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

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.

Sat  17 April – Centro per la Pace, Barcellona
Mon 19 April – Maj Musical Monday, Munich
Tue 20 April – Tovarna Rog,  Ljubjana
Wed 21 April – Honky Tonky,  Seregno
Thu 22 April – Ohibò Lab, Salerno
Fri 23 April – Marianello Jazz Caffé, Piano di Sorrento
Sat 24 April – Lomax, Catania

HC-B – Hot Afternoon In The Bulls Square HC-B – Hot Afternoon In The Bulls Square

Elisa Luu – The Garden Elisa Luu – The Garden

HC-B – Black  HC-B – Black

Soundcheck for a Missing Movie is available at the Hidden Shoal Store.

HC-B – A Dusty Book, A City of Lights HC-B – A Dusty Book, A City of Lights

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.

Listen to and purchase the album here.

HC-B – Hot Afternoon in the Bulls’ Square   HC-B – Hot Afternoon in the Bulls’ Square

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.

Soundcheck For A Missing Movie is available from the Hidden Shoal Store.

HC-B – Missing Movie HC-B – Missing Movie

The dates are:

Tues, 13 Oct 2009, 10:00 PM – @ Il Conte Staccio, Roma
Wed, 14 Oct 2009, 10:00 PM – @ CantinaMediterraneo,  Frosinone, N/B
Thurs, 15 Oct 2009, 10:00 PM – @ SLEBEST, Pistoia
Fri, 16 Oct 2009, 10:00 PM – @ BlackHouseBlues, Avellino, N/B
Sat, 17 Oct 2009, 10:00 PM – @ I Candelai w/Marlowe, Palermo
Sun, 18 Oct 2009, 10:00 PM – @ La Chiave, Catania, N/B

HC-B – A Dusty Book, A City of Lights HC-B – A Dusty Book, A City of Lights

More HC-B radio news soon!

HC-B Black  HC-B Black

HC-B – Missing Movie HC-B – Missing Movie

HC-B Black HC-B – Black

Soundcheck For A Missing Movie is now also available through Australian mail order company Waterfront. Visit the Hidden Shoal Store for all availability info.

HC-B Crystal Lane HC-B – Crystal Lane

Soundcheck For A Missing Movie is available in CD and mp3 format from the HSR Store.

HC-B Crystal Lane HC-B – Crystal Lane

Dilatazione’s Too Emotional For Maths and HC-B’s Soundcheck For A Missing Movie are available from the HSR Store.

HC-B Hot Afternoon In The Bulls’ Square HC-B – Hot Afternoon In The Bulls’ Square

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!

Visit the HSR Store to stream the album in full, and to purchase the album in CD or mp3 format.

HC-B Missing Movie HC-B – Missing Movie

HC-B

“…Soundcheck For A Missing Movie, their latest LP, finds the band looking for a perfect spaghetti western/Mafia tale to score and instead writing an engrossing collection of elegiac etudes with enough potential to transcend the cinemascope….the record doesn’t so much evoke maestro Morricone’s immortal pieces as creates its own imaginary city of hot sun and high drama, proving along the way there’s more to Sicily than la cosa nostra.” – Rave Magazine

Read the review in HC-B’s review section or head over to the Rave Magazine website. You can stream the album in full at the HSR Store and also check out CD and digital availability. Brisbane fans will be pleased to know that the album will soon be stocked at the wonderful Rocking Horse Records.

HC-B – Black  HC-B – Black

Plus, if you sign up to the Hidden Shoal mailing list this month, you’ll be in for a special surprise in the last week of birthday celebrations. All subscribers will get a free digital album voucher for use in the HSR Store. So if you’re not already on the mailing list then sign up here and we’ll send details out to all subscribers at the end of the month.

“Finding Hidden Shoal Recordings could rightly claim to be in the top 10 best things that ever happened to me, such is the quality and diversity of their roster”– Boring Machine Disturbs Sleep

“they continually showcase new, innovative artists to the masses” —The Silent Ballet

“This generation’s 4AD” – New York radio host and promoter DJ Mojo

The label will host a birthday bash at the Velvet Lounge in Mt Lawley, Perth on the 13th of May. Special guest DJs will be spinning sets curated from the Hidden Shoal catalogue, including previews of some exciting upcoming releases. There will be giveaways, CDs available, and a bevy of local HSR artists to touch! The evening will also feature a special performance by the wonderful pairing of Tristen Parr (Fall Electric, Schvendes) and Stina Thomas (Fall Electric, Stina).

During May the label will be running a number of promotions, including CD giveaways and HSR Store vouchers, as well as in conjunction with a number of other music sites and radio stations. Mailing list subscribers will be in for an extra special range of treats so be sure to sign up and get ready for the goods. All details will be revealed during the month, so stay tuned!

Read a full press release here.

HC-B Hot Afternoon In The Bulls’ Square HC-B – Hot Afternoon In The Bulls’ Square

78 Records also do national mailorder so Australian fans living outside of Perth have no excuse for not soaking in the flow of awesome music coming out of these here headquarters!

HC-B – Black  HC-B – Black

HC-B Dead Horse Walking HC-B – Dead Horse Walking

Soundcheck… is available in mp3 format from the HSR Store, and on CD from n5Mailorder. Plus, don’t forget that HC-B are touring Italy throughout April – their live show is monumental.

HC-B Hot Afternoon In The Bulls’ Square HC-B – Hot Afternoon In The Bulls’ Square

HC-B Dead Horse Walking HC-B – Dead Horse Walking

HC-B Black HC-B – Black

“this is instrumental post-rock with attention-grabbing orchestral construction… HC-B really are something special” – Even In The Future Nothing Works

“HC-B cram as much as possible into Soundcheck’s 50-minute running time and it actually comes as a disappointment when it ends. There’s simply far too much going on in this record that to simply label these Italians as a mere post-rock band would be doing them a great disservice.” – [sic]

Soundcheck For A Missing Movie is now available on CD through Hidden Shoal’s US distributor n5Mailorder and in digital format from the Hidden Shoal Store as well as all good third-party digital music stores (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon etc).

Read a full press release here and stay tuned for European tour dates.

HC-B – A Dusty Book, A City of Lights HC-B – A Dusty Book, A City of Lights

HC-B Slow Compensation HC-B – Slow Compensation

Both albums are available for streaming and purchase from the HSR Store.

HC-B Hot Afternoon In The Bulls’ Square HC-B – Hot Afternoon In The Bulls’ Square

Soundcheck For A Missing Movie is available in CD and mp3 format from the HSR Store.

HC-B Dead Horse Walking HC-B – Dead Horse Walking

Soundcheck For A Missing Movie can be streamed in full at the HSR Store, and is available in mp3 and CD format.

HC-B Slow Compensation HC-B – Slow Compensation

The album is available now in digital format from all good online stores including the HSR Store.  Soundcheck for a Missing Movie will see its official release on CD at the end of the month.

HC-B – Hot Afternoon in the Bull’s Square   HC-B – Hot Afternoon in the Bull’s Square

“this is instrumental post-rock with attention-grabbing orchestral construction… HC-B really are something special” – Even In The Future Nothing Works

“The music of HC-B frees the imagination, leaving it to roam without the limits imposed by words, seducing with sound frames within which you can figure everything” – Freak Out

Soundcheck For A Missing Movie is now available in digital format from the Hidden Shoal Store and all good third-party digital music stores (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon etc). The album will see its official CD release at the end of March, 2009.

Read a full press release here.

HC-B – Playing With Planes  HC-B – Playing With Planes

‘Hot Afternoon In The Bulls’ Square’ is available for free download from the HSR Store until the release of HC-B’s new album Soundcheck For A Missing Movie on 3rd March.

HC-B Hot Afternoon In The Bulls’ Square HC-B – Hot Afternoon In The Bulls’ Square

‘Hot Afternoon…’ is available for free download from the HSR Store until the release of Souncheck For A Missing Movie on 3rd March.

HC-B Hot Afternoon In The Bulls’ Square HC-B – Hot Afternoon In The Bulls’ Square

Hotels Hydra Hotels – Hydra

Lurching forward from a spray of electric noise, the cantering rhythms that underpin ‘Hot Afternoon In The Bulls’ Square’ propel the song with irresistible momentum. Free jazz horns squabble and blare like a swarm of bees before the main theme shines through like an exultant fanfare, supported by a thundering bassline. This triumphant single simultaneously deconstructs and embraces fist-in-the-air anthemic rock in enviable style, and announces the imminent arrival of a formidable new album release from these Italian masters.

“From krautrock to the Canterbury school, from science-fiction films to Godspeed You Black Emperor!, the Sicilian band metabolize everything with sensitivity and personality… HC-B will be on everyone’s lips for some time to come” – Freak Out

‘Hot Afternoon In The Bulls’ Square’ is now available for free download from the Hidden Shoal Store until the release of the album Soundcheck For A Missing Movie on March 3rd, 2009. The album was recorded and mixed by Sacha Tilotta and Alfredo Musumeci at Dream Factory in Catania, and mastered by Bob Weston (Shellac) in Chicago.

Read a full press release here.

HC-B – Hot Afternoon in the Bulls’ Square  HC-B – Hot Afternoon in the Bulls’ Square

East-West Section is like a knife with ears – an audible slice through Hidden Shoal’s 2008 releases. But no blood! We’ve stitched these killer tracks into a brand new tapestry… From the delicate ambient murmur of RL/VL to the avant-pop mastery of Iretsu; the lush lounge-jazz of Rich Bennett to the sublime ambient rock of City Of Satellites; the charming electro-pop of Ghost In The Water to the addictive indie-rock of Fall Electric and The Slow Beings; and acclaimed Hidden Shoal mainstays My Majestic Star, Sankt Otten and Slow Dancing Society. This is an irresistible showcase of the breadth and depth of the Hidden Shoal catalogue.

“Hidden Shoal Recordings is on a mission. The Australian label is busy enhancing minds, widening musical consciousness, opening ears, and taking us beyond the sometimes all too comfortably familiar” – Blogcritics

“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

East-West Section is now available for free digital download from the HSR Store. Read a full press release here.

We can also announce a very special closing set from experimental electronic acousmatitians Enargeia. The duo will perform “Hidden Shoal Redux”, a Stockhausen inspired Hymnen to the HSR sound using their colleagues own recordings as source material for an exploration in sonic chaos.

The party is also the celebration of the release of the new volume in our free sampler album series, East-West Section, which will be available for free download on the night. To anyone attending, bring along your thumb drive or USB stick to be the first to download the album! East-West Section will then be available through the HSR Store.

This event will be suitably HUGE! Be there or become the rhomboid you always feared you might.

Named after the great French photojournalist Henri Cartier-Bresson, Sicilian quintet HC-B are masters of a similarly evocative art. Their expansive sound, rich with detail, is a clear reflection of a band at the height of their creative powers. Effortlessly shifting focus and timbre with each movement of their epic song-suites, HC-B channel their formidable talents into some of the most thrilling, symphonic instrumental rock you will hear.

“From krautrock to the Canterbury school, from science-fiction films to Godspeed You Black Emperor!, the Sicilian band metabolize everything with sensitivity and personality… HC-B will be on everyone’s lips for some time to come” – Freak Out

Hidden Shoal will release their new album Soundcheck For A Missing Movie on March 3rd, 2009. The album was recorded and mixed by Sacha Tilotta and Alfredo Musumeci at Dream Factory in Catania, and mastered by Bob Weston (Shellac) in Chicago.

Read a full press release here and find more information on the band here.