Subject: Re: Springhouse
Subject: Rare on Air
Subject: Re: Did someone say Springhouse?
Subject: c'mon now.
Subject: closedown
Subject: Re: Rare on Air
Subject: FSOL
Subject: Re: FSOL
Subject: Re: FSOL
Subject: Is Ivo really a corporate whore?
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 1994 00:10:53 -0500
Hmm. I never even thought about Springhouse's environmental "thing". I mean,
"Land Falls" came in that eco-pak, but the lyrics always seemed more about
personal struggles than about the crusade to save Mother Nature. I did notice
a fascination with cold/the Arctic. I also think that the 2nd Springhouse CD
(Postcards from the Arctic) is far superior. With the violinist from The
Black Watch, the band creates these amazingly lush textures which can't be
compared to many other bands in recent memory. Maybe the Chameleons, but the
overall feel is very different. Listen to "Asphalt Angels" and tell me if its
not one of the crowning moments of glory in the history of American
indie-pop. I could say the same for about every song on that album. Amazing
record.
Yeah, I like this band.
BisonBoy (whose groovin' to the Cannanes(Witchetty Pole) right now and
doesn't care what the 4ADLers think about that, 'cause they're great -
ethereal or not.)
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 1994 22:17:43 -0800
Ok, I'm confused now. What, just what is going on here? I knew that DCD
had Towards the Within coming out, what the heck is this Rare on Air
thing? Is it another cd available with just Brenden Perry? LAst year
there was talk of a solo album done by him, and I was waiting for it to
come out and be talked about, when I was unknowingly hit by a computer
gremlin, that did not unsubscribe me, but hid any messages that came
through away from me. (Which was worse, I couldn't figure out what
happened). I'm still having problems, on and off, and finally just got
back in the groove of things. So, please, someone, tell me the scoop.
Cindy
, \ / ,
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_________________/________\___\@ @/__/_________\_________________
: :\ . . /: :
: You have nothing to \ _ / -Cindy Eng- :
: fear from my baser V V [email protected]:
: instincts; its my finer :
: ones that tell me to :
: kill you. :
:___________________________________________________________________:
: /\ /\/ \ \ \/\ /\ :
: / V ' > > ' V \ :
:/ ' / / ' \:
' \/ '
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 1994 01:48:09 -0600
16 Dec 1994 19:01:02 -0500
> Hi, it's me again. I think Springhouse were a great
> band, and I miss them terribly. Nice guys, too. I saw
> them twice on the "Postcards" tour, and they were
> excellent.
>
> Just thought I'd throw that in...
>
> Jeremy Orr
> Date: Sat, 17 Dec 1994 03:11:54 -0500
> From: [email protected] writes:
>
>
> It isn't exactly that Spoonfed Hybrid were "dropped" per se. Ian had
> parted with Pale Saints without fulfilling his contract. Ivo offered
> him 2 options: 1) just leave 4AD altogether, no questions asked; or 2)
> He could release something via Guernica as a one-off since his contract
> was still in effect. Obviously, Mr. Masters chose to release something
> on Guernica. It was under- stood that there wouldn't be anything after
> that. So it's not as if Ivo hated Spoonfed Hybrid and then dropped
> them. (BTW, I get this information from a 4AD press release I read some
> time ago).
>
This sounds pretty right on. Guernica is Ivo's arm to release such
one-offs...
> It is despicable that a corporate behemoth such as Time/Warner has been
> placed more or less in a position to dictate the goings on at 4AD
> hence- forth. It's an unpleasant trade off: Greater accessibility to
> the American market, but corporate intervention at every level. The
> artistic offerings inevitably suffer as a result, because they must
> ultimately pass muster with the overlord (Time/Warner) -- pre-Warner
> signings not included.
>
WRONG! As a member of Warner Bros., I can assure you that there is as little
"corporate intervention" as possible. We absolutely recognize the importance
of the label and the style and substance that goes into the name 4AD. There
is no "Overlord". Good God. Warner Bros. or Warner Music Group or Time Warner
do not own a part of 4AD. It is an independant company which receives
distribution though WEA (or ADA) and Warner's does kick in marketing and
promotion money on projects they are involved with.
4AD has acts on various levels in the U.S.- let's look at them.
First, the Breeders(through Kim Deal) and Frank Black had contracts as Pixies
and stayed with Elektra. The Breeders have probably been 4ADs largest selling
act to date. Elektra took _Last Splash_ well over 1 million copies in the
U.S. I am not sure about other parts of the world. (possible sales exception
is the M/A/R/R/S ep 4AD U.K. - 4th and Broadway here)
Second, the Throwing Muses were directly signed to Sire(Warner) in the U.S.
concurrent with their UK signing to 4AD. This is why Kristin and Tanya are
(still) on Sire U.S. And Lush were signed directly to Reprise(Warners) before
the 4AD-Warner deal went down. Technically, 4AD does not influence what
happens with these acts in the states. Their contracts are with Warner Bros.
Records.
Thirdly, Guernica acts are signed soley for the U.K. audience. Usually,
because they are already signed to other labels in other territories around
the world. (see underground lovers and bettie seervert)
Forthly, as for the rest of the acts, there are two primary areas of
concentration. One set of bands are worked almost exclusively by the 4AD U.S.
staff. They have their own press, radio, retail and video people. They are a
fine bunch of folks. Insides, Red House Painters, Lisa Germano currently
fall into the fourth category. It is decided mutually between Ivo, Robin, and
the Warner folk as to when the Warner staff will get involved with a project
(level five)
In the second area of concentration, our (Warners) radio folk get involved,
our marketing and sales staffs gear up and we go for it. The radio staff may
decide what the best track is to take to radio, the marketing staff may have
a poster idea, Warner's publicity may get some magazines, but a lot of
decisions still come from 4AD. Dead Can Dance and Wolfgang Press come to mind
here as bands where Warner's involvement is quite indepth.
But Warners never tells Ivo & 4AD that something he wants to put out isn't up
to our muster. He's been putting out records long enough to know the score.
Give the guy some credit. Yes, he moved to America, got married and spent a
little time last year figuring out which direction he is headed. Probably his
first vacation in a dozen years.
I think that 4AD has changed a lot over they years, but what label hasn't.
Ol' Grungies Sub Pop has lounge combo Combustible Edison fer chrissakes. Even
Warner Bros. started out primarily as a studio label which hit it big with
comedy releases before the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young and Captain
Beefheart came around. Labels need to evolve. Ivo is still actively pursuing
acts, but at his pace, not Warner's.
> Although there isn't much on 4AD now that I *don't* like, K-J is correct
> in assuming that it's unlikely that 4AD would venture to sign any more
> obscure or experimental artists along the lines of a Master/Defevre col-
> laboration, which is a terrible shame. I would imagin THAT to be the
> reason for creating Guernica: a low-budget, low-key "indie" sub-label,
> where Ivo or whomever else can indulge those "profit-less whims".
>
Again, Guernica is for the U.K. market and does indulge Ivo. He told me once
that doing Guernica was good in that it made him relearn the busiess of
selling records because so few at the time relized that Guernica came out of
the same 4AD offices.
jeremy orr
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 1994 04:18:46 -0500
Where did closedown play tonight??? Those jerks (friends of mine) didn't
bother to tell me! (some friends I guess, eh?) I saw 'em a couple Fridays
ago at Troys in downtown LA. It was cool except for the junky sound system
that Troys had; couldn't even hear the vocals! Their CD 'nearfield' should
be available most places that carry Silent records such as Tower. If it's
not where you think it should be, go look in the electronic/ambient section
'cause that's what most Silent stuff gets put into, so it's very likely
that's where the record store workers will put closedown into. Anyways, get
it cause its cool, although not as intensely driving as their live sound, but
still nice in its own way.
For the person who was asking if Silent co-releases tuff with Staalplat, the
answer is no. Solielmoon is the lable that does it.
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 1994 08:00:49 -0700
Rare on Air is a compilation made by KCRW in Santa Monica of some of
the artists that have played live, in studio sets over the past couple of years,
mostly on music director, Chris Durridas' show, Morning Becomes Eclectic.
There's the track by Brendan Perry, and others by 10^4 Maniacs, Los Lobos, and
people I don't remember now.
When it came out, the only other solo stuff available was on the 13yi,
I think. Like someone else metioned, I would expect that "The Captive Heart"
will appear on his album,.. whenever it shows up.
-%nic
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 1994 07:53:10 -0500
> GET IT GET IT GET IT!!!!
Its very good. I would say much better than the LIFEFORMS album...
There's not as much "going on" in the music (but in my opinion it makes
> for a better"album"..)
Don't bother. FSOL is over-intellectualized ambient. If you really like
this style of music try Global Communications/Reload (same guys). "Short
Stories" by Reload is pure genius. The new Global Communication album
Also, I ADORE Elizabeth Fraser but her vocals on the FSOL single are gross.
Most likely, her vocals were great and they made a mess out of them.
I must admit that my opionion of FSOL is based less on their music and more
on their interviews. They are obnoxious. And the music really is dull.
Anyway, I'd love for someone to comment on Global Communication/Reload.
Jan
[email protected]
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 1994 17:39:29 +0100
Sat, 17 Dec 1994 07:53:10 -0500)
Jan Hanford