It’s a total win-win so head to the Hidden Shoal Store and check the specials on the front page. The sale ends on the 1st of Jan 2012 and some CD stock is very limited so do be quick.

In 2009, Hidden Shoal continued to release stunning music from around the world, including debut Hidden Shoal albums from Hotels, HC-B, Tarcutta, Sleeping Me, City Of Satellites and Elisa Luu, sophomore albums from Jumpel and Wes Willenbring, a third album from Sankt Otten, and EPs from Stray Ghost and Down Review (a new collaboration between Arc Lab’s Medard Fischer and Near The Parenthesis’ Tim Arndt).

2009 was also notable for the release of our compilation album A Million Square Miles, a project endeavouring to showcase Western Australian talent to the US (the titular million square miles). After more than three years of sharing independent music far and wide, A Million Square Miles represented a key facet of the Hidden Shoal Recordings story. The album brings together a pair of tracks from each of the then eight WA-based artists on the Hidden Shoal roster: Mukaizake, Apricot Rail, Fall Electric, Glassacre, Toby Richardson, My Majestic Star, The Slow Beings and Tangled Star.

2009 also saw Hidden Shoal join forces with The Caribbean and Scott Solter in a single EP. This not only began a special relationship with the wonderful The Caribbean and created an ongoing avenue for them to release some of their more experimental offerings, but it also began the label’s relationship with Scott Solter, which eventually led us to Boxharp (Scott Solter and Wendy Allen).

HSR046:   Jumpel Deuxieme Bureau
HSR047:   Hotels Where Hearts Go Broke
HSR048:   HC-B Soundcheck For A Missing Movie
HSR049:   The Caribbean Scott Solter Re-Populates The Caribbean EP
HSR050:   Sleeping Me Cradlesongs
HSR051:   Tarcutta Tarcutta
HSR052:   Tangled Star That Time EP
HSR053:   Apricot Rail Apricot Rail
HSR054:   Down Review From Here, For Anyone EP
HSR055:   Sankt Otten Morgen Wieder Lustig
HSR056:   Elisa Luu Chromatic Sigh
HSR057:   Various artists A Million Square Miles
HSR058:   Wes Willenbring Close, But Not Too Close
HSR059:   Stray Ghost Each Paradise Is A Lost Paradise EP
HSR060:   Mukaizake Unknown Knowns
HSR061:   City Of Satellites Machine Is My Animal

Featuring Antonymes, Boxharp, City of Satellites, Elisa Luu, Hotels, Iretsu, Jumpel, Liam Singer, Markus Mehr, Mukaizake, My Majestic Star, Rich Bennett, Salli Lunn, Slow Dancing Society, Stray Ghost, Toby Richardson, Umpire and Wes Willenbring, Hydrozoa touches all the bases that make the Hidden Shoal roster unique, and massages them into a broad-ranging and utterly engaging whole. The release accompanied by a pdf booklet containing stunning artwork by Hidden Shoal’s Stuart Medley.

Download the sampler here.

Since starting up in Perth, Western Australia in 2006, Hidden Shoal has developed an enviable roster of genre-defying global and local recording artists. With 40+ acts from 10+ different countries ranging from the gorgeous neo-classical/minimal ambient of Antonymes through to the genius space-pop of Hotels and beyond the visionary team at Hidden Shoal continues to play an integral role in promoting exciting new independent music.

‘Come’ is a stunning and subtly devastating slice of ambient electronica. The brand new track is a delicious appetiser for Elisa Luu’s next full-length on Hidden Shoal. It overlays levitating guitars and droning synths in heartbreaking counterpoint. ‘Come’ re-enforces Elisa Luu’s place as one of the leading proponents of the post-ambient guard, creating work via alchemy rather than simple marriage. The track is bundled with the epic and aptly titled ‘Pixie Space Rock’, the second song to be released from debut album Chromatic Sigh. Together, these stunning tracks betray a sensitivity that is rarely found in the often male-dominated sphere of electronica. With its sighing, lilting qualities, Elisa Luu’s music creates a blissful, liminal realm where everything is rendered transformative.

“A stellar work of ambience, Chromatic Sigh refracts the sound of cool intelligence. As far as descriptions go, you can trot out the usual suspects, like shimmering and sparkling, because they apply in abundance… There’s something cyclical about the music on Chromatic Sigh, and electronically this places listeners in the wondrous open spaces that still boom quietly in our natural world. These spaces are Elisa Luu’s sonic gift to the chumps stranded in suburbia or packed away in cramped apartments.” - Delusions of Adequacy

‘Come’ along with bonus track ‘Pixie Space Rock’ is available for free download from the Hidden Shoal Store. Elisa Luu’s Chromatic Sigh is also available through Hidden Shoal. Read a full press release here.

Elisa Luu – Come Elisa Luu – Come

Elisa Luu – The Garden Elisa Luu – The Garden

Head over to the Hidden Shoal Store to preview and buy Chromatic Sigh.

Elisa Luu – The Garden  Elisa Luu – The Garden

Elisa Luu – The Garden Elisa Luu – The Garden

Elisa Luu’s stella debut release ‘Chromatic Sigh’ can be purchased from our store, take a listen below.

Elisa Luu – The Garden  Elisa Luu – The Garden

Crushed and Reminded takes the listener on a multi-dimensional sonic rollercoaster ride, showcasing tracks from recent 2009 HSR releases. Moving from bitcrushed remixes through cinematic instrumental rock to deliciously mellow ambient electronica, Crushed and Reminded shines a new light across the breadth and depth of the Hidden Shoal landscape.

It includes stunning songs from 11 Hidden Shoal artists and bands: The Caribbean, HC-B, Sankt Otten, Hotels, Down Review, Tangled Star, Apricot Rail, Tarcutta, Sleeping Me, Elisa Luu and Jumpel. Dip in, then explore each artist’s album and EP releases to experience their full splendour.

“a gripping, adventurous and touching journey across their catalogue of ambient, shoegaze, post-rock and indie-rock releases. The perfect introduction for the artists and bands, or alternatively, the perfect sampler for those who cannot decide which of these fantastic bands to pay attention to at the moment” – Post Rock Community review of Limit of Maps, volume 3 in the free sampler album series.

Crushed and Reminded is available for free download from the Hidden Shoal Store, along with volumes 1 to 4.

HSL comprises the constantly growing catalogue of over 600 tracks from the critically acclaimed Hidden Shoal Recordings music label. This wonderful selection of music covers a broad spectrum of sounds and styles, from filmic ambient instrumentals through to inventive indie rock and beyond. HSL provides a unique one-stop licensing source, handling both the master and sync rights.

If you’d like to be kept up to date with all HSL news, please join our mailing list or keep an eye on the pre-launch HSL website.

Head to the HSR Store to download ‘The Yeah Conditioner‘ for free until the release of Mukaizake’s amazing forthcoming mini album Unkown Knowns and also to purchase Elisa Luu’s debut album Chromatic Sigh and find out why that album has been receiving so much critical praise.

Mukaizake – The Yeah Conditioner  Mukaizake – The Yeah Conditioner

Elisa Luu – Perhaps Elisa Luu – Perhaps

Elisa Luu – Chromatic Sigh Elisa Luu – Chromatic Sigh

Though digitally crafted, Chromatic Sigh is warm, inviting and uniquely human, betraying a vulnerability and sensitivity that is rarely found in the male-dominated sphere of electronica. With its sighing, lilting qualities, Elisa Luu’s music reawakens a sense of childlike wonder and adventure with every sprawling and sparkling track. The album deftly moves in and out of the realms of ambient and electronica, creating a blissful, liminal realm where everything is rendered transformative.

Even before its official release Chromatic Sigh has been catching the attention of critics and fans alike.

“gorgeous stuff, timid and trembling, frail and fragile – the ice sculptured craftsmanship eking out a beauti-fied solitary elegance much recalling the early career work of Mum… most alluring and lulling stuff” – Losing Today on single ‘The Garden’

“Chromatic Sigh is an absolute joy to explore, full of emotional resonance. It has a perfect balance between experimentation and melody making it equally satisfying on both an emotional and intellectual level. It’s the work of a composer who knows exactly what she’s aiming for, and knows exactly how to achieve that aim. A terrific debut from a major talent.” – Music Musings and Miscellany

Chromatic Sigh is now available on CD and in all digital formats (including lossless). The CD is distributed through n5Mailorder in the US, Asia and Europe and through Hidden Shoal Distribution in Australia. Check the Hidden Shoal Store for all availability info.

Read a full press release here.

Elisa Luu – Chromatic Sigh  Elisa Luu – Chromatic Sigh

Though digitally crafted, Chromatic Sigh is warm, inviting and uniquely human, betraying a vulnerability and sensitivity that is rarely found in the male-dominated sphere of electronica. With its sighing, lilting qualities, Elisa Luu’s music reawakens a sense of childlike wonder and adventure with every sprawling and sparkling track. The album deftly moves in and out of the realms of ambient and electronica, creating a blissful, liminal realm where everything is rendered transformative.

The opening title track is a shifting kaleidoscope of drones, enveloping the listener with its gorgeous metallic haze. Single ‘The Garden’ creates a humid atmosphere of synths and glistening textures, carried aloft by crisp, skittering drum breaks. Melancholic centerpiece ‘Slow Bass Flute’ – which also appeared on debut EP Floating Sounds (Phantom Channel) – is so emotionally weighty that one can’t help but feel humbled in its presence. And album closer ‘Warn Plate’ is the gentle return to terra firma, leaving the listener conscious of having visited somewhere unique, complex and beautiful.

“gorgeous stuff, timid and trembling, frail and fragile – the ice sculptured craftsmanship eking out a beauti-fied solitary elegance much recalling the early career work of Mum… most alluring and lulling stuff” – Losing Today on single ‘The Garden’

Chromatic Sigh is now available in digital format from the Hidden Shoal Store and all good third-party digital music stores (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon, LaLa, etc). As with all new Hidden Shoal releases the album will also be available in lossless formats (FLAC and Apple Lossless). Chromatic Sigh will see its official CD release on the 29th of September and is available now for pre-order through n5Mailorder. Check the Hidden Shoal Store for all availability info.

Elisa Luu – Slowbeat  Elisa Luu – Slowbeat

‘The Garden’ is available for free download from the Hidden Shoal Store until the release of Elisa Luu’s debut album Chromatic Sigh on 10th September.

Elisa Luu The Garden Elisa Luu – The Garden

Both singles are available for free download from the Hidden Shoal Store until the release of the full albums. Sankt Otten’s Morgan wieder lustig is out on September 1st, and Elisa Luu’s Chromatic Sigh is out on September 10th.

Sankt Otten Lustig, lustig demain encore lustig Sankt Otten – Lustig, lustig demain encore lustig

The first song to be released from forthcoming debut album Chromatic Sigh, ‘The Garden’ is a place to luxuriate. Its humid atmosphere of synths and glistening textures drifts effortlessly before being carried aloft by crisp drum breaks. After its five-minute run time, the listener is gently returned to terra firma, conscious of having visited somewhere unique and beautiful.

Though digitally crafted, Elisa Luu’s music is warm, inviting and uniquely human, betraying a vulnerability and sensitivity that is rarely found in the male-dominated sphere of electronica. With its sighing, lilting qualities, Elisa Luu’s music reawakens a sense of childlike wonder and adventure with every sprawling and sparkling track.

Elisa Luu (Elisabetta Luciani) is a Rome-based composer, who began her musical career as a jazz/fusion saxophone player. Elisa has been involved in a number of musical projects over the years, including fusion quartet Prodotti Speciali and Short’s Monday Night Jazz Orchestra. She has also participated in Berklee Jazz clinics, where she received special mention as an alto sax player. In 2007 Elisa began to compose electronic music using flute, saxophone and guitar as sound sources. In 2008, UK net label Phantom Channel released her debut EP Floating Sounds, which garnered glowing online reviews.

“There is a balance of songness and sound, of an experimentalist’s emphasis on texture and a composer’s on tone, that makes Elisa Luu’s Floating Sounds (Phantom Channel) one of the most immediately awarding and arresting netlabel releases of the year thus far.” – Disquiet on Floating Sounds

‘The Garden’ is available for free download from the Hidden Shoal Store until the release of Elisa Luu’s debut album Chromatic Sigh on 10th September. Read a full press release here.

Elisa Luu – The Garden  Elisa Luu – The Garden

Elisa Luu (Elisabetta Luciani) is a Rome-based composer, who began her musical career as a jazz/fusion saxophone player. Elisa has been involved in a number of musical projects over the years, including fusion quartet Prodotti Speciali and Short’s Monday Night Jazz Orchestra. She has also participated in Berklee Jazz clinics, where she received special mention as an alto sax player.

Though digitally crafted, Elisa Luu’s music is warm, inviting and uniquely human, betraying a vulnerability and sensitivity that is rarely found in the male-dominated sphere of electronica. With its sighing, lilting qualities, Elisa Luu’s music reawakens a sense of childlike wonder and adventure with every sprawling and sparkling track.

In 2007 Elisa began to compose electronic music using flute, saxophone and guitar as sound sources. In 2008, UK net label Phantom Channel released her debut EP Floating Sounds, which garnered glowing online reviews.

“There is a balance of songness and sound, of an experimentalist’s emphasis on texture and a composer’s on tone, that makes Elisa Luu’s Floating Sounds (Phantom Channel) one of the most immediately awarding and arresting netlabel releases of the year thus far.”– Disquiet on Floating Sounds

“On the evidence of this EP, Elisa Luu is an astonishingly talented artist, crafting immersive and emotive soundfields with ease. Fingers crossed that she can muster an album of similar quality sometime soon.” - Luna Kafe on Floating Sounds

Elisa Luu’s debut album Chromatic Sigh is to be released by Hidden Shoal on the 10th of September, preceded by the album’s first single on the 5th of August.

Read a full press release here.

Of course the wonderful n5Mailorder in the US continues to distribute (wholesale and retail) Hidden Shoal releases to the US, Europe and Asia. And if digital is you thing then head to the Hidden Shoal Store to buy direct or hit any major digital retailer and you’ll find the full catalogue available.

Enjoy!