- Northern Star Records
-
Northern Star Records is a UK based record label founded by Scott Causer and Andy Oliver in 2005. The label launched in March 2006 with their first release, the double CD compilation Psychedelica Vol. 1.[1] The release soon gained cult status and was praised by Billboard for bringing the genre into the mainstream, as the label was increasing viewed as being the leading pioneers of the third wave of psychedelia.[2]
Psychedelica Vol: 1 featured high profile bands such as The Electric Prunes, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Silver Apples, The Fuzztones and The Telescopes and introduced the world to The Black Angels, The Dolly Rocker Movement, The Lovetones, The Stevenson Ranch Davidians and The Electric Mainline.
Psychedelica Vol: 2 followed in March 2007 and featured a whole host of brand new bands including The Quarter After, The People’s Revolutionary Choir, Mainline (now The Brothers Movement), The Asteroid #4, Sunsplit, Voices, Hopewell, Air Cav and The Soft Hearted Scientists.
2008 was a landmark year for the label. In February Andy Oliver left to pursue his own interests which left Scott Causer take the label forward and in a new direction. A raucous show at London Notting Hills Arts Club featuring Northern Star mainstays The Nova Saints, Say and Satsangi and the first ever UK gig of Italian band The Zen Circus hinted at the future direction of the label and kept the flame burning.
Psychedelica Three did not emerge till November 2008 but when it did it arrived with a bang. The album largely featured underground acts but did include cameo appearances from the likes of Kim and Kelley Deal (from The Pixies and The Breeders) and Brian Ritchie (from The Violent Femmes) on The Zen Circus’ contribution. The album also featured The Electric Soft Parade, a remix by Spacemen 3’s Sonic Boom and an exclusive from longtime John Foxx collaborator Louis Gordon. The album was a massive success and brought bands such as The Lea Shores, The Nova Saints, The High Dials, Youngteam, The December Sound, God Is An Astronaut, Sennen, Their Hearts Were Full of Spring and Hush The Many (Heed The Few) to further prominence.[3] A packed out launch show featuring The Arrows of Love, The Nova Saints, Aspen Woods and Youngteam played out at Notting Hill Arts Club’s RoTa to a rapturous audience.[4]
Tracks from the Psychedelica series have been aired on numerous radio shows around the world and have been played by prominent DJs such as Bob Harris, Tom Robinson, Adam Walton and Huw Stephens on their BBC shows. The albums have also been subject of great critical acclaim garnering almost universal rave reviews from the likes of NME, Drowned In Sound, The Sunday Times, The Independent, Mojo, The Word, Uncut, Reverb, Clash Magazine, Billboard, Slurp, Rumore and many more.
The label’s promise to break through into the mainstream took several steps forward with 2009’s ‘Revolution In Sound’[5] which brought a whole new audience to Northern Star.[6] The album featured what was claimed to be some of the most exciting independent bands on the planet.[7] The album saw Northern Star mainstays The Nova Saints, The December Sound, The Voices, The Electric Mainline and Youngteam appear alongside a whole new set of bands new to Northern Star such as The Manhattan Love Suicides, Laboratory Noise, Delicasession, Kontakte and Punk TV.[8] The promotion of Revolution In Sound saw a riotious show at Sound of Confusion in Birmingham featuring Mint Ive, Kontakte and The Nova Saints followed by the London launch with Insect Guide and Laboratory Noise.
An announcement was made in May 2010 that The Nova Saints had signed to Northern Star and that the release of the latest instalment of the Psychedelica series –Psychedelica 4 was imminent which is to feature a diverse selection of psych luminaries such as Singapore Sling, The See See, Hopewell, The Medicine, Arrows of Love, Nelson Bragg from The Brian Wilson Band, Daniel Land & the Modern Painters, Spotlight Kid, Eat Lights Become Lights, 93MillionMilesFromThe Sun and Joensuu 1685.[9]
References
- ^ http://www.terrascope.co.uk/Features/NorthernStar_feature.htm
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003017910#/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003017910
- ^ http://www.contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/albumreview/northern-star-psychedelica-3x05x11x08
- ^ http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4136618-shoegaze-week--label-focus-27--northern-star-records?relevant-artist
- ^ http://www.zani.co.uk/articles.aspx?id=143
- ^ http://www.contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/albumreview/northern-star-records-revolution-in-soundx16x09x09
- ^ http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/content/content_detail.php?id=3446&type=Features
- ^ http://www.retrophobic.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=601&Itemid=27
- ^ http://www.retrophobic.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=796&Itemid=28
External links
Categories:- British record labels
- Psychedelic trance record labels
- Record labels established in 2005
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