I just got a phone call from a Dewdrops subscriber who was
extremely frustrated about not hearing from us in a while /
not receiving issue #16 (supposedly the summer issue) yet.
So I thought I'd head off any other worries that we 'took the money
and ran' that might be present on this list, and give you every
detail on what's been going on.
First the excuses.
Dewdrops is still mainly only one person, and that one person
is within a couple months of finishing a 9-year long
PhD thesis. I have no time to do it all which means the
web site is very out of date, the summer issue is now going
to be the winter issue, nothing at all is being done to
promote either the zine or the record label, and the sleeves
for the legendary 7" we "released" last January are still not
done. Believe me, if I could do all of this, I would. If I could
make Dewdrops my lifelong career, I would. But my "supposed"
career in Astronomy and the search for a non-existant job
are top priority now, and will be for at least the next
several months. I will do what I can with the zine/label,
but please don't expect anything before December.
What's happening with the label and zine?
Top priority right now with the label is the upcoming compilation,
Splashed With Many A Speck. This will be a double CD release of
many of the bands we most admire, both local and abroad. Here is the
current roster. All of these are confirmed:
Elysium
Super 31
Starblind, formerly Honeywater
Eight Page Story
The Curtain Society
Astrobrite
The Floating House
Venus Swirls
Orange
Heavenside
Half String
Luminous Orange
Alison's Halo
Bethany Curve
Dear Dark Head
Knife Felt Heart
The Sensualists
Love Spirals Downwards
Chicklet
Lanterna
Faith and Disease (a side project, actually)
Scenic
Unconfirmed so far are the following:
Cocteau Twins (believe it or not! Robin was in favor of the idea a while ago)
His Name Is Alive (Warren thought it was a possibility)
Swirlies
The Sugarplastic
Ian Masters
The process is well underway, and master tapes have begun coming in.
A single 4AD cover will be included: Heavenside's recording of
Thoughtforms by Lush. It's quite good! A release of "winter 1997"
is anticipated. It is possible that this release will be done in
collaboration with another well-known indie label and two are
being considered at this point.
The Catalog:
Dewdrops is hoping to expand the catalog by including releases from other
bands and labels which we stand behind as if they were our own. This
will eventually include stuff by Super 31, The Sensualists, Ian Masters/
Oneironaut, and possibly Clan Of Xymox. We've already done a deal to
offer two Faye Wong CDs, and these have sold quite well (we still
have copies of both).
The Zine:
The next issue, #16, will be the largest one yet. Having recently dived into
the world of bulk mailing, this will allow us to significantly increase
the page count and coverage of the zine and pay less in postage than
we have before with the 22-page limit. We will also employ a more
professional binding method, more writers, and who knows what else?
It's all an experiment and we therefore have the attitude that nothing
can be done "wrong".
The Christmas in October single.
I'm relying on someone else's artistic talents, a person who seemingly
has less time that I do. We are also waiting on a decision from
The Moon Seven Times about what artwork to use. But I hope you believe
me when I say that it is progressing and this embarassing lack of commitment
to getting the job done will finally see the sleeves finished after not
too much longer. Those of you who were promissed free copies will get
yours ASAP.
So there you have it. Dewdrops continues to limp along at the moment,
dragged down by the two elements universally in short supply: time and
money, but we are still here and totally committed to bringing you
uncuommon music that deserves to be heard.
Brant Nelson
| Dewdrops Records | Splashed With Many A Speck |
| 12515 Pacific Ave. #106 | A Dewdrops Compilation |
| Los Angeles, CA 90066 | Winter 1997 |
| www.astro.ucla.edu/students/nelson/dewdrops.html |
> Uncommon music that deserves to be heard <
Subject: Re: The Wolfgang Press lives!