Throughout the month of May 2011, Hidden Shoal Recordings is celebrating its fifth birthday. The celebrations kick off on Friday 6 May with the release of its latest free sampler album, Hydrozoa, which compiles 18 singles released over the last 18 months. Other delicious surprises will be revealed in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for more info.

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.

Check out this lovely little write up on Rich Bennett’s ‘Misty Valley’ track and video over at the super lovely My Old Kentucky Blog. And don’t forget to check out Rich’s latest slice of joy On Holiday as well as his other releases and free downloads at the Hidden Shoal Store.

Rich Bennett’s new video for his 2010 single ‘Misty Valley’, taken from his latest, On Holiday, has been featured on the ever-excellent music blog Tome to the Weather Machine.

Rich Bennett – Misty Valley Rich Bennett – Misty Valley

Hidden Shoal are excited to present the gorgeous new video for Rich Bennett’s 2010 single ‘Misty Valley’, taken from his acclaimed album On Holiday. Beautifully edited using found footage from the ’60s, it’s the perfect visual accompaniment to the sublime, breezy pop of ‘Misty Valley’. Check out the video over at YouTube and download the single for free here.

“This is the perfect blend of cheesy lounge flavour cut with a scary ambience that is like a deserted shopping centre in the 1970s where someone left the music running. Underneath all of that NY’s Rich Bennett and co. are a pretty gifted bunch of songwriters as well. People have heard everything from Bacharach to Morricone in this; some of them call it retro-futurist pop, I call it fantastic.” – 4zzz

For fans in Europe aching to catch the magic of Rich Bennett live, the wait is almost over – well, it is if you live in Luxembourg and Belgium.

Dates as follows:

14 April – AutrePart the lounge, Luxembourg

15 April – Le Chab, Brussels BE

16 April - White Cat, Ghent BE with Hidden Shoal’s dream pop maestros Colour Kane!

The ‘Misty Valley’ music video can be streamed on Youtube and Vimeo and the track  is available for free download from the Hidden Shoal Store. On Holiday is available on CD and mp3 format from the Hidden Shoal Store and distributed via n5Mailorder.

Rich Bennett – ‘Misty Valley’