i admit, i’m a little late. but i just came across this collaboration a few days ago - and it’s arresting! credit goes to two remarkable figures of music: first is the label loaf recordings from london. second is the rather special arctic circle collective. the team around ben eshmade is a group of musicians, artists and promoters who love good music and support young and unknown artists as well as old stagers - by doing concerts, festivals, sessions, a beautiful radio and - of course - records. at the latest after their highly recognized compilation that fuzzy feeling (an absolute recommendation) in 2007 these guys made sure you want to keep an eye on what’s going on when they are teaming up.
well, at least you better do: in january 2010 they launched a one-year collaboration to publish wonderful music. the explorers club is a monthly digital release of selected music, featuring more than 30 artists - some of them well known, other more of a secret tip. you will find the likes of johann johannsson, peter broderick, nils frahm, ryan teague, and many more represented by pretty interestig labels (type, static caravan, 4ad, etc.). a true treasure trove of woderful music and special moments that is released digitally, but, however, comes with a survival-kit of artwork, posters, bags, and little goodies.
by the way: the name explorers club is said to be derived from the concept of facing the unknown, that is sending their artists in the hinterland without maps and directions to bring back extraordinary and rare sounds from the wild. i am not to appraise if that’s true or not - as long as the result is that good i won’t ask ;)
check out the past six month’s of the explorers club releases right here right now. a few tips for listening are (most definately) sweet billy pilgrim, (my all-time favourite) peter broderick and the (pretty interesting) sons of noel & adrian.
jan, feb, mar.
penguins rule.
