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...

Sam and Me 'Battle Of Hemsby' Album & Lauch Parties

Sam and Me over the moon

As the world celebrates the anniversary of the first lunar landing, Sam and Me add a new date to modern history to mark the release of their debut album ‘The Battle of Hemsby’ (aA Recordings)

Hemsby is the seaside town visited by Rowan on his family holidays as a kid. Bordering Great Yarmouth, it is a classic ‘run-down British seaside town full of arcades and a load of tat’. After Sam and Rowan met at college, they used to drive out to Hemsby and in between rounds of crazy golf, they first starting writing songs together. The album artwork was shot in Hemsby and the first 500 copies come with a unique polaroid and Sam and Me wooden chip forks.

The album is officially released on Monday 24^th August but you can pick up a copy from Monday 17^th exclusively from the aA shop – we’ll even throw in a copy of the band’s first single ‘Sonic Boomerang/The Path’

If you can’t wait that long to hear the new recordings, download single ‘A Lying, Down Disposition’ is released TODAY! Get it from www.itunes.com/samandme or your download store of choice will also have it.

You can view the brand new Eyebrowy video for the single here

All that’s left is to invite you to the 3 album launch shows the band will be playing in their 3 favourite towns:

Monday 27^th July, London – The Social (Oxford Circus) – www.thesocial.com with guests The Superimposers/Robert Taylor. Doors at 7.30pm FREE ENTRY

Friday 31^st July, Brighton – The Providence (Western Rd) www.brightoncalling.com with The Valentines/Achilles/The Elms. Doors at 8pm £2 ENTRY

Friday14^th August, Manchester Deaf Institute with Golden Animals & Beth Jeans Houghton plus DJs Will & Lego £5 advance

So pull out your lunar calendars and plot the dates between the high tides and half moons. Let the battle commence...

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

SLEEPY SUN THIS FRIDAY @ DEAF INSTITUTE

ATP Recordings artists / San Franciscans SLEEPY SUN join Melodic artists THE SOUNDCARRIERS & Manchester-based THE SECOND FLOOR for a suitable psychedelic journey into mind, body & soul this Friday at The Deaf Institute.

DJ's LEGO & WILL will provide the left of field and later at night musical links.

Tickets? A few left yes, just click here

Here's a taster of what to expect:

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aA SHOWS FOR JULY | NINE BLACK ALPS & SLEEPY SUN

Couple of shows upcoming for July:

aA PRESENT:
NINE BLACK ALPS
BEAT THE RADAR
DJ'S WILL & LEGO

Nine Black Alps return to Manchester for their first aA in ages in support of their upcoming album. It's great to have them back - the show will feature a showcase of new material as well as tracks from their first two albums. Support comes from telephone conservationists Beat The Radar with aA DJs.

THURSDAY 2ND JULY
THE DEAF INSTITUTE
8PM TIL LATE
£7 ADVANCE

aA FACEBOOK
aA MYSPACE



aA PRESENT A SAN FRANCISCO PSYCH OUT WITH:
SLEEPY SUN (ATP RECORDINGS)
THE SOUNDCARRIERS (MELODIC)
THE SECOND FLOOR
DJ'S WILL & LEGO

"Greetings friends and family, sons,
for the past month our band has travelled through deserts, mountains, floods, and blizzards. it has been an excellent journey, and we owe our gratitude to all those who presented themselves before us. your reception of our music is very welcome and most appreciated. our thanks must notably extend to our master Udi, without whom we all might as well be dead....with the completion of one expedition, begins another...despite our partition with master Udi, the first part of our journey has delivered us to the hands of Colin Stewart at the Hive in Vancouver, BC where we will spend the next seventeen days recording a new album...for those ears who are virgins to our debut, EMBRACE, you may purchase the record on vinyl LP or CD formats on May 11 worldwide, exclusive of N. America (May 26), on ATP Recordings....lastly, in an effort to save rock n roll, please send us your love, your vibes, and most importantly, your trust.
love, and truly yours,
Sleepy Sun"

FRIDAY 10THY JULY
THE DEAF INSTITUTE
8PM TIL LATE
£6 ADVANCE

aA FACEBOOK
aA MYSPACE

8)

NINE BLACK ALPS ON THURSDAY JULY 2ND

DOWNLOAD Beat The Radar 'Telephone Conversation' from iTunes

Click here to download Beat The Radar's new single 'Telephone Conversation' from Apple iTunes...

Or come to the gig & buy the CD Friday night...