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.

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

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

In 2007, Hidden Shoal pushed onward with a ridiculously full release schedule and tons of new signings. The label continued its expansion internationally with 2007 seeing releases from a diverse and beautiful spectrum of artists based in Germany (Sankt Otten and Jumpel), France (Beautiful Lunar Landscape), the US (Slow Dancing Society, The Hero Cycle, Iretsu, Wes Willenbring, Monocle), Belgium (Colour Kane) and Japan (Cheekbone, The Retail Sectors).

Locally, 2007 saw releases from ambient duo Moongoat, a new album from Chris Mason and an EP under his My Majestic Star moniker, plus an EP from Melbourne instrumental quartet Bury The Sound (with HSR’s Tim Clarke on guitar).

In May 2007 we were proud to celebrate our first birthday with the release of the second volume in our free download compilation series, The Garden of Forking Paths. And if that wasn’t enough, we saw out the end of the year with the release of a third compilation, Limit of Maps, rounding up tracks from the second half of 2007 and also featuring a sneak preview of a few 2008 releases, too.

However, perhaps the crowning achievement of a busy year was being named one of Textura’s 10 favourite labels of 2007. The feeling’s mutual – Textura is easily one of our favourite music sites. To be just one year in and be acknowledged like that felt like quite an honour.

HSR013:   Moongoat Moongoat EP
HSR014:   My Majestic Star Fining EP
HSR015:   Sankt Otten Wir Koennen Ja Freunde Bleiben
HSR016:   The Hero Cycle Lakes and Ponds EP
HSR017:   Colour Kane A Taste Of
HSR018:   Wes Willenbring Somewhere Someone Else
HSR019:   Various artists The Garden of Forking Paths
HSR020:   Bury The Sound Autumn Magnets EP
HSR021:   Chris Mason Restless
HSR022:   Jumpel Samuel Jason Lies on the Beach
HSR023:   Cheekbone Yesterday EP
HSR024:   Beautiful Lunar Landscape Alone in this Dark Romantic Night EP
HSR025:   Iretsu The Moon and Stars Remain in the Morning Sky
HSR026:   Slow Dancing Society The Slow and Steady Winter
HSR027:   Monocle Outer Sunset
HSR028:   The Retail Sectors Foregone Conclusion
HSR029:   Sankt Otten Wunder Gibt Es Immer Wieder
HSR030:   Various artists Limit of Maps

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.

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

‘Mein Freund aus Köln’ soars slowly and elegantly across the night sky like a neon bird. The listener is carried along by hypnotic drum patterns, while majestic synth refrains and guitar drones sing sadly and beautifully. As with so much of Sankt Otten’s work there is something brooding underneath the surface of ‘Mein Freund aus Köln’, something always just out of reach. The single is accompanied by the gorgeous previously unreleased track ‘Melancholie fur Millionen’ which rounds out this wonderful package in true style, proving that everything Sankt Otten touch turns to gold.

‘Mein Freund aus Köln’ is taken from Sankt Otten’s fourth album Morgen wieder lustig which is out now through Hidden Shoal Recordings.

“Sankt Otten continue to defy the German Portishead pigeonhole, by cranking up the tempo, veering into a sort of krautrock by way of Four Tet one minute, whirling pop ambience the next, synthy sprawling blissed out prismatic new age the next, over the course of the record slipping back and forth between these various sounds, sometimes melding several at once, a gorgeous, moody sonic journey, from haunting atmospheric darkness, to sun dappled rhythmic mesmer, to spaced out psychedelic synth, to eighties sounding new wave to hushed dreamlike ambience, to creepy slowcore crawl. Awesome stuff.” – Aquarius Records on Morgen wieder lustig

‘Mein Freund aus Köln / Melancholie fur Millionen’ is available now for free download from the Hidden Shoal Store and Bandcamp. Read a full press release here.

Sankt Otten – Mein Freund aus Köln Sankt Otten – Mein Freund aus Köln

If that good news wasn’t enough for you then you’ll certainly crack a smile when we tell you that we will be releasing the second free single off Morgen wieder lustig next week. Smile not high enough? The free download will also include an exclusive previously unreleased Sankt Otten track.

Ok you can stop smiling now its looking a little creepy….

Sankt Otten – X für U Sankt Otten – X für U

Wes Willenbring – Oh Most Wes Willenbring – Oh Most

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

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

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

Preview and buy Morgen wieder lustig here.

Sankt Otten – Mit Popcorn und Champagner  Sankt Otten – Mit Popcorn und Champagner

Sankt Otten – X Für U Sankt Otten – X Für U

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.

Sankt Otten

Stream and buy Morgen Wider Lustig at the HSR Store.

Sankt Otten – Mit Popcorn und Champagner  Sankt Otten – Mit Popcorn und Champagner

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.

Sankt Otten – Lustig, Lustig, Demain Encore Lustig Sankt Otten – Lustig, Lustig, Demain Encore Lustig

Sankt Otten – Fromme Lugen Sankt Otten – Fromme Lugen

Sankt Otten -  Ich Bin Dan Mal Oben Sankt Otten – Ich Bin Dan Mal Oben

The video is also available for embedding and downloading at Vimeo. Check the Hidden Shoal Store for all single and album availability. Also be sure to check more of Alessio’s wonderful work via his Myspace.

Sankt Otten’s fourth album sees the duo’s sound evolving once again, while retaining the undeniable hallmarks of atmosphere, melodic dexterity and depth. Morgen wieder lustig employs stacks of luscious synthesizers, with knowing nods to fellow Germans Kraftwerk and Klaus Schulze, alongside Oliver Klemm’s hallmark soaring guitar drones and Stephan Otten’s unmistakable rhythms. The album presents a musical vision that is both epic and personal – a kind of internal cinema.

Single ‘Lustig, lustig demain encore lustig’ is a prime example of Sankt Otten’s glorious new direction. The track acts like a magnet, irresistibly drawing the listener along with its hypnotic drums. Elsewhere the album is soaked in majestic refrains, demonstrating Sankt Otten’s control of rhythm and texture. While their early sonic experiments explored the brooding and frayed edges of ambient, post-rock and jazz, these new songs push this relationship to a new level. Morgen wieder lustig shifts from the head-rush ambience of ‘Das bezahlte Lob’ to the dark and twisted post-jazz of ‘Fromme Lügen’. Just when you think you have the album pegged, ‘X für U’ drags you on a melancholic, Klaus Schulze-inspired sc-fi odyssey.

The album’s initial pre-release has already seen it gathering critical praise and radio feature album status on the likes of Australia’s wonderful RTRFM.

Morgen wieder lustig is now available on CD and is distributed in Australia through Hidden Shoal Distribution and in the US and Europe via n5Mailorder. The album is also available in all digital formats, including lossless, through the Hidden Shoal Store and all good third-party digital music stores (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon, LaLa etc). Check the Hidden Shoal Store for CD and digital availability info.

Read a full press release here.

Sankt Otten – Mein Freund aus Koln Sankt Otten – Mein Freund aus Koln

Morgen wieder lustig will see it’s official CD release on the 22nd of September and is available in digital format now from all good online stores. In a new initiative for Hidden Shoal the album is also available in lossless formats (FLAC and Apple Lossless). Check the Hidden Shoal Store for all availability info.

In a first for Hidden Shoal, Morgen wieder lustig will also be available in lossless formats (FLAC and Apple Lossless). The album will be official released on CD on the 22nd of September and is available for pre-order through n5Mailorder now. Check the Hidden Shoal Store for all availability info.

Sankt Otten – Lustig, Lustig, Demain Encore Lustig Sankt Otten – Lustig, Lustig, Demain Encore Lustig

Sankt Otten’s fourth album sees the duo’s sound evolving once again, while retaining the undeniable hallmarks of atmosphere, melodic dexterity and depth. Morgen wieder lustig employs stacks of luscious synthesizers, with knowing nods to fellow Germans Kraftwerk and Klaus Schulze, alongside Oliver Klemm’s hallmark soaring guitar drones and Stephan Otten’s unmistakable rhythms. The album presents a musical vision that is both epic and personal – a kind of internal cinema.

Single ‘Lustig, lustig demain encore lustig’ is a prime example of Sankt Otten’s glorious new direction. The track acts like a magnet, irresistibly drawing the listener along with its hypnotic drums. Elsewhere the album is soaked in majestic refrains, demonstrating Sankt Otten’s control of rhythm and texture. While their early sonic experiments explored the brooding and frayed edges of ambient, post-rock and jazz, these new songs push this relationship to a new level. Morgen wieder lustig shifts from the head-rush ambience of ‘Das bezahlte Lob’ to the dark and twisted post-jazz of ‘Fromme Lügen’. Just when you think you have the album pegged, ‘X für U’ drags you on a melancholic, Klaus Schulze-inspired sc-fi odyssey.

“a noir tweaked cruise controlled cosmic hyper drive, the wide screen panoramic aspects, the motorik purr of crystalline electronic pulses and the precision honed glacially sculptured detailing endow it with a minimalist mesmeric mastery” – Losing Today on Single ‘Lustig, lustig demain encore lustig’

Morgen wieder lustig is now available in digital format from the Hidden Shoal Store and all good third-party digital music stores (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon, LaLa etc). In a first for Hidden Shoal Morgen wieder lustig will also be available in lossless formats (FLAC and Apple Lossless). The album will see its official CD release on the 22nd of September and is available for pre-order through n5Mailorder now. Check the Hidden Shoal Store for all availability info.

Sankt Otten – Mutter, Jazz und der Heilige Geist  Sankt Otten – Mutter, Jazz und der Heilige Geist

‘Lustig, lustig, demain encoure lustig’ is available for free download from the Hidden Shoal Store until the release of their new album Morgan wieder lustig on 1st September.

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

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

‘Lustig, lustig demain encore lustig’ is the neon drug nightscape to Sankt Otten’s 2007 single ‘Wunden gibt es immer wieder’s electric opium day. The track is like a magnet, irresistibly drawing the listener along with its hypnotic drums. The arpeggiated synth hook then digs in, before Oliver Klemm’s brooding ebowed guitar unleashes a killer blow. Soaked in majestic refrains, ‘Lustig, lustig demain encore lustig’ is a reminder that Sankt Otten’s power lies in their control of rhythm and texture. While their early sonic experiments explored the brooding and frayed edges of ambient and post-rock but their new songs push this relationship to a new level.

‘Lustig, lustig demain encore lustig’ hints at what makes Sankt Otten’s forthcoming album Morgen wieder lustig so special. It sees Sankt Otten employing stacks of luscious synthesizers, with nods to Kraftwerk, Klaus Schulze and krautrock. Sankt Otten have managed to progress their sound while retaining the undeniable hallmarks of atmosphere, melodic dexterity and depth.

“… at their best (’Tiefgang’, ‘Meter (Heute Anders)’, the Eno-esque ‘Ende Gut’) the band breaks through into a nocturnal wonderland all their own… Otten’s post-trip-hop, sample heavy atmospherics aren’t quite like anyone else out there…” - PopMatters on Eine Kleine Traurigkeit

“The instrumental ambience of the album is lavishing, gorgeous, and inexplicably German… And the melodies… Ah, the melodies. The track ‘Der Groove Des Guten Gewissens’, with its dramatic strings and high octave piano notes, is a true cinematic experience – turn that up and walk around the city in the rain, and let me know if your eyes don’t swell up with tears.” - Headphone Commute on Wunden Gibt Es Immer Wieder

‘Lustig, lustig demain encore lustig’ is available for free download from the Hidden Shoal Store until the release of Sankt Otten’s forthcoming album Morgen wieder lustig on the 1st of September. Read a full press release here.

Sankt Otten -  Lustig, lustig demain encore lustig  Sankt Otten -  Lustig, lustig demain encore lustig

Plus, in other exciting Sankt Otten news, their stunning new single is out tomorrow…

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!

In more exciting Sankt Otten news, their stunning new album is finished and ready for release on Hidden Shoal on August 27th, preceded by a free single at the end of July. HOT!

Sankt Otten Depressive Elite Sankt Otten – Depressive Elite

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.

Sankt Otten Tiefgang Sankt Otten – Tiefgang

Euphony 1 is also still available, which features exclusive tracks by all the aforementioned artists, plus one from Monocle too. Well worth seeking out.

Sankt Otten are currently working on their new album, which will be released on Hidden Shoal later in the year.

Sankt Otten Taschensymphonie Sankt Otten – Taschensymphonie

Sankt Otten Eine Neue Welt Sankt Otten – Eine Neue Welt

Sankt Otten Tiefgang (Kurzfassung) Sankt Otten – Tiefgang (Kurzfassung)

The single version of ‘Tiefgang’ distils all the qualities of early Sankt Otten – crackly samples, ominous beats, and Carsten Sandkaemper’s vocals – into an astringent, heady brew. Restrained yet surprisingly potent, the track’s compelling energy comes from its distinctive rhythmic momentum, somewhere between a swagger and a march. The video for the single is equally mesmerising in its simplicity and beauty, as two painted dancers intertwine against a stark white canvas.

The ‘Tiefgang (Kurzfassung)‘ single is also available for free download for a limited time only.

Sankt Otten Tiefgang (Kurzfassung)  Sankt Otten – Tiefgang (Kurzfassung)

Plus, their album Wir Koennen Ja Freunde Bleiben has made it into Headphone Commute’s best albums of 2007 list, which has been published ahead of their 2008 countdown.

Sankt Otten Tiefgang (Kurzfassung) Sankt Otten – Tiefgang (Kurzfassung)

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.