the crowd of haircuts.

"We started this 7 years ago... so not long to get on the first stage on the ladder eh?" Matthews first quip to the crowd before launching into "Chwaraeon" - good work! Someone next to me was sketching the band furiously as they performed... The set took a 5 song whistle-stop tour of their new material, including "I Will Be Coming Home", "Places In My Head" and the finisher "Pass Ya Ffone". Great set, good sound, good response. Job done!

Thinking i'd get the most for my £6.00 NCP parking fee, i'd stick around for a couple of other acts... only one worth writing about though (those there last night all nod in agreement as they catch the bold type faced name below):

Gideon Conn - So most reviews of this guy are glowing and filled with the word "genius", i'd read them earlier in the day. I'd heard his MySpace page - and seemed OK. Wasn't expecting what happened - often the best way! He opened with his song, with full band; "I Want You Around" - and completely spellbound not only me but the entire room (if not the streets above the basement venue), if your about to head over to his MySpace after reading this, it doesnt do it justice, but still, go there! I 'will' travel miles to see this guy again. It was only after seeing him onstage i put the two together - he was the guy who'd been stood next to me sketching Texas Radio Bands performance furiously.

http://www.myspace.com/gideonconn

In The City 2006

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 08:10:00 GMT

Texas Radio Band are playing "In The City" this year, appearing at Manchesters, One Central Street, on Monday October 30th, with a stage time of approximately 8pm - more details of the other acts and the night here.

"Texas Radio Band - possibly the most underrated unsigned band in the world right now" Huw Stephens, Radio 1, September 2006. Source: BBC Radio 1 Blog.

An exclusive new Texas Radio Band track; "Pass Ya Ffone", is available on the "In The City Unsigned 2006" album, currently onsale in the iTunes Music Store for £0.79! Or the album of 54 tracks for under a tenner! For quick reference, the album is currently featured on the iTunes Music Store home page ;-)

See you down the back!

Pass Ya Ffone - Live Video Here (S4C, 2006)

BBC Electric Proms

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 08:24:00 GMT

BBC Electric Proms: Next Stage
Sunday 29th October - 3.00pm
Camden, Barfly

Genod Droog

More Info Links:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/electricproms
http://www.myspace.com/genoddroog

Euros Childs, Conwy

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:00:00 GMT

Saturday, 21st October 2006
Conwy, Civic Hall

EUROS CHILDS (myspace / website)
GWYNETH GLYN (myspace)
MR HUW (myspace)

7.30pm / £8

Tickets available online > HERE.
Tickets will be available on the door. A licensed bar has been arranged.

TRB - Clwb Rheilffordd

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 19:24:00 GMT

maes b yn cyflwyno / presents:

Texas Radio Band
Calansho
Anubis

14/10/06

Clwb y Rheilffordd / Railway Club
Bangor, 9pm, £6

Diwrnod John Peel

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 08:20:00 GMT

Today is John Peel Day, the anniversary of Johns last live broadcast. Loads of events going on around the country, more locally there is this one > CLICK.

I'll mainly contribute today by playing as many Peel Session tracks from my Mp3 collection as possible (hard to get the mp3s playing at the wrong speed though), and have even found some great Peel soundbites out there to mix in too.

We're priviledged to have had a few of our tracks played on the John Peel show during 2004 and Texas Radio Band making #12 in the 2004 Festive 50.

"If Elvis were alive today, i think he'd really understand happy hardcore"

"Three tracks back to back there from Napalm Death. I have it on good authority that they all love their mothers"

"There were probably rude words in there, but they were in Thai"

"If I drop dead tomorrow, I'll have nothing to complain about - except that there'll be another Fall album out next year."

"I mean i'd like to believe in heaven, not least because i'd like to meet my Mum and Dad again. I'd like to know whether the Welsh dresser was meant to go to me or my brother really"

Respond in Silence

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Mon, 2 Oct 2006 09:14:00 GMT

Having co-released an incarnation of the mans work back in January this year; "The Oscillation" (slac009), thought i'd let you know of Demian Castellanos other project; "The Orichalc Phase" (sure i mentioned the project in a post here earlier this year too). Releasing on the fantastic label "DC Recordings".

His first release on DC was the 12" EP/Single "Respond in Silence" (DCR65), and is recently featured on the labels latest record, the CD release "Death Before Distemper" (DCR75), a compilation album, currently receiving great reviews & was amazed to see it reviewed last week on one of my favourite music blogs. It features 2 tracks of forthcoming material from Demian. Completely recommend buying it... Available from Amazon for £7.99.

"Imagine Tom Baker on a disco excursion and you're halfway there. Deep and demented stuff" - BBC

For those of you for whom this is your first introduction to DC Recordings, they may come across like a weirder, DFA Recordings (website). Just know that DC has been doing it longer, and lean towards the bizarre, darker side of things > Discography.

The Orichalc Phase (myspace)
DC Recordings (myspace)
Slacyr (myspace) - features Demian Castellanos, as "The Oscillation".
Watch the "Respond in Silence" video here.

The records were mixed by good friend Jimmy Robertson. Jim, where are ya man... responding in silence...

Hidden Hive Records update (see previous post), their website is now up and live , http://www.hiddenhive.co.uk.

Happy Drunken (Delivery) Accidents

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 10:36:00 GMT

As the title of the post might suggest, this could be a post regarding the recent delay in delivery of our mail order from our shop here, and indeed may be even offering a suggestion as to why it has been slow recently... No, there hasn't been a happy drunken accident which has caused this - for the slowness recently i apologise - things from here on in will be much slicker!

No this title refers to the recent mixup at the pressing plant and courier service; in that, on returning to the office on Tuesday I come to find stacked high what looked like the CD boxes we get from our suppliers... "I didnt order any re-presses"... Closer inspection the boxes are addressed to Slacyr Records, and have indeed come from our suppliers... "Have i paid for these?". On opening a box, come to find out the CDs within are the new Gintis album!?!? A record i'd known about for a long time (and had a CD-R copy from the band kicking around for a few months), and a record i knew we weren't involved with, entitled; "Happy Drunken Accidents".

Anyhow, fortunately i knew the album was being recorded by and to be released by "Hidden Hive Records", a new record label based in Conwy setup by good friend Steve Swindon (producer of SLAC003), the mixup in all of this was the pressing company and courier service making the assumpion of just one record label in Conwy, and delivered to me - a fair assumption? Maybe. But a typical accident / story involving Gintis. So, I tried to get hold of Steve and the band members Tuesday night to let them know their record was back, but with no joy. So I thought a fitting end to the story was to approach Steve unexpectedly with a copy of the album (with the other CD boxes filling my car outside) on Wednesday night as I knew he'd be down "The Malt Loaf" in Conwy running his regular acoustic indie night "Sonic Lodge".

Other "Hidden Hive" forthcoming releases include an album by "State Sponsored Jukebox" and a split 7" single between "Flotation Toy Warning" and "Gintis"... and all records will be available to buy shortly from the forthcoming Hidden Hive website (details of which will follow in the next post), get involved! Hopefully these forthcoming Hidden Hive records will be delivered to the correct address - but i won't complain if their not ;-)

Picture: Carl Gintis, early in the morning, intoxicated (?) nr Rhyls blue bridge / marine lake. You'll find an artists impression on the cover of the very fine album "Happy Drunken Accidents". Thanks for the thankyou too guys!

Club Slacyr

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 17:15:00 GMT

Slacyr yn cyflwyno / presents

Radio Luxembourg (myspace)
Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog (myspace)
Pwsi Meri Mew (myspace)

Porthmadog, Clwb Chwaraeon
Sadwrn / Saturday
23/09/06
8pm / £5

That's not a moon, it's a space station!

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 11:03:00 GMT

Genod Droog have recently been away in northern France recording new tracks, tracks i didn't get to hear when recently visiting them on their return in the wilds above Porthmadog... though did get to hear some new Dyl Mei / Slacyr projects... more info next post (should be soon!). Genod Droog T's will be available on the site very soon priced £9.99 and i'm told available in S / M / L / XL.

Forthcoming Genod Droog Gigs:
Sep 28 Bangor, Time
Oct 29 London, Barfly (with orchestra @ BBC Electric Proms)
Nov 04 Aberystwyth, Student Union, Rhyngol
Dec 01 Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
Dec 02 Bangor, Railway Club

Recently found a review of the Club Slacyr night in Porthmadog, courtesy of Glasswerk. [read review]

The next Club Slacyr night includes: Radio Luxembourg, Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog & Pwsi Meri Mew. Saturday, 23rd September.

Whilst on i'd also best plug the Euros Childs / Gwyneth Glyn / Radio Luxembourg gig in Conwy on 21st October. We're acting as the online ticket agent for the event. For more information the main organisers / promoters are Conwy Food Festival tickets available from their site for £8.75 (incl booking fee and postage).

Until next time, i'm off to buy more moon balloons...

Yn Cyflwyno / Presents

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 11:08:00 GMT

Slacyr yn Cyflwyno / Presents

Texas Radio Band
Genod Droog
Jen Jeneiro
DJ Fuzzy Felt

Clwb Chwaraeon, Porthmadog
Gwener / Friday
04/08/06
8pm - £5

Texas Radio Band - Live

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 08:09:00 GMT

Sorry about lack of posts... but to make a post in June thought we'd drop a reminder for:

15th July, Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach, 8.30pm-ish til' late.

TEXAS RADIO BAND
GINTIS
MR HUW
+ DJs

Texas Radio Bands lead guitarist, Alex Dingley, is also performing his first (?) solo set on July 12th in Clwb Ifor Bach at Sweet Baboos single launch.

TRB / Droog / Losing Again

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Wed, 24 May 2006 09:39:00 GMT

Texas Radio Band - Live Date Confirmed
First and foremost, we can confirm Texas Radio Band will be appearing on Saturday 15th July in Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach - a homecoming gig, and back with more of the good stuff! Support is being arranged by the band. Other dates, before and after will be confirmed shortly - with more dates in August & September looking likely...

Genod Droog @ Chester, Telfords Warehouse
Went to see Genod Droog in Chester last Friday night, and was by far the best performance ive seen them play, and reminded me of the early Pep Le Pew gigs (OK, so a different music and line-up but followers will understand, im sure). Ed leading a large conga around Telfords kind of sums up the success of the gig! Even Dyl singing a track in place of Gwyneth Glyn was pulled off.

Losing Today Mag
Our friends over at Losing Today Indie Magazine have this week had some more good stuff to print about the label and our releases (thanks guys!);

"A copy of Gintis' "Supersoakers and Megadrives broke these li'l hearts" EP found it's way through our mailbox and onto our hi-fi. Apparently formed while still at school and before the could play instruments - could have fooled us - this sounds like classic era Gorky’s smooching up against the Inspiral Carpets especially on the super cooled and excellently titled "Philosophical Transactions of a disappointed Physicist" with its softening psyche glow and innately kooky sense of delivery. Best of the set the hopelessly crooked "Carrot = Donkey" that one minute sounds like Pavement having a real gas pouring over old Hefner inspired ditties before warping into a delicately hued sumptuously lazy eyed summer grazed nugget as though the West Coast had been transplanted to Conwy.

Having already knocked us bandy with that superb "Push and Shove" / "Kilos" release which we reviewed a few missives back (both tracks incidentally feature here) this album features more of that exquisitely skewed bubblegum pop the kind of which takes you strolling here, there and everywhere. Stand out cuts the frantically wired "Andromeda" - a kind of Welsh Ministry with attitude - while the simply lulling steel guitar treated title track will have you swooning a plenty the only thing missing a porch, a rocking chair and some home made possum pie. The band are currently putting the finishing touches to a follow up which so far has a working title of either "Vete" or "Nothin but a tone bone" depending on which side of the fence the sun shines - expect dates in support during July or thereabouts. More please and sharp about it."

Losing Today

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Wed, 10 May 2006 11:00:00 GMT

Another glowing review to add to the pile for "Oscillation - New Way To Feel", courtesy of Losing Today Indie Magazine:

Absolutely fucking superb head tripper of a record that had our ever reliable radar ears prickling to life. Pressed on blue vinyl as though you needed any further prods, Oscillation - of whom - and again not for the first time this particular missive - we have no information about - is in the main the brain child of a certain Demian Castellanos, this hypnotic mind melting psychotropic beast is blessed by having perhaps one of the most monstrously catchy looping pysche (how I can I best describe it) woo woo effects (yea a piss poor description granted) youll hear all year - in fact quite possibly any year from herein - if you think Im lying just check it out and tell me Im wrong (which I never am so there up yours - ha ha). Very much appearing like a disciple of Sonic Boom - Spacemen 3 era sparked with a sense of John Moores and the Expressway blurring the edges of sanity (John Moore incidentally has apparently been dissing old Moz of late - check the maudlin Moz message board at http://www.morrissey-solo.com/articles/05/01/07/070204.shtml - quite right to) - damn its bloody good okay.

If New way to feel was Spacemen 3 era Sonic Boom inspired then the flip side Waves of Radiation is pretty much littered aplenty with post Spacemen 3 Sonic Boom signatures - a kind of idiots guide condensed into three droning minutes of everything you needed to know about both EAR / Spectrum with spatial atmospherics, hypnotic trippy-ness and the sultry dabbing of middle eastern tablatures all thrown in for good measure - think BBC Radiophonic Workshop in a mind link with Pimmon - icy stuff. Future recordings will see Castellanos appear on Static Caravan with his Mesma guise (reviewed at Missive 95 or thereabouts - Ed), while the Orichalc Phase will shortly have their debut outings released by DC recordings). Single of the missive by some distance.

Slight Updates

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Wed, 3 May 2006 10:25:00 GMT

The Texas Radio Band second album rolls even closer to completion; frontman Matthew has, via email and various disjointed MSN conversations, told me that he was having a day or two putting the final vocals down in Spain last week. The album is under the working titles of "Vete" or "Nothin' But A Tonebone". Expect to hear things from the album this summer, because there are other record companies out gunning for the album, we can't confirm any release dates.

At the moment i'm trying to arrange a few gigs for Texas Radio Band during July and August (any promoters reading this and fancy putting them on this summer 'email me'). Details of confirmed dates to follow.

I got out to see Richard James in Chester last week with TRBs "Squids" on bass - great gig (with what seemed like The French Gorky's Zygotic Mynci Appreciation Society in too - a coach of 30 or so were there for the gig anyway). Good to have seen Carl and Dave Gintis there too for a catchup - and Dave; that Neil Morrisey documentary on BBC3 "was" a pisstake mate!

Genod Droog are putting together an EP for release this summer, can't really put anymore of an accurate date on it just yet (sounding familiar?)... for rough mixes, new stuff, gigs and all things Genod Droog visit their MySpace.

Apologies for the silence the last 3/4 weeks or so, regular regulated programming of posts will be resumed.

Genod Droog Live

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 08:40:00 GMT

Easter / Spring 06:

Ebrill / April
14 Llanrwst, Legion
15 Sarn, Ty Newydd
21 Bangor, Hendre Hall
28 Caernarfon, Galeri
29 Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach

Bit of Bass

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Wed, 5 Apr 2006 09:22:00 GMT

Texas Radio Band bassist, Rhydian "Squids" Jones, will be embarking on a UK tour on bass duties this month for Richard James (Gorky's Zygoic Mynci) - who's debut solo album "The Seven Sleepers Den" is released by BoobyTrap on 24th April 2006.

April
09th London, The Social
13th Bristol, The Cube
22nd Brighton, The Freebutt
23rd Cardiff, The Point
24th Manchester, The Kings Arms
25th Chester, Telfords Warehouse
26th Aberystwyth, Cwps
27th Cheltenham, Slak Arts Centre

May
04th Lancaster, York Hall

Video Page & Reviews

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 10:18:00 GMT

We have just setup a video page on the website here, using the YouTube video service. We've got our teaser trailer of SLAC006 up there at the moment - that'll stay, and we are hoping to have more videos up there in the near future. Go enjoy > here.

New reviews for "Oscillation - New Way To Feel" (SLAC009):

Drowned in Sound (8/10)
It's Spiritualised getting spiritualised, Primal Scream's flower-power era dragged through a Dead Meadow. It's outer space in your inner space. [full review]

SoundsXP
A trip in every way, a dense, dark tangle of droning sound reminiscent of Spacemen 3 or the Thirteenth Floor Elevators. [full review]

Gwyneth Glyn 31/03/06

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 12:10:00 GMT

Click on image for larger version of poster.

Podcast Removed

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 12:31:00 GMT

Apologies to all, the first Slacyr podcast has been taken off the air/internet.

Thanks goes to the high number of you who have already listened / downloaded the podcast over the 4 days it was up there, enjoy it, distribute it, it'll be something of a limited edition digital .mp3 file, if such a thing is possible. Plans are afoot for the next podcast...

Podcast #1

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 20:32:00 GMT

As seen on TV! Click the title above or "here" to begin downloading or streaming the first Slacyr Podcast.

Featuring: Genod Droog, Texas Radio Band, MC Saizmundo, Pep Le Pew (Live @ Miri Madog 2004), Yucatan, Gwyneth Glyn, Llan Clan - and plenty of banter between presenters come label partners Dyl Mei and Gethin Evs - I wasn't able to make it to the recording of this one, no great loss, though i'm sure i'll be on the next one.

For our English readers / listeners, bear with the intro chatter - it's basically the two of them introducing the show and giving a run down of what's on, though are interrupted by a TV offer, and by a member of the household at the studio looking for the cordless phone... the music flows afterwards. Mwynhewch!

Any questions or comments post below!

Bandit

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 13:14:00 GMT

There is an interview with Gethin and Dyl on tonights S4C TV programme "Bandit", talking about the mysterious and elusive podcast, which will hopefully be completed and online later this evening to co-incide with the interview - d'ya see whats been done there?!

Mathew TRB is now back in Spain. The band having got a lot more of their recordings completed over the last two weeks. Gigs for the band are being organised by their new management for June / Summer.

Something else i must mention as a Gorky's fan, by sheer chance through our website ordering system ive been in contact with "the" guy from Rhyl who ordered that very first GZM home-made / home-recordings EP, as featured on the Gorkys website in the 1991/92 archive. Top bloke, and an obvious great taste in music!

St Davids Day

info@slacyr.co.uk (Recordiau Slacyr Records) — Wed, 1 Mar 2006 10:00:00 GMT

What a start to St Davids Day - heavy snow and sliding my car most of the way down to the office; it's still snowing. If i'm not snowed in, i'll tonight be at the opening date of Euros Childs' tour in Caernarfons Galeri with Pondman, Gorwel & Fiona Owens band, in support. Having never been to the Galeri, I doubt it'll be such a close quarters Euros Childs gig as the living room type gig in the lounge of a hotel in Betws-Y-Coed last November - something to look forward to for later though.

In some kind of label news, gathered from sporadic emails and MSN conversations over the last couple of days, Texas Radio Band have just begun their stint in the studio.

This week ive been listening to a Plant Duw (www.geocities.com/plantduw) demo sent through last weekend. The covering letter accompanying it which questioned the very reason why they are even sending the demo definitely deserved a play. It's been on heavy rotation, "Craen Ar Y Lleuad" especially.

This date 2003: Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach, Melys supported by Texas Radio Band - the very night of making the declaration which i think started this whole thing off in offering to put out TRBs album... somehow, anyhow.