Bearos072
KlusterB - Patton (3" CD EP)Bearos072
KlusterB - Patton (3" CD EP)KlusterB have a long association with Bearos Records. From early sequenced vibes and samples (bearos019) they immerced themselves in texturalism with crushing mash-ups of The Sweet's Blockbuster presented at the Bearos Glam Rock Event in April 2001. Their contribution to Journeys Without Maps (bearos027), The Search for Entwives in the land which is now brown and barren split the critics with some calling it better than Peter Jackson's attempt at Ent-speak, and others just calling it stupid! Offshoot projects, Baragon Flag and Dept Noise X Terror (also featured on bearos027) further explored the varied influences of group members though their efforts towards triophony remain unreleased.
Patton (bearos072) has been a year in the making with enough outtakes for another couple of albums. Swirling oscillator tracks are mixed with beats or George C. Scott's stirring Patton speech to create a dysphoric mood-scape. Further emotional blows are delivered by the Torque remix. Torque has previously remixed KlusterB (SingSangSung/Jungle Jim remix featured on the Bearos mp3.com site) and is a musician in his own right having played with Cable Regimen, Grover, Krafla and currently a member of Einstellung. Listen to more Torque at http://www.myspace.com/torquesongs
Bearos067
Krafla - "Like Machines EP" (CD mini album) Described as "lovely electronica" by Huw Stephens of
BBC Radio1, Krafla is Steve Hough (Cable Regime, Godflesh, Grover, Einstellung)
and Simon Fox (Grover, Clair Horton). Together they melt electronica with guitars
and produce a beautiful, melody-driven noise quite like nothing else. Barry
Hogan of All Tomorrow's Parties said of Krafla, "Mixing live instruments
and electronica is a difficult balancing act, but Krafla manage superbly, adding
layers of depth and instrumentation to fragile song structures and delicate
melodies."
The mini album features the two tracks from the ultra limited lathe cut released
by Static Caravan along with three other contemporary recordings.
Bearos066
Chinook - "Answering" (CD mini album)Chinook's debut mini album Answering is an absolute masterpiece. An unholy amalgam of Syd Barret, Bob Mould and Ivor Cutler; the CD features five tragic tales of confusion, doubt and pigeon power! Chinook's alter-ego is Ed Aston who describes himself as "the stoned woman's Daniel Beddingfield". He played in Og's Bunkadoo Band (Bearos043) and pays pennance for his current acoustic leanings by serving with ex-Ogs as part of Mills & Boon's (Bearos069) "Evil-Christian-Free-Jazz-Death-Punk Spaz-Fit Death Deafblindcore"! PennyBlack review
Bearos064
- free download album available until February 2008The album features the 8 tracks from the 3 Download Singles Of The Month (BabyBearos001-3)
and 8 new tracks. Here's the full tracklisting:
1. 35 Seconds - Grudge Match, 2. The Will To Rally - Youthful, 3. Glider - Le
Mal Ne Meurt Jamais, 4. Einstellung - Tot, 5. Clair Horton - Dolphins, 6. Chris
Jones - Fuckers, 7. Shocked Elevator Family - Euro Court, 8. Gav Dunn - See
You On The Flip Flop, 9. Papa November - Welsh Chocolate, 10. Papa November
- Welsh Vanilla, 11. Richard Burke - Plan, 12. Richard Burke - Learning The
Game, 13. Richard Burke - A Lot Of Things, 14. Richard Burke - The Prettiest
Smile, 15. Krafla - Lake Turquoise, 16. Ben Calvert - Atmosphere.
Tracks 2 & 3 were destined for BabyBearos004, 5 & 11-14 for BabyBearos005.
The 35 Seconds track was on a recent demo and was too good not to share around!
Bearos063
- Einstellung - "Sleep Easy Mr Parker" (CD single)The release of "Sleep Easy Mr Parker" coincided with the release of the band's debut lp "Wings of Desire" on an Australia's Chatterbox Records
Bearos061
Grover - Live (3" CD)The 3" CD contained three tracks:
1. Sweet Leaf - a storming, Butthole-esque version of the Black Sabbath
classic
2. You Made Me Realise - an extended, freeform take on the My Bloody
Valentine favourite
3. Like A Bunny - always a crowd pleaser, this is a classic live version
of Grover's debut single (Bearos003)
Tracks 1 & 3 were recorded at Grover's last ever gig (Halloween 2003) with guest guitarist Andy Parker (Sally, Katastrophy Wife) who later went on to form Einstellung with Simon Rider and Steve Hough. The packaging has been almost 2 years in the making (actually only a couple of afternoons, the rest was pondering and pontification) and involves laminated leaves and hand made paper. Needless to say it was very limited!
Bearos057
Ben Calvert - Love;defestrated (5-track CD EP)Literally meaning 'thrown out the window', it's a mournful tale of the death of love delivered with his wry sense of tragedy. His well honed mastery of both classic and contemporary (anti) folk scenes have led him to be likened to Nick Drake, Ben Watt, Syd Barrett and early Roy Harper.
Ben still appears every 2nd Thursday at his Bohemian Jukebox at the Bull's Head, Moseley, Birmingham
Bearos056
Various Artists - Christmas Folk & Old December's Bearness (Xmas tree shaped
CDR in festive packaging - limited to 50 copies)Lovingly compiled and laboriously assembled in hand made packaging. Copies
numbered with exclusive Xmas Bearos badge!
The CD featured 6 tracks with a winter/Christmas twist from James Summerfield's
Bluegrass take on "Silent Night" to Gavin (Billy Mahonie/Glider/Jet
Johnson) Baker's deadpan version of the Jona Lewie's classic. Long term unlikely
collaborators, Bentley Rhythm Ace, step out from behind the mixing desk to contribute
their distinctive sound to Ben Calvert's vocals. Grandmaster Gareth from Misty's
Big Adventure did the arrangement with contributions from the band's string
section. Another of Ben's tracks is also featured in it's raw form. I'm told
that "Homespun Song" will be orchestrated prior to inclusion on his
new album "Festive Road" to be released April/May next year. Simon
Fox from Grover swaps sweeping guitar chords for gently plucked acoustic sounds
and hands over vocal duties to rising star, Clair Horton, creating something
that is half Camden bedsit, half Grenwich Village coffee bar. Richard Burke
closes proceedings with an excellent track from his debut album "Roscrea"
(Bearos055). All other tracks are
exclusive at the time of release.
Bearos054
The Starries - Our Darkest Hours (CD album)Between 1997 and 2002 The Starries were one of the finest live acts around. Simon Williams famously described them in the NME as "Idlewild falling down a flight of stairs, falling off a mountain." The chaos and confusion that errupted both on stage and in the audience too often hid great songs and wry, sad tales of modern life, loves and losses. From the spikey pop of "After the Strap", their Bearos debut, through Fierce Panda and local compilation releases to the majestic pomp of "Let's Break Up" this 23-track collection is the most anticipated Bearos release in many a year. Imagine it as the greatest hits from three imaginary classic albums!
1.Pictured 2.Angels In The Snow 3.Wolves At Night 4.Sunbeam 5.Feature 85 6.After The Strap 7.I Fear Ghosts 8.Map Of Our Stars 9.Lifetaker 10.Foreign Age 11. Don't Settle Down 12.The Years Are Hers 13.Fairy Kitty 14.Crying Girl 15.Aater Flow 16.Greatest Fuck 17.Fields Of Kiltimagh 18.Call For Comfort 19.Sleep Alone 20.Spanish Devil 21.Beauty Scars 22.Let's Break Up 23.Eternal Flame (live)
Bearos053
James Summerfield - Hailah, Hailah live EP (5-track CD)A special treat for all those of you who loved James' debut album, "Hailah,
Hailah" on which he played the majority of the instruments. Initially
a solo live artist he has since recruited Sophia Johnson and Jamie Fekete from
The Toy Hearts for gigs around the UK. The songs from the album have developed
a whole new perspective and this EP is an attempt to capture that sound and
atmosphere . Recorded on 18th October 2003, totally live at Rich Bitch Studios
in Birmingham with Sophia playing dobro and Jamie on mandolin.
The CD runs at just over 20 minutes and features "Why do we?", "Whistling
for Xmas", "Saltwater Running" and "This House I Pass"
from the album and "Son 'o' Gold", a taster of his new album to be
released in early 2005.
"Mournful campfire harmonica and gently lapping prairie strum. Relaxed and intimate, like a bunch of friends picking a few favourites on the porch." Mike Davies, The Beat
Bearos051
James Summerfield - Hailah, Hailah (CD album)People may be familiar with James' previous band, Buick 6 (later to be renamed
The Toques). Their love affair with Alt-Country and Bluegrass won them many
an admirer and between 1999 - 2003 they released two singles ("Drunk On
My Porch" as Buick 6 and "Too Tired To Worry"
as The Toques) and contributed a track to Bearos040, the label's 5th anniversary
compilation. The band also recorded two radio sessions for John Peel's BBC radio
show.
James left the band in September 2003 to pursue a solo career. He wanted to
branch out on his own, turn his hand to production and have complete control
of his musical output. Since then he has written, recorded and produced this
album, Hailah, Hailah. He plays the majority of the instruments on the album,
including lap steel, banjo, piano and the Hammond. The album is a soulful mixture
of James' musical influences, from contemporary Alt-Country to early Grateful
Dead, with dark, occasionally ghostly undertones reminiscent of Low. The songs
are laden with striking harmonies and swooping melodies from the accompanying
instruments.
"A remarkably authentic sounding collection that could easily have been recorded in some backwoods mountain cabin, preacher man and moonshiners gathered round the table to partake of shared misery, decaying hymns and murder ballads." Mike Davies, netrhythms.com
Bearos050
- Inch Blue - Walking Backwards (CD single)The band have also released a split single with The Workhouse in October
2004 (bearos052)
Bearos049
Souvaris - I Felt Nothing At All (CD album in digipac)Souvaris are a six piece instrumental band. They exploring tone, melody, rhythm and noise in vast and intricately constructed arrangements designed to envelop and overwhelm the audience - you don't so much listen to their music as feel it.
The obvious reference points are gods of post-rock like Labradford,
Godspeed You Black Emperor!, AerialM and Mogwai. In the presence of such big
boys of the scene it's something of a feat in itself that Souvaris have managed
to carve their initials into the playground post-rock tree. They impressed John
Peel with their debut demo CD-R which went straight from post tray to play list.
Since this the band have released singles for Telesphere Records and a split
7" with The Workhouse on Awkward Silence.
The CD comes in a digipac and the cover and booklet are exclusive John Porcellino comic drawings.
Bearos047
- Dreams of Tall Buildings - live at CBSO Centre 2001 (mail order only CD limited
to 100 copies)Recorded in 2001 at Birmingham's annual ArtsFest weekend. DOTB were commissioned
to perform in the wooden paneled, fluted roofed practice space of the City of
Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The resonance of the room cried out for a mixture
of real instruments (from guitars to the resident grand piano), loops and samples
and a wonderfully percussive typewriter. The resulting melange of instrumental
moodscapes takes you from lush jungles to deep oceans to wide open plains.
All in hand made packaging: individually hand drawn designs on CD and card sleeve,
typed track list all held together with a Dreams of Tall Buildings embroidered
strip. The case is then wrapped in distressed brown paper and string to give
it the feel of a lost artifact or rediscovered heirloom. The double 7"
DOTB debut Bearos021 is still available
and they also contributed tracks to Bearos027
& Bearos040.
Bearos046
- The Regulars - Effortless CD album (mail order retrospective limited to 100
copies)As "indie" and "alternative"
become the property of big business and media whores it's a real pleasure to
bring you this joyful dance-athon of pure guitar pop.
A passion for loud guitars, exuberant gigs and above all a skill in writing
songs set this band head and shoulders above their contemporaries.
This 17-track CD features classic tracks from 1996-2002 including alternative
versions of 7" tracks "Lie Down and Fight" (live acoustic) and
"North Star" (instrumental).
Numbered copies in plastic bag with 12-page Regulars mini-fanzine.
7" singles are still available Bearos011
"Lie down and fight" & Bearos023
"This is the sound"
Bearos042
- mp3 of the month compilation (vol. 1) (CD album from mp3.com - only 50 made)
Compilation of tracks from the first year of the much missed mp3.com site. Includes all 13 tracks (Dreams of Tall Buildings donated two tracks) including the long deleted Saloon single (Bearos013), remixes of Papa November, Grover and Jet Johnson as well as exclusive tracks by Meets Guitar, SuperA, Grandscope and The Starries. If you like exciting and innovative compilations try Bearos040 and Bearos027.
Bearos040
- 5th Birthday Compilation (CD album)Bearos040 was a compilation CD that we gave away to people who joined our e mail list. I'd originally planned a compilation of already released tracks but it's ended up over 80% exclusive!
The cover of the first run (left) saw the long awaited return of Angus, one of the Bearos cats that used to grace the index page of the old style website. It's since been repressed twice: the second run was green with his brother, Archie in a flower pot and the third was also green with a close up of Angus - which one have you got?
Bearos039
- Jameson - Ways we dreft (CD album limited to 100 copies)Compilation of studio and live tracks including first ever CD
release of the sold out triple 7" tracks (Bearos007) and remixes of the
first two singles (Bearos001 & Bearos002 - both sold out). Check out the
J Foundation tracks on Bearos019
and Bearos027 as well as the SuperA
track on Bearos040
"For a few fleeting years, between the mid-nineties to the waking
moments of the new millennium, a select band of Midland music fans knew exactly
what they’d got. They knew that on the eighth day, God created Jameson."
Drowned in Sound
Bearos038
- Grover - Past (CD album limited to 100 copies)Compilation of rare and deleted tracks 1993-2000 that includes tracks from the two Bearos 7" singles (Bearos003 and the sold out Bearos010) and the first album, Husk. An ideal companion to their 2nd album, Tiny Blue Sparks (Bearos032)
Bearos018
- San Lorenzo - Sports Biscuits (7" single)Third 7" from San Lorenzo. All the 7" tracks plus unreleased
songs can be found on "The Sea is a Map" (Bearos024)
Singer/guitarist, Owen Tromans released his third solo album, "Place",
on Bearos Records (Bearos048) and
has contributed tracks to Bearos040 and
Bearos27
Bearos016
- The Workhouse - Stoichkov (7" single)Second 7" from The Workhouse. Now veterans of a John Peel session and appearances on XFM and the World Service. Two of the three tracks, Stoichkov and Vienetta can be found on their debut album, The End of the Pier (Bearos041) and "Aberdeen" a preview of their 2005 album can be found on Bearos052
Bearos015
- Epic45 - A is an Alphabet (7" EP on white vinyl)Epic45's second single for Bearos Records. Three tracks demonstrate the breadth of their work from rhythmic post-rock to bleepy-bloops to grand orchestrated epics.
Bearos014
Calvados Beam Trio (7" single on clear vinyl)A debut release culled from the extensive Calvados archive. These two nameless
slabs of dense meandering groove see the band in their punk-prog mode.
"We're ELP on PCP," they finally decide as an anti pigeonholing compromise
for this press release.
The band has been playing together since 1996. They have supported Sweep the
leg Johnny, Bardo Pond, The Oxes, Sensefield and Kepone. Limited edition of 400 on clear vinyl in clear plastic sleeve with some sort
of sticker on it.
Bearos013
- Saloon - Electron (7" single)Dreamy electro pop from Saloon who topped John Peel's Festive Fifty a couple of years after this release. Probably the most beautiful record I have ever released - I described it as Broadcast dozing in a hammock on a lazy Sunday.
Bearos010
- Grover - 414.7 Revolutions (7" EP in red vinyl)The release that secured Grover their John Peel session. Shades of Billy Mahonnie and Radiohead in this intelligent post-rock with heartfelt lyrics. Copies remain of their first single (Bearos003) and most recent album, Tiny Blue Sparks (Bearos032)
Bearos008
- Lazarus Clamp - Left Handed (7" single)A hymn to the sinister. Quirky pop with a post-rock sauce.
Bearos007
- Jameson - Somewhere Forever Inside (triple 7" pack)Probably the definitive Bearos release and one of the quickest sellers. Great tunes (Pavement/Pixies stuff) and great packaging. Re-released as part of Bearos039 but that's sold out as well! Check out the J Foundation tracks on Bearos019 and Bearos027 as well as the SuperA track on Bearos040
Bearos006
yellow6 - hold:up (yellow vinyl)Imagine sweeping cinematic soundscapes lurking in that misty territory
somewhere between Magnetophone, Gnac and Boards of Canada.
Yellow6 is a solo project of Jon Attwood. This isthe fourth yellow6 release.
Prior to this he has worked with such notable labels as Enraptured, Ochre and
Atomic. He has since released EPs for Jonathan Whiskey, Rocket Racer (USA) and
Awkward Silence as well as completing an album for Enraptured records. Each
successive release has seen Jon's reputation grow as he reaches a wider audience.
Bearos005
- Epic45 - Shorebound (7" EP)Mellow instrumentals in a nautical theme. Reminiscent of Mogwai and early Piano Magic. Dreamy soundscapes that take you from the safety of the shore to the wide oceans and the depths of despair.
Bearos004
- Los Planetos del Agua - Selfish Killers, Patriotic Whores (7" single,
first 300 on blue vinyl)The group have varied influences ranging from Fugazi, Spacemen 3, Low, Aerial M and Godspeed You Black Emperor to the gentle strains of Nick Drake. Their love of these artists shines through this, their debut single, as they weave complex sounds with their special sense of adventure and originality.
Bearos002
- Jameson - Heroes of Hi-Fi/The Starries - After The Strap (split 7" single)
Bearos001
- Jameson - Silverado (7" single)"Silverado" has the pop sensibility of Pavement and
the Pixies with the "krautrock" weirdness of Neu! and Faust. The B-side,
"The Doc is flying" sees them delve deeper into their Teutonic roots,
resulting in this electronic mantra, typical of their alter egos, The J Foundation.
Limited vinyl release of 525 copies, the first 200 in individual sleeves designed
by the band. Check out the J Foundation tracks on
Bearos019 and Bearos027 as
well as the SuperA track on Bearos040
We
Brought our Friends magazine - Birmingham's experimental bands in words and
pictures All the bands, in their own words, describe their music and their influences
in this quality, 40 page, A4 publication limited to 500 copies. Over 40 B&W
photos catch the bands live, in the studio or just at home.
Each band is captured at a different stage in their development and their particular
hopes and frustrations shine through the candid interviews: Broadcast are stuck
in the studio recording their first album, Avrocar are just starting to release
singles, L'Augmentation are just happy to be together. It makes fascinating
reading whether you know the bands or not!
Also included are interviews with Dominic from Earworm Records (who released
the first singles by Novak, Avrocar and Magnetophone) and probably the last
ever interview with Keith Jenkins from Wurlitzer Jukebox (who has released singles
by Pram, Broadcast and Plone). In this interview he looks back at the early
years of this influential label and describes why he has now decided to call
it a day.
Read a selection of the interviews on line
Bearos
Shopping Bag (Summer 2006)Say goodbye to those supermarket bags (better still say goodbye
to overpacked, overpriced food and get down to your local farmers' market!)
with these 100% unbleached cotton bags which are just over 15" square.
Reinforced handles and a different quality screen print on each side. One side
has the Bearos record logo, the other our "Shop locally, eat seasonally
- air miles are for holidays, not strawberries" battle cry for sensible
shopping and good eating. Perfect for college or the beach as well!
Bearos
T-shirts & Hooded TopsSporadically available in a variety of colours and sizes. Watch the website for news.
Bearos
Notelets (Christmas 2001)Snapped up instantly around Xmas 2001 probably because of the strangely festive images from Grover's Tiny Blue Sparks (Bearos032) and Papa Novembers From the Startline (Bearos031)