Guillermo Ramos.
{radio plugger at Out Promotion, UK}
Carsten Stricker.
{press agent at Verstärker PR, GER}
Jan Kramer.
{propaganda controller, GER}
Releases
Various Artists
Erased Tapes Collection I - At the end of all music happiness will be erased (eratp10)
Digital 11-track Erased Tapes compilation featuring selected works from each previous release plus Rival Consoles' remix of Canon Blue's 'Odds & Ends'. This is Erased Tapes 10th release - available as a Download only and as a FREE DDC* Voucher with every purchase of physical Erased Tapes releases to celebrate the label's 1st anniversary!
'The music landscape would be a little less bright without the tiny British imprint. Counting such luminaries as Ólafur Arnalds, British Expeditionary Force, and Ghostworker among their ranks, the label has built a reputation upon release after release of haunting indie symphonies. Essential listening for sonic explorers!' (9/10) – Rock Sound
'Erased Tapes are one of the most promising labels at the moment. They seem to be showing great diversity, but excellent focus.' – The Milk Factory
Kyte
Kyte (eratp9)
Special Edition CD in digisleeve
incl. fold out Poster booklet £11.99
NOT IN STOCK YET.
Official GER/AT/CH, Scandinavian & Benelux release on September 5, 2008.
'Kyte will steal your heart as soon as look at you!' (8/10) – NME
'From hushed semi-electronica to an all-out barrage of ecclesiastical noise. It's positively hymnal!' – The Guardian
'Seven epic, gloriously uplifting, reverb-drenched songs!' – Metro
'Epic, glacial soundscapes tempered by warm, wonky electronica.' – Time Out
'Vocalled-up post-rock with serene widescreen intentions.' (8/10) – Rock Sound
'Not since the Arcade Fire have we felt in the presence of such a spooky, eerie, enigmatic band.' – This Is Fake DIY
'Unashamedly epic and unrelentingly beautiful!' – NME
Ólafur Arnalds
Variations of Static (eratp8)
Limited Edition 10" Clear Vinyl
incl. DDC* £11.99
CD in digisleeve £8.99
Downloads £0.80/ song
Order it here and receive a FREE digital copy of the Erased Tapes Collection I compilation with it!
All 10" orders come with a FREE A5 Eulogy postcard!
Official US/CA release date: July 8, 2008.
'Arnalds has released two indie symphonies of remarkable depth. Iceland's brightest young talent won't be out of the light for long!' – Rock Sound
'There is, in Ólafur Arnalds’s work, a certain elegance and fluidity that is very much his own. A beautiful companion to Eulogy For Evolution. One can only wish Arnalds’s talent gets the recognition it deserves sooner rather than later.’ (4.4/5) – The Milk Factory
'From its inception to the very last second, Variations of Static explores basic human perceptions, the changing qualities of the most common sounds, and raw sensations!' – The Silent Ballet
'In addition to the strings and pianos that form the foundations of his sound, Arnalds isn't afraid to embrace more contemporary instrumentation: a careful, sparing use of micro-beats further assists the young composer in the establishment of a distinct voice within the community of current neo-romantic composers, within which he should surely be regarded as a rising talent. Utterly lovely - highly recommended!' Album Of The Week – Boomkat Records (UK)
'His sweet-sour, melancholic music brings you to new heights and is way ahead of other albums in this genre!' (8.6/10) – Monitor Magazine (IS)
'Variations of Static is in fact full of arctic hints, filtered through night compositions, focusing not only on minimal piano notes, but also string arrangements that give a placid contour to dreamy instrumental songs - wrapped around simple loops, tiny glitches, field recordings and distant voices.' – Onda Rock (IT)
'Another impressive feather in the Leicester boffin’s cap!' – Rock Sound
'Ryan Lee West crafts here a splendid example of modern electronic music at its most interesting and yet, he manages to keep his work accessible and enjoyable.' (4.3/5) – The Milk Factory
'The sound of a drum machine smacked by a serial killer invades these harrowing instrumentals making your every waking moment like walking down a darkened street to the sound of rustling bushes. An impressive selection!' – New Noise
Ólafur Arnalds
Eulogy for Evolution (eratp4)
LP in gatefold sleeve incl. DDC* £15.99
CD in digisleeve £11.99
Downloads £0.80/ song
Order it here.
All LP orders come with a FREE A5 Eulogy postcard!
Official US/CA release date: July 22, 2008.
'A majestic debut album. Achingly beautiful!' – Rock Sound
'Iceland's best new export comes in the shape of Eulogy For Evolution!' – Clash Magazine
'With this impressive first album, Ólafur Arnalds is sure to gain a well deserved place amongst the new generation of classical composers that have been emerging in recent years. Eulogy For Evolution is a truly accomplished work which shows not only a good understanding of contemporary music forms, but also a great musical maturity.' (4.6/5) Top 17 Album Of The Year – The Milk Factory
'A series of orchestral movements that pull the heartstrings like a marionette.' (8/10) Top 12 Album Of The Year – The Silent Ballet
'Slow moving melodies that ache with meaning, forcing themselves in and out of focus. Sublime!' – Chiller Cabinet
Codes In The Clouds
Distant Street Lights / Fractures (eratp3)
Limited Edition 7" White Vinyl
incl. CDR & DDC* £4.99
Downloads £0.80/ song
'With their blissful brand of post-rock, this quintet will warm many a jaded soul.' The Best New Music
– Rock Sound
'Distant Street Lights screams the word 'Ambition!' with every subtly-crafted chord. Fractures is possibly the most gripping piece of music you'll hear this year, almost like the final chapter from a Jack Arnott novel.' (8/10) Single of the Week – Drowned In Sound
'I'm running out of excuses to explain rather lackluster releases from recent powerhouses as Mono, Explosions In The Sky and Do Make Say Think. If they weren't already wrapped up in their own music, they'd probably know better. Codes In The Clouds does.'
– The Silent Ballet
'Upon hearing Distant Street Lights I was drawn in like the proverbial moth to the flame, while Fractures fuelled my appetite for more, it’s an album we really want.' Rising Stars – The Silent Ballet
'One of the best tunes i've heard in a while, like Mogwai having a punch up with Boards Of Canada. Superb! Another play this week and more to come.' – Isles FM (Scotland)
Aparatec
Vemeer EP (eratp2)
Limited Edition 7" incl. CDR £4.99
Downloads £0.80/ song
‘Bendy as heck acid electro, that's really bloody accomplished and fresh. He's the first person I've heard to utilise that sound and for him to be progressive with it without resorting to plagiarism earns him big brownie points. I bet even AFX would be impressed with the lad's fantastic efforts. It's his keen ear for warm melodies and tidy, playful beats that makes this such a damn treat.’ – Norman Records
'Try listening to this extremely late at night while walking down a dark and deserted street and see how many times you look over your shoulder afraid that you are being followed. The music only adds to the paranoia.' – Delusions Of Adequacy (US)
'Electro rhythm with crafted quirk.' – Channel 4
The Lies And How We Told Them
Signpost EP (eratp1)
Limited Edition CD in jewelcase £8.99
Downloads £0.80/ song
‘Definitely one to watch in the coming months.’ – Rough Trade
'The Lies aren't your live energetic band with high jumps and head shakes, they are a band that make you stand with your mouths slightly akimbo with small amounts of drool seeping into the corners.' – First Live Music Magazine
‘Whilst hanging precariously off a cliff by a line of thread, The Lies And How We Told Them delicately catch a breeze that carries them away with their emotive pop songs.’ – 93 Records
The tapes we erase were first invented for recording sound by Fritz Pfleumer in 1926 in Germany. Due to the international hostilities preceding World War II, this development was largely kept secret from the rest of the world. It was only after the war that Americans, particularly Jack Mullin and Major John Herbert Orr, were able to bring this technology out of Germany. And now we're trying to erase all evidence that this ever happened...
'Oh yeah the music industry. Yeah, it's a piece of shit full of deluded "yes" men, most real talent gets located and sent to a horrible beast who then proceeds to program a machine to churn out the idea. Only when it leaves the factory the idea has overwhelmed everyone.' - Ryan L. West
About Erased Tapes Records - Ólafur US tour this week!
Erased Tapes is like a never-ending design. A cinematic design. Picturesque music for people to dream to. Every project is a different book, every release a different chapter, every song a different page in the catalogue of Erased Tapes. It’s wonderful to see that there are already a few people who just want to keep exploring new music. And as long as these people exist, we will continue adding chapters. If you want to help, then all we ask of you is to tell your friends about us and our artists' music.
You can now subscribe to our first FREE Erased Tapes Podcast
in the iTunes Store; presented by Ben Mynott from Fluid Nation / Big Chill.
The fusion of traditional and contemporary formats.
CD is dead! It's yesterday's news. As if it never existed. Downloads are faster, cheaper and much more mobile. They aren't the end of all physical formats though. The human being is a hunter and a collector. We will always long for something our arms can hold and our hands can grab. We believe in the survival of analogue formats by combining them with a FREE Digital Download Code of the entire release. We introduce you to the DDC.
Love for Erased Tapes:
'The music landscape would be a little less bright without the tiny British imprint. Counting such luminaries as Ólafur Arnalds, British Expeditionary Force, and Ghostworker among their ranks, the label has built a reputation upon release after release of haunting indie symphonies. Essential listening for sonic explorers!' (9/10) – Rock Sound
'Erased Tapes are one of the most promising labels at the moment. They seem to be showing great diversity, but excellent focus.' – The Milk Factory
'This year's most beautiful live constellation comes in the form of an Erased Tapes Christmas Special post release night! You'd be mad to miss it!' – Rock Sound
'Breathing new life into the music industry!' – Kent On Sunday
We are proud to present you a first excerpt from the official '3055' music video, which is still in production and will be premiered in mid July during Ólafur's US/CA tour.
First NORTH AMERICAN Release on July 8!
Ólafur Arnalds' new EP 'Variations of Static' will be the debut North American release for Erased Tapes, hitting all good record stores on July 8. It will also be the start date of Ólafur's North American tour, followed by the 'Eulogy for Evolution' album release on July 22.
Since early 2007, London-based initiator and founder of Erased Tapes, Robert Raths, dedicated himself to capturing and releasing picturesque, universally speaking music for young people to dream to – people who push for the return of creative labels. To celebrate ET's first year of releases, label nights, tours and a now worldwide distribution network, the 10th release comes in form of a CD booklet, carrying a unique digital download code for a FREE 11-track compilation album. 'Erased Tapes Collection I – At the end of all music happiness will be erased' features selected works from each previous release plus two remixes. The FREE Download voucher is only available in combination with physical copies of Erased Tapes releases. Have a listen here.
First Erased Tapes Podcast launched on iTunes! You can now subscribe to our first FREE Erased Tapes Podcast in the iTunes Store; presented by Ben Mynott from Fluid Nation / Big Chill.
We are very excited to announce that Ólafur Arnalds will be supporting fellow Icelanders Sigur Rós for a few European dates in August:
11 Aug Palladium Cologne, GER 12 Aug Schlachthof Wiesbaden, GER 13 Aug Tempodrom Berlin, GER 20 Aug Stodola Klub Warsaw, POL
Barbican headline show & summer festivals in Europe!
Ólafur's extensive one-month European tour is going to culminate in a headline show at the legendary Barbican in London on June 20 with support from our friends Yndi Halda, followed by a few selected festival performances throughout the summer including Transmission (AT) w/ Cornelius & Efterklang, Secret Garden Party (UK) and Haldern Pop Festival (GER) w/Flaming Lips. Click here to have a look at the full tour plan. Barbican tickets are selling fast! Order here: barbican.org.uk
KYTE debut release on Erased Tapes & First EU Tour in September!
With an average age of only 20, Kyte from Leicestershire have crafted a debut album with mastery beyond their years. Recalling the melodic sensibility of Postal Service combined with the electronic tinge of Boards Of Canada, Kyte's songs resonate with all fans of beautiful pop music. Their self-titled debut will be released through Erased Tapes in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Scandinavia and Benelux on September 5, supported by a full European tour. It will be packaged as a special edition including a Bonus Track, fold out Poster booklet and a FREE copy of the Erased Tapes label compilation. The Download version is already available in the Erased Tapes Online Store. 'Kyte will steal your heart as soon as look at you!' (8/10) – NME
First September EU dates have already been announced, with many more to follow!
Ryan Lee West aka Rival Consoles crafted a remix for our friend Daniel James aka Canon Blue from Nashville, which will be release on Rumraket as part of he 'Odds & Ends' single and can also be found as a bonus track of the 'Erased Tapes Collection I' compilation. He recently performed for over 2000 people at the world-famous Tate Britain museum in London. Ryan is now working on his first full-length release. You can listen to a new track called 'Agenda'here.
Codes In The Clouds will spend this summer recording their debut album and will be back on the road in October! First UK tour dates with post-rock comrades This Will Destroy You from Texas have been announced already. More UK and EU dates to be announced on their website soon. They also have new merch for sale here.
The BEF just finished recording part two and three of their 3-Chapter series! There are plans for a first extensive UK tour in September and a double release of Chapter Two and Chapter Three towards the end of the year. First tracks up on their website.
Ghostworker is German-born Robert Raths' own musical outlet. Architectural studies and poems about steel-grey London converted into a blueprint for contrary pop music; fleshed out and co-produced by label comrade Justin Lockey. The Download version is already available here.
Last night Iceland's leading public television station RÚV broadcasted a live performance of a brand new and yet untitled song on the evening show Kastljós. It's the live debut of a new line-up and at the same time a good-bye ode to Iceland, as Ólafur will be touring Europe, America and Asia for the rest of the year to promote both of his releases. Enjoy:
The follow-up EP ‘Variations of Static’ comes with a FREE digital copy of the 'Erased Tapes Collection I' compilation to celebrate our 1st anniversary. While keeping the classical foundations of his debut album, here Arnalds incorporates crackling electronics and the dead voice of a machine; like vague memories of tradition lost within the digital age we all live in. Order it here and receive a FREE digital copy of the Erased Tapes Collection I compilation with it! All Clear 10" Vinyl orders come with an additonal FREE A5 Eulogy For Evolution postcard on top of the compilation!
Rival Consoles & Silje Nes (FatCat) live at Sadler's Wells in London.
Recommended by Time Out!
Rival Consoles is going to support Norway's FatCat-signed folktronica popstel Silje Nes at the beautiful Lilian Bayliss Theatre/Sadler's Wells in London on May 25. Presented & organised by our good friend Ben at The Arctic Circle. Tickets available here.
Ryan's planned performance in his own words: 'I will be drawing sound live with 'Recycle' and mainly using MAX/MSP so expect emphasis on sonic gesture rather than defined musical form. This will be a chance to hear Sunday being split into 50 instances and dragged around the stereo field. - Little attempt has been made in this area of music apart from basic comparisons to Sound Diffusion and Leaf Cutter John's lovely 'Forester' patch. So this should be exciting especially as the sonic results sound nothing like anything you have ever heard.'
After their appearance at last year's British Music Week in Cologne, it was only a matter of time until CITC would return to their beloved German fans. April will see the band team up with Texan post-rock colleagues This Will Destroy You for a show in Berlin and Duisburg as well as a couple of headline shows. Oh, and they got some new tour merch printed for everyone who can't await their album release. Have a look here.
Ólafur Arnalds and his live string quartet will be crossing the Atlantic for a few showcases in Boston, New York and Toronto; promoting his debut album release in North America. But he will be back for an extensive European tour this summer and a few festival performances. Óli is already working on his second full-length record and a string arrangement for Erased Tapes friends 65daysofstatic. His debut album ‘Eulogy For Evolution’ and upcoming EP 'Variations of Static' will soon be available in the US, Canada, Asia and the rest of Europe via Erased Tapes Records.
Over 200 people already came to see our last label night in December despite ATP and Christmas shopping mania. We hoped but really didn't expect to get so many people down to our second label night within 8 weeks. Especially not on Valentine's Day. But it sold out again! With Ólafur Arnalds returning to London for this one UK show only, followed by an Icelandic night in Brussels alongside our friends Amiina as well as a show at the legendary Paradiso in Amsterdam, Valentine's Night will be supported by label comrades Codes In The Clouds and old friends Kyte. Visit the venue website to find out more about the line-up. This might also be your last chance to get your hands on the limited tour edition of Ólafur's upcoming EP release ‘Variations of Static’.
To help spreading the word for Ólafur we got a 3-piece postcard set of Stuart Bailes beautiful photographs printed - for people to send it out to their beloved ones. You can order it here.
The BEF debut record 'Chapter One: A Long Way From Home' will be featured in the December issue of Rock Sound, together with an interview and the title track 'A Long Way From Home' being featured on the covermount CD. You can get your hands on a copy from November 7th. Until then we can enjoy a sneak preview of what lies ahead of us... Order it here
BEF Chapter One: Enhanced CD Extra 'All Those Demons' (video trailer)
This one goes out to everyone who can't make it to the Portishead ATP! And if you thought you were gonna spend a tenner on a shitty little HMV voucher for a Christmas present, then this will make you re-think. Let's celebrate the release of another three amazing records. Let's celebrate everything!
You can book them online here. Box Office: 0870 389 1846
Sorry, SOLD OUT!
Ólafur will be touring unique venues in the UK including the oldest custom-built concert hall in Europe, the beautiful Holywell Music Room in Oxford and the Peakcock Visual Arts Gallery in Aberdeen, before he continues touring throughout the rest of Europe. He is also gonna be playing an intimit performance at the Iceland Airwaves Music Festival 2007,
as well as performing at the SOLD OUT! avant-rock & cutting edge electrionics festival State-X Newforms
