Cats In Paris - European tour dates

Cats In Paris are off on tour from tomorrow night. If you're in any of the cities on the dates below check 'em out:

feb 5th Paris - L'International
feb 6th Metz - L'Emile Vache
feb 7th Karlsruhe - KOHI
feb 8th Wetzlar - Franzis
feb 9th Dresden - Ostpol
feb 10th Hamburg - Haus 73
feb 11th Berlin - NBI
feb 12th Hannover - Feinkost Lampe
feb 13th Luxemburg - d:qliq

Probs best to click through to the Cats In Paris website for more details.

They've also put together a press pack for download with images, Mp3's and lots more lovely stauff as you would expect....

WOW WOW WOW

Happy New Year from aA

Hope you had a good Christmas, New Year & all that jazz...

aA Online

We thought we'd say "hi!" but also to point you in the direction of various aA-related online activity so that you can keep up to date with all that's going on. To be honest we're pretty rubbish at this spamming business and rarely get round to sending out those kind of emails but thanks to easy 140 character updates the following are the best way to find out what's happening when:

To join the aA Recordings FaceBook Group please click here. As well as gig news and record release updates there are various photos from aA across the years and an archive of loads of flyers amongst non-aA music recommendations and other bits and pieces.

The aA Twitter account can be found at http://twitter.com/akoustikanarkhy - pop by and say hi.

The aA Shop has a load of CD and vinyl releases from artists such as Beat The Radar, its a buffalo, Cats In Paris, and Thomas Truax as well as compilations and links to the download versions.

We also have a range of t-shirts available - best to email hello@akoustikanarkhy.co.uk for more details.

aA News

Main gig news this month is Beat The Radar and Plank!'s appearances at the Friends Of Manchester Festival which takes place in Jabez Clegg and Kro Bar on Saturday 30th January in Manchester, UK. Click the link to find out more on ticket prices, line up, times etc etc...

There's too many other bands playing to list here but all you need to know is that Plank! are on at 6.15pm, second stage Jabez Clegg with Beat The Radar on the same stage at 8.15pm. There's also a DJ set at some point by Lego. Should be a good day.

KRAAK Gallery in Manchester's NQ currently have an exhibition called 'Fly Posters Will Not Be Prosecuted' which features a load of aA promo amongst loads of other nights in Manchester. We of course never actually fly posted, we're good like that.

There's loads of other stuff coming up in next few months - we're real excited about the upcoming Plank! EP and we've got some new artists lined up from far away that we're sure you'll like. There are more parties planned for Manchester, London and Dublin as well as capers and adventures further afield.

Here's to the new decade.

Lots Of Love, All @ aA

Manchester, England

www.akoustikanarkhy.co.uk

BEAT THE RADAR - DRUMMER REQUIRED

Beat The Radar – Drummer Required

Signed to influential local label Akoustik Anarkhy we’re looking for a drummer who is a Manchester local aged 18-30 to gig, practice, gig, practice and have fun. 100% commitment required and own transport desirable.

We like: Blur, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Sonic Youth, The Chameleons, The Cure, The Fall, The Cribs, Mission of Burma, Bloc Party, Radiohead, The Wedding Present, The Stone Roses, , New Order, , The Smiths, Joy Division, Sebadoh , My Bloody Valentine...

We have our own practice room 10 minutes walk from Piccadilly so if you fancy a jam send an e-mail to beattheradar@hotmail.co.uk (you also can listen to the tunes at myspace.com/beattheradar)

aA Dublin this Saturday!

aA DUBLIN 2009

Back for our annual visit at the new Shebeen Chic club. It's free entry so get yerself down:

THE TENDER TRAP
CROOKED ROOKS (live)
THE RAGS (acoustic)
LAUREN GULLERY
THE CLIFF
GASOLINE ALLEY (live)

DJs WILL & LEGO

7pm until 2am
Downstairs @ Shebeen Chic
4 South Great Georges St Dublin 2
Free Entry

http://www.myspace.com/crookedrooks
http://myspace.com/therags
http://www.shebeenchic.ie/
http://www.akoustikanarkhy.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/akoustikanarkhy

Also: Fuck Buttons play Button Factory on the Friday - GET INVOLVED.

Richard Norris / Race Horses / Plank! - this Friday...

Psych-fest this Friday @ aA - here's a couple of tasters:

The Time & Space Machine guest mix on Beats In Space:

2. Intro
3. Alice In Wonderland Cast Recording - The Alice Theme -
4. - Hombre (A T&SM Edit)
5. Klaus Doldinger - Sitar Beat
6. Circus - Norwegian Wood
7. - Big Wheel (A T&SM vs Cherrystones Edit)
8. Johnny Harris - Give Peace A Chance
9. Alan Hawkshaw - Rumplestiltskin
10. Captain Beefheart - Zig Zag Wanderer
11. The Time & Space Machine - You Are The One
12. - Fire & Water (A T&SM Edit)
13. - Jersey Thursday (A T&SM Edit)
14. The Time & Space Machine - Trip Sideways
15. The Time & Space Machine - Set Phazer To Stun
16. Doves - Jetstream (T&SM Mix)

New Race Horses video:

Richard Norris / Plank! / Race Horses / Lego / Will - 11th December / Deaf Institute

aA PRESENT AN EVENING OF SONIC & SPACE EXPLORATION WITH:

********

RICHARD NORRIS (TIME & SPACE MACHINE / BEYOND THE WIZARD'S SLEEVE) –

LIVE DJ/VJ SET

********

RACE HORSES - LIVE

PLANK! - LIVE

********

PLUS RESIDENT aA DJ'S LEGO & YOUNG WILL

********

FRIDAY 11TH DECEMBER @ THE DEAF INSTITUTE, Grosvenor St, Mcr
DOORS – 9pm – 3am
PRICE £6 ADV
£7/8 OTD

Some info:

Over it’s ten years of it’s existence live based Manchester club night Akoustik Anarkhy as always had a soft spot for the weird and wonderful. Be it their often off the beaten track choice of venues for their early chaotic DIY parties, resident DJ Soft Priest spinning records behind his Mobile Confessional Booth from groups and artists that were long forgotten or years before the majority of folk had even heard of them. To the early championing of anti-folk nut Thomas Truax, an infamous night staged with West Coast legend Kim Fowley to putting records out from the wyrd formed folk of Neil Burrell’s imagination and more recently local pop-progsters and the genuinely unique Cats In Paris.

However, their move to the plush Deaf Institute as seen aA stretch the club night musical and geographical sphere further and the last 12 months have seen their put on debut shows in Manchester for West Coast fuzz-rockers Sleepy Sun and Golden Animals. From further a field the psych pop of New Zealand’s The Ruby Suns and the night played host to Scottish robo-kraut sextet The Phantom Band first appearance in the city.

December’s Akoustik Anarkhy sees them welcome with open arms RICHARD NORRIS for a weird and wonderful psychedelic DJ set complete with visuals for a special show at the Deaf Institute on Friday 11th. His most recent outlets as The Time & Space Machine and Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve have been constant fixtures on the turntables at aA over the last year or so. On the live band side of things aA welcome new Welsh psych-beat combo RACE HORSES and local Kraut induced soundscapers PLANK!, with line up completed by aA residents young Will and Lego spinning various degrees of electronics, psych and oddball rock.

RICHARD NORRIS The Time & Space Machine / Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve / The Grid

When it comes to being a man of many talents, there are few to equal Richard Norris. DJ, producer, musician, audiovisual artist, A&R man, author and journalist... his is a career of many twists and turns which have always seen him at the forefront of pushing new ideas forward and championing diversity and innovation. As 2010 approaches, he is focusing most of his energy based around three projects: Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve, The Grid and The Time & Space Machine.

BEYOND THE WIZARDS SLEEVE

Richard is one half of BTWS alongside Erol Alkan. Together they have brought the music community to their knees with their mixes of Goldfrapp, Franz Ferdinand, Tracey Thorn, Badly Drawn Boy, The Chemical Brothers and Simian Mobile Disco. The album "Reanimations Vol. 1" was released on New State earlier this year to critical acclaim and they are now working on an album of original material and other art-led related projects that will re-inspire a flagging music scene.

THE GRID

The Grid were of course Richard and Soft Cell’s Dave Ball. After a prolific career, with spots on TOTP as well as remixing Yello, Pet Shop Boys, Happy Mondays and Brian Eno, their classic "Floatation" is to be given a new lease of life on New State, with brand new mixes. Look out for that soon..

THE TIME & SPACE MACHINE

TT&SM is Richard’s solo project, which has just been signed to Tirk Records. The debut single, "Children Of The Sun" and "Zeitghost" was released in July. A second release, the "You Are The One" EP, was released in October 2009, with the debut album set for February 2010.

The Time & Space Machine Biography’67 – ’88 – ’09

Things come round in circles. A few years ago a skinny tie and a guitar made music seem sharply angled, black and white. But we’re move on – this time, towards a world of psychedelic technicolour. Introducing… the Time & Space Machine.

’67 -Richard Norris has been heavily influenced by the psychedelic era of 1967 for many years. He was label manager at psych reissue Bam Caruso. They have remixed Midlake, the Chemical Brothers, Franz Ferdinand, Simian Mobile Disco, Tracey Thorn and many more.

’88 - Twenty one years after 1967, Richard released one of the first acid house and sample-based albums, "Jack The Tab" in spring ’88. His band the Grid were responsible for Balearic classic "Floatatio"’ and many others. Like ’67 psych, Balearic and acid music inform his new project, The Time & Space Machine.

’09 -Twenty one years after 1988, the third summer of love is on the horizon and The Time & Space Machine are aiming for the epicentre. A second TT&SM re-edit mini-album and a space-themed TT&SM mixed compilation album, "Moondust", have both been released this year as well a host of DJ spots at prestigious venues and festivals, with Richard working with film maker Kieran Evans.

RACE HORSES

Sounding like an great long lost Nuggets band updated for the 21st century. RACE HORSES mix White Album era Beatles mixed with harmony filled psych pop, surf, sea-shanties, beat and garage rock sung in a mixture Welsh and English. Purchase their ‘Man In My Mind EP’ out Dec 7th, with ‘Goodbye Falkenburg’ their debut album to follow in January on Fantastic Plastic

PLANK!

Hot off the press and the latest to join the aA family. Not so fresh from lurking the backstreets of Manchester's seedier side come brand new act PLANK! with their dark rhythmic experimental instrumental sprawlings and motorik manifesto. It will also be one of the first opportunities to pick up their debut EP out on aA Recordings early in 2010.

LINKS:
www.akoustikanarkhy.co.uk
www.myspace.com/akoustikanarkhy
www.thedeafinstitute.co.uk
www.twitter.com/akoustikanarkhy

Click back inna bit for videos from the artists...

Beat The Radar 'To The City, From The Sea' CD out now!

Exclusive pre-release CD & launch party offer!

“Fuck looking like a fashionista: this is indie music as it’s meant to be.. they mean every word.” The Fly

aA are proud to release aA2w/47 - Beat The Radar's 'To The City, From The Sea' album on CD today.

If you’re starting to feel that indie music has lost its heart, then Beat The Radar may be the antidote to your malaise. BTR’s debut album, To The City, From The Sea, is packed with heart-on-their-sleeve lyrics, raw vocals, chunky guitars and big, pop choruses. “I know that mountains of other bands also say they have the above,” says singer Jonny Swift, “But I just think they don’t do it as well as us.”

Named for their move from the wilds of the far northwest coast to inner city Manchester, To The City, From The Sea was recorded with producer Tom Knott (Micah P Hinson, King Creosote, The Courteeners, Emmy The Great, The Ting Tings) at Airtight Studios in Chorlton.

The finished result is a proper, old fashioned debut album: plenty of upbeat songs, a couple of downbeat ones, and a brilliantly raw distillation of Beat The Radar’s raucous live shows. In keeping with the title, some songs are inspired by nights out in Manchester – Stars came from a night looking up in a city centre beer garden, Pretend You Play Guitar from watching a guy playing air guitar in a club – others come from those Lake District days, such as early composition By The Sea. Of those, there’s often a sense of escapism and frustration – 18,19, 20, 21, 22 reflects on lyricist Jonny’s formative years, and Passenger provides a contemplative counterpart to the album’s freewheeling spirit.

Beat The Radar comprise singer Jonny plus Laurie Hulme (guitar) Rowan Smith (bass) and Adam Featherstone (drums). Hailing from “the scummy edges of the Lake District,” they formed while studying in Lancaster, and relocated to Manchester in 2008. On arriving in the rainy city, the band were quickly picked up by Manchester’s Akoustik Anarkhy Recordings. Their debut single Telephone Conversation (which appears on this album) was played on Radio 1 and 6 Music, where it received strong support from Steve Lamacq. They have also hit the live circuit hard, playing support slots for The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, The Longcut and The Answering Machine.

Click here to buy the album now - you can also get an album and a ticket to next week's launch party for only £9....CD release proper is next Monday.

Beat The Radar '18.19.20.21,22' single out now!

Beat The Radar have a new single out now - '18,19,20,21,22' can be downloaded by clicking on the big fat iTunes logo just below. If in doubt check the reviews just after the jump..

Reviews for y'all...

Friendrock: Beat The Radar

Few record labels consistently impress me as much as Manchester’s Akoustik Anarkhy. Latest signings Beat The Radar just keep getting better, and better, and better with each passing day it seems. If you thought first single Telephone Conversation was good (and I really, really did) then you’re in for a real treat with this one. Beat The Radar have produced an absolutely perfect indie pop record. The sort of balls-out anthem that made bands like The Cribs famous. The sort of track that just makes you want to crank up the volume, jump about with your mates and have a beer. The sort of track that has “classic” written all over it. I’ve had this on repeat all evening and I just can’t see myself ever getting bored of it. I really hope it happens for them. The last band on aA that made me scream their name from the rooftops was the outstanding Autokat, that sadly never broke out much beyond the Manchester circuit. I really hope it happens for Beat The Radar, they’ve an album out next month and I’m very, very excited about it. They’re playing The Deaf Institute on November 13th. Grab your mates, have a beer and go fucking mental. 8/10 - Read it here

The Music Magazine
Beat The Radar: 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 (Akoustik Anarkhy)

This is a bit more like it. A subtle quickening of the pace to kick things off and Beat The Radar – previously unknown to TMM – have endeared themselves enough to come close to Little Comets’ single of the week crown. Any other week then their strangely-titled track would have been a favourite here, but it’s just lacking that little spark to carry it above this week’s releases.

The Music Fix
Beat The Radar - 18, 19, 20, 21, 22

Solid, Cribs-ish indie. Nice bass sound! (DB)

Teletext
BEAT THE RADAR 18 19 20 21 22 8/10

Following equally hook-filled debut Conversation, here's a song comprising 202 seconds of riotous chorus that's as good as any heard all year.

Electric Banana
BEAT THE RADAR - 18 19 20 21 22

Manchester band Beat The Radar win the Electric Banana award for 'Stupidest Song Title 2009', but ignore that and you will discover a good little indie punk-pop band - like the Buzzcocks for the naughties. Here's a song comprising of 3 minutes of simple guitar fun that's almost as good as The Cribs. The new album To the City From The Sea arrives on 9th November and may be worth further investigation.

We also have a party coming up....

In The City in Manchester this weekend....

In The City 2009 is this weekend (18th - 20th October) at The Midland hotel and at venues througout the city centre. Started by Tony Wilson, ITC have been finding the next big thing for the past 18 years so that you can find your new favourite bands and the world's music industry can wax their budgets on signing them. It's one of the highlights of Manchester's music calendar and we recommend you get yourself a wristband and check out as much as possible...

Our own Beat The Radar are playing Busk at The Garrat on Sunday 8.30pm & the Friends Of Mine showcase on the Monday at 7.00pm - get involved :-) Their new single '18, 19, 20, 21, 22' is out this week as well so it's all good. The rest of this year's ITC will feature showcases by NME (at Night & Day), BBC Introducing (at Moho), SJM Concerts (at Ruby Lounge), Front Magazine (at Roadhouse), Big Scary Monsters and Same Teens (Hatters Hostel), Now Wave, Friends of Mine, Bella Union, Murkage, Artrocker, Rock Sound and loads more with buzz bands like The Drums, Esben and the Witch, Frightened Rabbit, Unicorn Kid, MAY68, Egyptian Hip Hop, Hatcham Social, Gallops, Copy Haho, The Northwestern and hundreds more. Check out the times here

Wristbands for the full 3 days are only £20 and it's sure to be a hectic three days - get some time off work or lectures and prepare to see more bands and drink more booze than you ever thought possible....

Check the full line up here
Order your wristbands from here
Get the ITCU album here

BEAT THE RADAR ALBUM LAUNCH - FRIDAY 13TH NOVEMBER

aA Vs. ATIC THIS FRIDAY!

So whats going on at aA this Friday I hear you ask?

Well we've invited the good people and fellow Manc independent label types ATIC Records to share the floor and stage at the Deaf Institute this Friday 9th.



They've just put a record out (‘On Safari’) by THE WITCH AND THE ROBOT which borders on the uncatergorisable and possibly the strangest new act you’ll encounter this year. Blending dark psychedelia, folk, shanties and spoken word, these Lake District dwellers prove that the darkest music often comes from the prettiest places. The Lakes have long inspired poets, painters and romantics but The Witch And The Robot have filtered that inspiration into something dark, intense and meat-strewn. http://www.myspace.com/thewitchandtherobot

Such a release should be celebrated and it has:

“The Witch And The Robot add something piquant and properly odd to the the psych-folk pot – namely, motorik rock, ‘60s beat and baggy soul. On Safari is studded with crack gems that suggests an equal fondness for Happy Mondays, Fred Neil, Can and Vivian Stanshall.” Uncut

“Some sort of freak-folk, pastoral, krautrock mindblow. seriously, SOOO good!” Drowned In Sound



Also coming over the mountains are MECHANICAL OWL, sounding like a real broken social scene from North Wales their super melodic soundscaped rock creations have to be seen to be believed. http://www.myspace.com/mechanicalowl



And opening procedures are THE FTSE 100. It's funk but not as we know it! (if funk embraced tight assed experimental warblings that is). Formed via The Freezing Fog and the much missed Burnst this group of likely lads teamed up to challenge for the gold medal in Funk. With the impending announcement that Funk will be included as a category in the 2012 Olympics, and even more excitingly, for Rio De Janeiro in 2016, these boys are by far and away in the best position to be drawn as the British squad. Catch them while you can before they adorn lycra outfits. http://www.myspace.com/financialfunk

That's what’s going on, on stage. On the decks aA regulars Lego and Will be playing whatever they pull out of their record (mixed)bag while Atic founder and Manchester institution AIM will be bringing a crew and spinning records to keep the party going late into the night....

All this for a credit crunching fiver. Doors 8ish. See you then...

aA Vs. ATIC RECORDS SOUNDCLASH!

aA Vs. ATIC RECORDS
FRIDAY 9TH OCTOBER
THE DEAF INSTITUTE
GROSVENOR STREET, MCR
8PM TIL 3AM

After a summer hiatus we're back at The Deaf Institute for a special link up with the rather ace ATIC RECORDS....

PLAYING LIVE:
THE WITCH AND THE ROBOT
MECHANICAL OWL
PLUS DJS:
AIM (ATIC)
LEGO & WILL (aA)

The Witch And The Robot are a band. They grew up together in the English Lake District. Their self-produced debut LP, ‘On Safari’ will be released this summer on ATIC Records.

Using guitars, accordions, ukuleles and keyboards, Mold's Mechanical Owl are creating new sounds and winning lots of acclaim. Radio 1 plays, Becks Fusions appearances and upcoming record releases are all about the Owl...

AIM runs ATIC and for the last two years Andy has been hard at work in the studio overseeing the production of Crowhead’s upcoming LP ‘Born With Teeth’. He’s also producing Niko’s second album and preparing tracks for his own eagerly awaited new long player featuring collaborations with QNC, Mikey D.O.N., Death of the Neighbourhood and James Yorkston.

Lego & Will are residents at aA so expect folk, psych, soul, pop, tropicalla, electronica, kraut, harmonies & oddball rock from the leftfield 'til the early hours.

£5 ADVANCE

http://www.aticrecords.com/
http://www.akoustikanarkhy.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/akoustikanarkhy
http://www.myspace.com/akoustikanarhy

DRUMMER/PERCUSSIONIST WANTED

DRUMMER/PERCUSSIONIST WANTED

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its a buffalo - LAST EVER GIG!

GOLDEN ANIMALS | BETH JEANS HOUGHTON | SAM AND ME ALBUM LAUNCH

Few videos in advance of next Friday...