Hidden Shoal is excited to release ‘The Colour Of Long Days’, an as yet unreleased companion track to the acclaimed 2011 EP We Don’t Look Back For Very Long by neo-classical/minimal ambient artist Antonymes.

In keeping with the theme of We Don’t Look Back For Very Long, ‘The Colour Of Long Days’ is Antonymes’ reworking of music by fellow Hidden Shoal artist Slow Dancing Society. This time ‘The Red Summer Sun’ from “Priest Lake Circa ’88″ is transformed, the original’s shimmering waves of guitar forming a background against which plaintive piano chords resonate beautifully. Antonymes marries SDS’s glistening atmospheres to his own trademark ambient neo-classical minimalism, creating a completely mesmerising hybrid.

“seamlessly weds the neo-classical leanings of Antonymes to the luscious atmospheric soundsculpting specialized in by Slow Dancing Society, resulting in close to thirty minutes of ambient-classical splendour” – Textura on We Don’t Look Back For Very Long, voted one of their favourite EPs of the year

“This album is probably the most heartbreaking set of songs I’ve heard since Bon Iver’s For Emma Forever Ago, or I Am A Bird Now by Antony And The Johnsons. It’s Brian Eno meets a dagger to the heart….a record that deserves album of the year, even four months into 2011.” – Delusions of Adequacy on Antonymes’ The Licence To Interpret Dreams

‘The Colour Of Long Days’ is available as a free download from the Hidden Shoal Store. For all other Antonymes and Slow Dancing Society music (including free downloads, CD’s and digital releases) head to the Hidden Shoal Store. Read a full press release here.

Antonymes meets Slow Dancing Society – ‘The Colour Of Long Days’

Hidden Shoal Recordings is excited to announce the release of ‘Supply Chins’, the second single from Perth’s widescreen indie-rock craftsmen Umpire, taken from their brilliant 2011 debut album Now We’re Active.

On an album crammed to breaking point with hooks, ‘Supply Chins’ has perhaps the catchiest hooks of all. Alternating between a massive fist-pumping chorus and reflective verses, the song builds towards a breathtaking climax punctuated by sumptuous horns, weaving vocals and driving guitars. This is indie-rock at its most unashamedly anthemic.

Umpire combine sprawling indie-rock sounds with reflective melancholy, expertly wielding massive sun-drenched melodies, serpentine guitar parts and soaring vocals to spectacular effect. From singles ‘Green Light District’ and ‘Supply Chins’ through the chiming guitar surge of ‘The Canyon’ to gorgeous finale ‘Cyclones Into Sunshowers’, Now We’re Active is a stunning release, as expansive as it is propulsive, as heartbreaking as it is life-affirming.

‘Supply Chins’ is available now as a free download from the Hidden Shoal Store where you’ll also find Umpire’s amazing debut album Now We’re Active. For more info read a full press release here.

Umpire – ‘Supply Chins’

Just a few quick miscellaneous bits and pieces we’ve been meaning to pass on. We have recently set up a page on Google+ so if you’re a G+ user then head over and join the Hidden Shoal circle. We’ve also been building a HSR Radio playlist (mp3 clips) over at our YouTube Channel which is now clocking in at over 3 hours of music and growing weekly as we continue to add more tracks.

Oh and stay tuned as we still have free tracks from Umpire and Antonymes/Slow Dancing Society coming your way before the end of the year!

2011 is almost over and 2012 is knocking on the door like a life insurance salesman at the apocalypse (I’ll work on that one). To end the year with some lovin and fantastic music we are having a huge sale over at the Hidden Shoal Store. Over 20 CD & digital releases are on sale from artists such as Slow Dancing Society, Sankt Otten, Markus Mehr, City of Satellites, Apricot Rail, Umpire, Wes Willenbring, Hotels, Rich Bennett, Liam Singer and Salli Lunn to name but a few. All CD purchases include free shipping and an immediate mp3 album download and as special bonus for our wonderful fans, every CD purchase will recieve a free bonus copy of the Hidden Shoal various artists CD A Million Square Miles.

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.