Benbecula Records
Scotland, 1999-2009
Electronica, ambient, electro,
folk, post-rock ... blah
OUT NOW
Araya
"Whilst We Try"
Christ.
"Distance Lends Enchantment
to the View"
Layton & Wood
"When? Softly"
Talvihorros
"Some Ambulance"
MINERALS SERIES
Read all about it
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Various "Music Volume One and Two" Benbecula Records, 2002 (BEN015) CD Album Release Date: 22 July 2002 Track Listing 01 beluga - tundra 02 novel 23 - blink run away to east 03 fibla - djam 04 mikael romanenko - evel.all 05 bauri - cargo slip 06 phase 6 - deep motion 07 christ. - moxley moy 08 joni - too stupid 09 mr projectile - absorption 10 clubbed to death - junk 11 frog pocket - tony blair 12 east of insanity - retrospect 13 marcia blaine school for girls - ned rites 14 _ - london has let me down again Benbecula Records' first official release was the limited 12" vinyl EP "Music Volume One", released in autumn 2000. The EP's first beginnings were the collaboration of co-founders Phase 6 and Beluga who each submitted one track from recently recorded works. Other submissions from local and international artists were a result of discussion about the framework of how the label would likely take shape in years to come. In an attempt to differentiate between electronic music and pure experimentation, the title of the EP was born. Even now the tracks are timeless melodies which prove that the goal originally mapped out has been achieved. The follow up, Music Volume Two, followed the series' dual purpose, to introduce new acts to the public, in the hope that one or more would go onto greater things. Again, things have worked out. In an attempt to introduce the label to an international market in the summer of 2002, the two EPs were combined onto one CD, as both original formats had long since sold out. Weighing in at 14 tracks in total, this CD compilation of the label's early works is a unique image of a point in time, and a treasure trove of music that is exclusive to this release. |
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The "Music"
series is a mixture of home grown talent and submissions from friends
and artists abroad. However the skill in selection allows the
tracks to gel into a whole. Beluga and Phase 6 are co-founders of the label and submitted their last recorded works. Beluga's technical help since then has been production work for both Reverbaphon and Mikael Romanenko's "To Let Go" EP which is still regarded as the label's best work to date. Copies of this long deleted vinyl have been known to fetch triple figures on Ebay. The track from Romanenko on this compilation, "eval.all" is by no means an out-take and for some was the best song on the Music Volume One EP. Beluga has also overseen track selection and sequencing of Reverbaphon's "Our Heart Beats with Joy" album. Local Scottish talent figures highly in both compilations with pieces from Clubbed to Death, East of Insanity, Joni and this guy called Christ.. Christ.'s track "Moxley Moy" is a mature song that was finally put to DAT not longer before the release of Music Volume Two. A stripped down track with a basic piano riff and synth line, it was the first widely available work by Christ. and served as the perfect introduction to his skill as a musician. Joni's submission "Too Stupid" was a certainty chosen from a demo of retro-electro songs and covers that was discovered on mp3.com. Joni continues to gig with the Benbecula crew. |
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One other Scottish artist who has gone on to greater things and had already
established his own works through record label Mouthmoth was Frog
Pocket. The track "Tony Blair" pretty much encapsulates his skill
as a writer and also the construction of playful and almost childish sounds
and rhythms. Frog Pocket has obviously gone on to release a mini-album for Benbecula "Moon Mountain of the Fords". |
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The Marcia Blaine School for Girls, hail from Glasgow and submitted
their track "Ned Rites" a few months before their debut EP on Glasgow label
Dalriada. The School have since recorded for labels Awkward
Silence and Static Caravan. |
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Selected
Reviews "Although I’m not familiar with all these artists, this EP has left me looking forward to hearing more from them and the Benbecula label." Music Volume One Paul Lloyd, Elektronik, 11 October 2000 "With no less than 12 tracks, this heavyweight EP from Scottish label Benbecula should strictly be had up for violation of the Trade Descriptions Act. On the other hand, we could just stop spouting shit and tell you why it offers such value for money. Well, for starters there is not a weak track on it, and for seconds its packed full of all kinds of carefully sculpted, enticing electronica, from the minimal piano-infused beauty of 'Christ', to the darker, heavier pounding sounds of 'Clubbed to Death'. So, if its a quality LP you want at the knock down price of an EP, then look no further". Music Volume Two Found Sounds, DJ Mag, March 2002 "Fronted by Christ. - best known for his early association with the Boards of Canada - Music Volume 2 packs in a plethora of electronic talent onto a seven track EP. With new romantic antics from Clubbed to Death and rollercoaster experimentalism from Marcia Blaine School for Girls, its up to Frog Pocket to display some sonic sanity with the fashionably attired "Tony Blair". Music Volume Two Mark Jackson, Jockey Slut, May 2002 "... unbelievably beautiful and somewhat retro-style ambient electronics." Real Tokyo "All in all a brilliant piece of work, recommended" Smallfish "Hurraahhhh!!! A new Benbecula!!" Hausmusik "Excellent" Rough Trade "Killer" De-bug "This is developed electronic music in its most crushing form" Chunky "Romantic electronica from scotland. believe us." Kompakt "Altogether rather deliciously wonderful" Pelican Neck "In depth, detailed electronica" Hedonizm "Excellent sound" Jellybean |
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Benbecula Records Interviews Tesselate Abvmob Igloo |
OUT NOW
Various
"Ten Tracks Retrospective"
Plum
"Different
Skin"
Ochre
"Like Dust of the Balance"
The Flowers of Hell
"Come Hell or High
Water"
Wounded Knee
"Shimmering New
Vistas"
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