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.

And of course our US and international fans should continue to head to our wonderful distributor n5mailorder for Hidden Shoal CD titles.

2008 saw the release of a fresh new raft of superb albums and EPs, including those by new signings The Slow Beings, Fall Electric and City Of Satellites from Australia, Ghost In The Water and Rich Bennett from the USA, and RL/VL from Ireland. HSR stalwarts Tangled Star, Toby Richardson, My Majestic Star, Iretsu, Slow Dancing Society and Sankt Otten all followed up with some of their most critically acclaimed work. And at the end of the year we released compilation album East–West Section, volume four in our free download series.

As acclaim for our artists spread internationally, we were delighted to hear that prominent New York radio host DJ Mojo dubbed the label “this generation’s 4AD”. As huge fans of the classic label, this was a massive and humbling compliment.

HSR031:   Tangled Star Our Man In Eden Hill EP
HSR032:   Toby Richardson Evergreen
HSR033:   Ghost In The Water Tooth
HSR034:   The Slow Beings We Know Why The Earth Moves
HSR035:   Iretsu Name Our Numbers, Numbers EP
HSR036:   Slow Dancing Society Priest Lake Circa ’88
HSR037:   My Majestic Star Too Late, The Day
HSR038:   Rich Bennett Music For Underwater Supermarkets
HSR039:   Sankt Otten Eine Kleine Traurigkeit
HSR040:   RL/VL Chagrin
HSR041:   Fall Electric Measure And Step
HSR042:   City Of Satellites The Spook EP
HSR043:   Sankt Otten Tiefgang EP
HSR044:   Ghost In The Water Cardinal Red EP
HSR045:   Various artists East–West Section

Iretsu know how to duck and weave like maestros, and their new single ‘Sexy, No?’ is a fleet-footed marvel. The track oozes funk-addled confidence as it struts forward, layering harmonised guitars with Ryan Cross’s inimitable vocals, all driven by an unstoppable rhythm section. ‘Sexy, No?’ is one of those tracks that gets under your skin like a musical virus, leaving you humming its melody and sidestepping to its stomping beats long after the final note fades.

‘Sexy, No?’ is taken from Iretsu’s latest opus, Fang. Iretsu set out to write and record a playful, diverse yet accessible album – and they’ve nailed it, with Fang full to the brim with intention and energy. Written in four improv sessions and then broken apart and rebuilt, these songs bounce off each other in compelling directions, revealing addictive new pop dimensions with each spin.

“Iretsu’s sound—one that’s vital, confusing and, in a rare change-up for these predictable days, unexpected—is still totally modern. Its latest full-length, Fang, proves that we all should have been paying more attention all these years” – Local Cut on Fang

‘Sexy, No?’ is available now for free download from the Hidden Shoal Store. Fang is out now through Hidden Shoal, distributed via n5mailorder. Read a full press release here.

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.

Fang Iretsu – Fang

Iretsu – Humbuzzer Iretsu – Humbuzzer

Iretsu’s

Non Perth folk can stream RTRFM live here and all shows can be restreamed if you miss anything live. No excuses!

Iretsu – Fang Iretsu – Fang

Why are you still here? Head over to n5Mailorder now!

“Iretsu’s music is complex and hard to define… The group’s melodies are refined, the songs are bursting at the seams with ideas, the craftsmanship is impressive and most importantly, their combined offerings are outstanding” – Delusions of Adequacy on the Name Our Numbers, Numbers EP

“the band’s sound is dreamy and hard to resist… Once it makes its way into your playlist, your brain, your life, this is the type of album that’s hard to set aside” – Popmatters on The Moon And Stars Remain In The Morning Sky

‘Humbuzzer’ is now available from the Hidden Shoal Store. The single will be available for free download until the release of the album Fang on 27th May 2010.

Read a full press release here.

Iretsu – ‘Humbuzzer’ Iretsu – ‘Humbuzzer’

“We wanted to write a record full of intention, a fun, diverse, interesting, and accessible album. As the performers we wanted something simplified, yet technically challenging, that incorporated what we really like about Iretsu: strong dynamics, multifaceted vocals, and unique yet familiar sounds. The songs were written in four chunks, derived from four improv sessions which we broke apart and rebuilt. A typical writing style for Iretsu. Once we had all the songs, we moved on to disassembling and rearranging their parts to see what was most appealing to us. Then we applied transitions and vocal arrangements. Then it was time to bring in Mike Jones, our long-time collaborating engineer.”

Sound good? It is! Stay tuned…

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.

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!

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.

Then, on Thursday 2nd April, Iretsu are playing with Hotels at Doug Fir Lounge, Portland as part of Hotels’ tour in support of the recent release of their stunning album Where Hearts Go Broke. The show starts at 9pm and it’s $6 at the door. I know – $6 to see Iretsu AND Hotels. Nuts…

Iretsu’s latest stellar release, the Name Our Numbers, Numbers EP, and Hotels’ Where Hearts Go Broke are both available on CD and mp3 from the Hidden Shoal Store.

Iretsu Name Our Numbers, Numbers Iretsu – Name Our Numbers, Numbers

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.

Read then listen and then quietly say to yourself as you go to sleep tonight, “damn, those guys were right!”

Iretsu – 6 Bump Hillbilly Stomp  Iretsu – 6 Bump Hillbilly Stomp

And while we’re on the subject of hot Iretsu news, after the festival the band are going back into the studio to record their new album. Huzzah! Meanwhile, the Name Our Numbers, Numbers EP and The Moon And Stars Remain In The Morning Sky album are both available from the HSR Store.

Iretsu Name Our Numbers, Numbers Iretsu – Name Our Numbers, Numbers

Head over to the site to check it out and while you’re there you can stream tracks from the likes of Ghost In The Water, My Majestic Star, Iretsu, The Slow Beings and Monocle.

Why are you still here?

“With so many songs gradually building toward epic heights, it’s refreshing to hear someone actually scale back and let a song breathe for once… Iretsu has made something immensely listenable. It takes a bit of time to adjust to its world, but once you do, you might never look back.”

Iretsu – Name Our Numbers, Numbers Iretsu – Name Our Numbers, Numbers

“The group’s melodies are refined, the songs are bursting at the seams with ideas, the craftsmanship is impressive and most importantly, their combined offerings are outstanding. Name our Numbers, Numbers is evidence of an accomplished band and this EP is everyone’s chance to jump on before the bandwagon is gassed, cleaned and speeding down the Indie superhighway.”

Couldn’t have said it better ourselves! Read the full review over at DoA…

All three releases are also available digitally and on CD through the HSR Store. No excuses to own some of the best new music being released today and also support the beautiful people making it happen!

The Slow Beings – Carson Dyle The Slow Beings – Carson Dyle

“If you haven’t yet checked out Iretsu, then this is your chance to hop on the bandwagon before this Portland-based trio really take off. Currently operating in a completely different stratosphere to any other band on this planet, such is the originality of the avant-pop troupe’s sound, ‘Name Our Numbers, Numbers’ (Single) carries the Angry Ape seal of approval. Recalling the likes of Sonic Youth, Talking Heads and Arcade Fire, this track follows their debut masterpiece The Moon and Stars Remain in the Morning Sky, which featured everything from theatrical singalongs, Morricone-esque soundscaping and schizophrenic angular pop… Highly recommended.” – Angry Ape

“Melding such gorgeous, exploratory passages with the ethereal male/female harmonies of Arcade Fire and a sedate indie rock aesthetic, the band’s sound is dreamy and hard to resist… Once it makes its way into your playlist, your brain, your life, this is the type of album that’s hard to set aside” – Popmatters on The Moon and Stars Remain in the Morning Sky

The EP is available now through the Hidden Shoal Recordings online store in both CD and digital formats as well as all good online stores. Read a full press release here and preview the EP in full here.

Iretsu – Frenetic Iretsu – Frenetic

Iretsu:
July 10th Seattle, Washington @ El Corazon (w/Monocle)
July 11th Olympia, Washington @ Le Voyeur (w/Monocle)
July 13th Portland, Oregon @ The Doug Fir Lounge (w/Monocle)
July 18th Oakland, California @ Mama Buzz

Monocle:
July 9th – Biltmore Cabaret (Vancouver, w/Hotels and Dawntreader)
July 10th Seattle, Washington @ El Corazon (w/Iretsu)
July 11th – Le Voyeur (Olympia, Washington w/Iretsu and Hotels)
July 13th – Doug Fir (Portland, Oregon w/Iretsu and Hotels)

Monocle’s awesome album Outer Sunset is available on CD through US distributor Tonevendor or MP3 and CD through the HSR Store. The album was one of Tonevendor’s best selling CD’s in June and after it’s digital release last year was named on a number of top ten of 2007 lists.

Iretsu’s incredible new single ‘Name our Numbers, Numbers‘ has just been released, and is available for free download from the HSR Store until their new EP is released on 8th July. Hear why RTRFM has the track on high rotation and DJ Gemma Pike called the track “absolutely stunning” and DJ Andrew Ryan named it track of the week.

Hope to see you at the shows!

Monocle – Music of Space Monocle – Music of Space

Iretsu – Name our Numbers, Numbers Iretsu – Name our Numbers, Numbers

In other related news the Hidden Shoal Recordings online store (HSR Store) has seen a series of new features added this week. The store has been upgraded to handle the aforementioned CD sales with The Slow Beings christening the shelves with their CD release of We Know Why The Earth Moves out today. The store also has a new “accountless” purchasing option that allows customers to purchase without needing to create a store account (payment is made via credit card or Paypal account all through Paypal secure servers). Last but not least the label has initiated a series of “back catalogue specials” where monthly selections from the back catalogue will be available in high quality digital format at up to 40% off normal price. What are you waiting for?

Wayne Harriss – Anymore Wayne Harriss – Anymore

Iretsu – Name our Numbers, Numbers Iretsu – Name our Numbers, Numbers

“We are now taking reservations for New Believers–an interactive and inventive production exploring the paradoxes of faith… New Believers is directed by Kate Sanderson, and features performances by Jacob Coleman, Aurora Erlander-Miller, Amber Whitehall and the band Iretsu (Ryan Cross, Joel Holly and Glen Scheidt). The script was created through collaboration, research and composition… The last phase of this project, Believers (in January) sold out almost every show, so be sure to get your seats reserved today! Belief is going fast!”

New Believers
A transcendental performance by Fever Theater
Venue: The Casket, 403 NW 5th, Portland, OR
Thursdays through Saturdays at 8PM
June 12th through July 5th (no show on July 4th)
Tickets: $10-15 sliding scale, Thursdays are pay-what-you-can
Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made by calling (503) 381-6814 or e-mailing kate@fevertheater.com

Iretsu:
July 10th Seattle, Washington @ El Corazon (w/Monocle)
July 11th Olympia, Washington @ Le Voyeur (w/Monocle)
July 13th Portland, Oregon @ The Doug Fir Lounge (w/Monocle)
July 18th Oakland, California @ Mama Buzz

Monocle:
July 9th – Biltmore Cabaret (Vancouver, w/Hotels and Dawntreader)
July 10th Seattle, Washington @ El Corazon (w/Iretsu)
July 11th – Le Voyeur (Olympia, Washington w/Iretsu and Hotels)
July 13th – Doug Fir (Portland, Oregon w/Iretsu and Hotels)

Iretsu’s incredible new single ‘Name our Numbers, Numbers‘ has just been released, and is available for free download from the HSR Store until their new EP is released on 8th July. And Monocle’s awesome album Outer Sunset is available on CD or MP3 through the HSR Store.

“All the elements are erratic if you were to try to isolate all the parts of the song and parse out what is happening. The song is marching. The song is staggering drunk up a hill, then tumbling down the other side, tearing its jeans and getting twigs in its hair—all of this in the first minute or so, but all the ideas and directions are calculated to a sum that is decidedly un-erratic” – Matthew Nicely on ‘Name our Numbers, Numbers’

“Melding such gorgeous, exploratory passages with the ethereal male/female harmonies of Arcade Fire and a sedate indie rock aesthetic, the band’s sound is dreamy and hard to resist… Once it makes its way into your playlist, your brain, your life, this is the type of album that’s hard to set aside” – Popmatters on The Moon and Stars Remain in the Morning Sky

‘Name our Numbers, Numbers’ is now available from the Hidden Shoal Recordings Store. The single will be available for free download until the EP is released on 8th July 2008. A full press release is available here.

Iretsu – Name our Numbers, Numbers  Iretsu – Name our Numbers, Numbers

BreakThru Radio
“BTR is the Internet’s voice of the world’s best independent music, where DJs take music personally… ‘Music for music lovers’ is BTR’s motto, and one that their DJs take very seriously. In a world where independent music is becoming more and more accessible, the need for select sources to filter the best is a necessity… BTR offers listeners access to unknown artists throughout the world, with a daily audience that includes more than a dozen countries. The site has garnered over 80 million listeners in its first year with its unique on-demand musical programming and focus on the best new independent music worldwide.”

DJ Mojo
“A force in the independent music scene for over four decades, BTR is thrilled to have his exquisite taste and expertise… DJ Mojo has spent the majority of his life in Brooklyn, NY heavily inundated in the local music scene. He has worked the doors of many of the city’s hottest venues, and written for such publications as Spin and Slash, and played in the UK electro-noise band Whitehouse, as well as being in the original lineup of Swans… Maximum Music airs every Tuesday on BTR featuring a wide array of music as eclectic and impressive as DJ Mojo himself… Mojo has found friendships with some of the musical greats such as Bowie and Iggy Pop, and the Beastie Boys even wrote a song about him.”

A prestigious showcase indeed! Don’t forget to check it out by streaming the show on BTR on Tuesday June 10th.

Plus, Iretsu’s new EP, the follow-up to their staggering album The Moon and Stars Remain in the Morning Sky, will be released on Hidden Shoal on June 24th.

“Iretsu is making journey music. On their new EP, each of the three tracks takes numerous twists and turns, going past the soft/loud formula into territory like groovy-chaotic/lullaby-lament. This music, more than simply presenting dichotomies, is about traveling from one state of mind to another, and the end of each song sounds very little like its beginning- another clue that this band is packing an album’s worth of new material into each finely tuned song.” – Jacob Coleman

You can listen to two of these new songs at Iretsu’s MySpace page.

Iretsu – Bad Secretary Iretsu Bad Secretary (Taken from The Moon and Stars Remain in the Morning Sky)

Limit of Maps is the third volume in the label’s sampler album series, available for free download from the HSR Store. The album includes a wonderful cross-section of Hidden Shoal’s activity over the second half of 2007, and also features a number of as yet unreleased tracks from upcoming 2008 releases. Many of the tracks are taken from critically acclaimed albums and EPs, a number of which have ended up on best of 2007 lists.

The contributing artists on Limit of Maps include Sankt Otten, Slow Dancing Society, Iretsu, Bury the Sound, Beautiful Lunar Landscape, Chris Mason, Monocle, Tangled Star, Toby Richardson, Cheekbone, The Retail Sectors, Glassacre, and Jumpel.

The album is available now for free download from the HSR Store.

So if you haven’t heard the sheer musical brilliance that is The Moon and Stars Remain in the Morning Sky, you now have no excuse. Hear for yourself out why Sonic Frontiers said,

“I do not use the word classic lightly, but Iretsu deserve it for their sheer originality and invention”

and Delusions of Adequacy said,

“the complexity and eclectic mix of tracks solidify Iretsu as a band that rivals even the likes of Broken Social Scene for musical daring.”

and just to labour the point, Luna Kafe said,

“This could be the right album for all the disappointed Arcade Fire fans who got turned off by their second album. A great album that is growing during every new spin.”

You get the point, so go get the album! All third party store links are available from the HSR Store.

Iretsu – Higher and Higher Iretsu – Higher and Higher