Iris Happenings

Eye on New Releases: January 31st, 2012

2012-01-31T09:00:00.000-08:00

If you're audiophiles like us, you know it's that time of the week again: time to treat yo'self!

Label: Tonequake
Album: En Garde!
Artist: Favez
Genre: Alternative

En Garde! started with an email. Producer Andrew Scheps had been a fan of Swiss band Favez for a while, so when the opportunity to work together arose both Andrew and Favez jumped at the chance. A chilly January visit to the band's rehearsal space in Switzerland quickly turned into a deep and creative working relationship. For recording, Favez and Andrew met halfway (well, almost) between their homelands of Lausanne and Los Angeles at Monnow Valley Studio in Wales. They spent an intense 2 weeks recording live, capturing as much of the raw power of the band as they could. 12 days and 12 songs later, En Garde! had taken form.

Label: AudioInk
Album: Out Of My Hands
Artist: Cam Hodges
Genre: Rock

Cam Hodges comes fresh out of the Seattle music scene with his first album release after a successful climb up the ranks of "America’s Got Talent" to the #24 spot. With hundreds of thousands of YouTube fans, Cam's new release Out of My Hands has built-in organic demand. His pop/rock style includes basic rock structures with a subtle use of vocal harmony. The music is mixed acoustic and electric instrumentation with guitar, bass, drums, vocal back-ups, strings and brass. His laid-back style is reminiscent of Jason Mraz and an edgier Jack Johnson.

Label: Greenskeepers Music
Album: La Vendetta
Artist: Casino
Genre: Electronic

The two (sometimes well dressed) guys of Casino are about to deal a flush round of cards with their debut EP La Vendetta. A five track body of work that cruises on a brand new speed boat passed the lost paradise islands of: Isla Balearica, Isla Italo-Housia, Isla Bonita and La Isla Synth-Popia. Why such a vengeful title for a debut EP you may ask? No they are not aggressive super agents (even though they sometimes pretend to be), but the single "La Vendetta" is a soundtrack and script to a story of love, passion and indifference. The extremely catchy chorus is guaranteed to be one that you find yourself humming days later. Other notable tracks include "White Water" - immediately the chord swell may remind you of a Frankie Goes To Hollywood vibe, but it soon swells into a dreamy white wash of the ideal analog Synthtopia. "Echoes" - think 2012 tropical balearic synth pop written for Madonna if she was still a virgin. "Dreams & Dragons" - a summer sing-a-long that is the perfect companion for driving down the highway on a hot summer night with the cabriolet roof jacked back 180 degrees. "Flight To Nowhere" - a piano and arpeggiator driven Italo-disco-ish’ inspired club fire cracker, which manoeuvres late into the night with its roller coaster build ups and synth melodies.

Eye on New Releases: January 24th, 2012

2012-01-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

From fast, dance-y electro house to something more slow and mellow, this week's new releases will put you in the right mood.

Label: Coco Machete Records
Album: Bitches From Ostblock Pt. 2
Artist: Ostblockschlampen
Genre: Electro House

They came from the deepest woods of the former UDSSR!…AND THEY WILL BOMB WHO THEY WANT!!! Ostblockschlampen, “THE BITCHES FROM THE EASTERN BLOCK” is Markus Lange and his cohort Vanilla, two electro terrorists that have been rocking the boat and kicking in doors across the nation. Bitches From Ostblock, a two part release, features a who's who of upstart producers including Modek, Stereofunk, Faites Leur la Danse, Ill Saint M, Boylerz, Frederic De Carvalho, & Phantom's Revenge...bass bass bass...but you say who??? Wir sind die Bitches!

Label: Cosmicleaf Records
Album: Discovering Eguana
Artist; Eguana & Side Liner
Genre: Ambient, Downtempo

In 2011 Cosmicleaf and Side Liner discovered Eguana: a very promising talent from Russia who knows how to please with his multi chill out sounds. Discovering Eguana is a compilation of tracks carefully selected for your ear pleasure, from downtempo lounge to trip-hop. Cinematic sonic environments detailed with wispy and organic synthesizers, nimble vocals, and a warm, welcoming low end, elevate listeners into an intimate involvement within their own senses. Discover Eguana!

Label: symbolic insight
Album: Leaving Palestine
Artist: entropoic advance
Genre: Electronic/Experimental

entropic advance’s Leaving Palestine release is a collection of improvised sounds and textures recorded at symbolic insight studios by the founding members, Noise Poet Nobody and bios+a+ic, from 2002-2004. The original release was a limited edition of 50 copies, packaged with a handmade paper insert stamped with only the projects logo, which is now sold out. The album sounds like a epic soundtrack for a film about the trials and tribulations of the Palestinian people. Minimal pulses, glitches, metal percussion, and tribal rhythms are layered with lush ambient tapestries and deep dark drones. Beautiful, haunting trumpet, morphing slide guitar, along with inspiring synthesizers, carry the sound into space. The music expresses an emotional intensity, while maintaining a mellow vibe, allowing the listener to experience a journey to the unknown regions of the mind. There is a therapeutic ambient flow in this reflective journey, which ultimately leaves one with feelings of hope, love, and empathy for the human condition.

Eye on New Releases: January 17th, 2012

2012-01-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

Label: Moodgadget Records
Album: Lemondrop
Artist: André Obin
Genre: Electronic, Synth-Pop

Careening through the lanes of an endless musical highway, Boston native André Obin’s sound is not easily categorized. Genre-bending and shape-shifting are standard fare; taking risks is part of the fun. A musician, singer and producer, André draws inspiration for his songs from a deep emotional well. The music unfolds simultaneously with life itself. The results can be as dark as a forest under a new moon or as bright as a summer sun reflecting off the skyscrapers of a bustling city. His new single "Lemondrop" falls along the lines of the former, offering elegantly haunting tunes that form the base of 18 Carat Affair's and Teen Daze's dreamy remixes.

Label: decibel nyc
Album: Don't Break It
Artist: Mista A
Genre: House, Deep House

Mista A follows up his massive release Mental Health Hotline with an even hotter ticket for the new year. Don't Break It showcases the mature face of Mista A: still solid with the heavy beatdown arrangement and low ballin' groove that will make you stomp a hole in the floor. Three solid remixes from some of Decibel NYC's finest. DJ Locgroove offers up a severely pumped rendition, packed with filtered grooves and an overdriven rhythm, which is undoubtedly going to be a crowd favorite in the big rooms. Taking it one level up the sophistication ladder is a masterpiece done by the legendary Herbie James. His knack for blending old school and new school is certaintly a recipe to send all kids back to school. Done with live instrumentation and trained skill to make the deepness match the intensity of the big room mixes, be prepared to be sandwiched into an aural paradise. Last and certainly not least, Mr Soul Fabulous graces the Decibel NYC catalog with his supremely deep and melodic take of this work. Assigning the beatdown to his blend of caribe melody and overtones, you might find it a departure from his prior deepness, but not too far. Keeping true to the original, house heads will be pleased with the universal club appeal and mainstream approach to such an underground production.

Eye on New Releases: January 10th, 2012

2012-01-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012! What better way to start the new year than with new music? Today we bring you releases from some of the finest dubstep artists. Seems like dubstep will be the trend this year...at least, we hope!

Label: FiXT / Celldweller
Album: The Complete Cellout
Artist: Celldweller
Genre: Dubstep, Electronic Rock

Watch out Skrillex, the dubstep scene is about to be taken over Celldweller's hybrid fusion of aggressive electronic, orchestra and rock. Celldweller is excited to finally releaseThe Complete Cellout Vol. 01, noting that most of the tracks that aren't remixes from other artists are versions of completely reworked from the ground up for the Celldweller 2010/2011 Live Show. Although he has put a lot of time into the remixing and reproduction, Celldweller also credits Drivepilot, Bare, Blue Stahli, J Scott G, Joman, Josh Money & Toksin for helping to turn the release from being "pretty good" to being "totally badass". Known for pioneering new sounds and methods for creating his tracks, Celldweller continues to generate bangin' music that one can shake her booty to, clearly evident in The Complete Cellout Vol. 01.

Label: Vermin Street
Album: Vanquish
Artist: Bobby Tank
Genre: Dubstep, Electronic

London's Bobby Tank is a flag-bearing 80's icon, a mad astrophysicist, and a hip hop kid from the future freshly fallen through a wormhole to our present day and age. He's recently dropped tunes on the Aisuru Compilation and the Finest Ego & Project Mooncircle Compilation. He has a forthcoming release on Prime Dubs and now this, his debut EP, Vanquish. The Bobby Tank sound is one of nostalgic synths repurposed for the present, complimenting soulful, blenderized cut-ups reminiscent of days to come. Delicately woven leads and atmospheres trickle down from the skies, tickling the ears with tantalizingly tasteful treble, while thick pulsing bass will shake that ass like a coked-up stripper at a Miami club circa 1983. This release comes replete with a gamut of remixes of the title track: 813's dope Dubstep lick; Kid Kanevil's seductively slow 808 mix; Jon Phonics' smooth space funk refix and Darkhouse Fam's fresh wonk-hop version.

Label: Yerba Buena Discos
Album: Then You Smiled
Artist: Homero Espinosa feat. Allegra Bandy
Genre: Soul, House, Deep House

Yerba Buena Discos is happy to bring you the latest collaboration between Homero Espinosa and Allegra Bandy. Then You Smiled pairs up Homero’s deep, skipping instrumentation with Allegra’s buttery vocals. On the remixes, San Francisco’s legendary David Harness and Chris Lum team up for the Harlum Muziq remix, entrenching Allegra’s singing in their trademark soulful production. YBD’s own Allen Craig displays his international influences with a deep but drum-friendly Afrotech-style remix, while Chillin Music’s Rob Slac gives us a hypnotic, bass-heavy, dubbed-out remix. Of course, the release wouldn’t be complete without a dancefloor-friendly dub from Homero Espinosa himself.

Eye On New Releases: December 20th, 2011

2011-12-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from the consciousness of IRIS Happenings! As you wrap packages and sip egg nog this week, make sure you tune in to some Zombie-inspired electro from Eastern Europe, or Minneapolis' mid-tempo electro-disco dance party.

Label: Coco Machete Records

Release: Bitches from Ostblock

Artist: Ostblockschampen

Genre: Electro House

The latest offering from CocoMachete Records, Bitches from Ostblock,is the mastermind of two infamousEastern European producers: Markus Lange and Vanilla, aka Ostblockschampen.Ostblockschampen translates from German “bitches from the Eastern Block,” whichincludes countries like Poland and all those from the Czech Republic to Russia.The six tracks that compile this release feature the original mix of “Bitchesfrom Ostblock” plus 5 other remixes from upstart producers like Boylerz, andFrederic De Carvalo. The original is a bass-heavy hybridization of groovyelectro, glitchy percussion, and infectious propulsive electronic timbres thatare reminiscent of great dance party artists like Felix Da Housecat. AsOstblockschampen professes to dance floors across the world, “they will bombwho they want.” Look out for the complimentary release to this record droppingJanuary 10^th, 2012.

Label: Nyte Traxx

Release: Super Nova EP

Artist: Nyteowl

Genre: House, R&B, Pop, Electro

Minneapolis-based electronic pop artist and R&B producerJeremiah Conlon, is back with his latest release under the moniker of Nyteowl.Picking up where his previous effort Tokyo EP left off, Nyteowl’s sonic stamp—soul inspired vocals, disco aesthetic,and smooth electronic music—has expanded with the addition of mid-tempo funkand house influences that give Super Nova a groovier edge. Nyteowl explores the delicate balance between new wavebasslines and classic electro-disco vibes on “Feeling it (Again)” and “SuperNova”; tracks that compliment each other nicely. The last track on the recordfeatures of remix from Jimmy Edgar (K7 Records/Warp), a mix of “Love U” that’ssure to leave listeners busy on the dance floor.

Eye On New Releases: December 13th

2011-12-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

Label: Blue Canoe Records

Release: XYZ Factor

Artist: Joseph Patrick Moore

Genre: Electronic, Jazz

Blue Canoe Records introduces the new release XYZ Factor, a three song EP of electronica and jazz frombassman, Joseph Patrick Moore. Moore is a skilled bassist, producer, composer,arranger, educator, author and the founding partner of Blue Canoe Digital, anentertainment company focused on delivering the best in jazz music. His musicand inventiveness is known to echo the spirits of Miles Davis, Quincy Jones,and Herbie Hancock. With his production of XYZ Factor, it’s apparent that Moore has crafted anincomparable recording that would entertain both electronica and contemporary jazzfans equally.

Label: Electronic Soundscapes

Release: Lightscapes II

Artist: Sol Tek

Genre: Ambient, Electronic

Not needing to loom any longer,Sol Tek has released their new album Lightscapes II, an awaited sequel to Lightscapes I released in January 2010 from the label Electronic Soundscapes.Originating from Amsterdam, Albert Borkent, creator of Sol Tek draws inspirationsfrom Tangerine Dream, Arvo Part and Klaus Schulze, who have influenced thedistinct Sol Tek style of combining electric and ambient music. With trackslike “Floral Melody,” “Monodrone,” and “Celestial Sea,” LightscapesII is an album that combines classicalmusic structures with the latest electronic production skills and has atmosphericand drone works featuring carefully selected gems for urban tranquility andmind relaxation.

Eye on New Releases: December 6th, 2011

2011-12-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Digital stocking stuffer ideas for those friends, co-workers and family that would appreciate the gift of new music! Indie Rock and Ambient enthusiasts take note!

Label: Everliving Sound

Release: This is....

Artist: Bollywood

Genre: Rock, Alternative, Indie Rock

Bollywood is self-described as an “experimental American”band, but what does that really mean in the context of this new record? On ThisIs.., Justin Sehorn, Preston Saari, andMark Vomit, have manufactured a record with a kaleidoscopic landscape, one thatoperates under a “hybridization of haunted mechanical rock n roll and post-punknoise.” The album’s first track “SHIELDS,” with its layers of jangly guitars,droning bass, and electronic drum processing, is reminiscent of the Monks orearly Clash. Comparatively, “Meta” reminds this writer of a Kid-A era Radioheadgroove, juxtaposed with Sehorn’s brooding and cerebral vocal melodies.

Label: ant-zen

Release: Transit

Artist: Zero Degree

Genre: Electronic, Ambient

On Transit, MatthaisErhard and Bernhard Korth have created expansive, dreamlike, and cinematicelectronic environments in which the listener becomes entranced and relaxed.The seven tracks on Transit mergemelancholic melodies, varied down-tempo rhythms, luscious synth tones, and warmyet glitchy drum processing. The subtle care that each sound receivesillustrates the German-based Zero Degree’s ability to bend together theirunique musical temperament and technical skill into one cohesively hypnotic whole.

Label: K Records

Release: Gravel b/w Selector Dub Narcotic Re-grade

Artist: Lake / Selector Dub Narcotic (aka Calvin Johnson)

Genre: Alternative

On this latest release from Olympia-based imprint K Records,label founder, owner, operator and producer Calvin Johnson (aka Selector DubNarcotic) introduced the “Dub Narcotic Disco Plate,” a series of 7” recordsthat feature an original from a K Record artist, and a “Selector Dub Narcotic”version on the B side. When Lake returned home from their recent U.S. nationaltour supporting Let’s Build a Roof, theband’s 2^nd album on K, highlight track “Gravel” had evolved with anew soulful feel that struck Calvin as a prime candidate for the Disco Plateseries. The B-side features “Re-Grade,” a stripped-down version of “Gravel’s”groove, infused with a new melodica melody, and subtler, more atmosphericpercussive textures.

Eye On New Releases: November 29th

2011-11-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

Label: sonaBlast! Records

Release: Fire Escape Promise

Artist: Peter Searcy

Genre: Indie, Rock, Pop

sonaBlast! Records introducesFire Escape Promise fromsinger/songwriter Peter Searcy, a former bandmate of Squirrel Ball in the1980s, Big Wheel in 1989, and Starbilly after which he began performing solo.He has shared stages with a wide range of artist including Bob Dylan, Dido, andJohn Hiatt. Based on his influences as a teenager, he was “gravitated towardsthe more melodic, aggressive music at the time.” Fire Escape Promise has songs that are euphonious and authentic to hear.With influences like the Husker Du and The Replacements, his music incorporatestheir styles with his own.

Label: F5 Records

Release: The SweetestRevenge

Artist: Black Spade

Genre: Soul, Hip Hop

St. Louis producer-rapperBlack Spade releases his new album The Sweetest Revenge, a collaboration between him and DJ Crucial, co-ownerof F5 Records. The Sweetest Revengeis a two-record release that includes a regular album and an EP that presentssoulful vocals liquefied with rhythmic and affluent hip hop beats. Spade’staste in music from Radiohead, Prince, J. Dilla, Bloc Party and others demonstratethat his rapping style can stay relaxed like Common and fluctuate like PharoaheMonch.

We Are Thankful For...

2011-11-23T16:31:00.001-08:00

Just in time for Thanksgiving, we have a heaping plate of exciting news for you!

First, IRIS has officially signed an exclusive distribution deal with Saban Brands, owners of Paul Frank and every '90s child's favorite Power Rangers. Under the Paul Frank name, we will be distributing compilations featuring bands and music that illustrate the youthful, fun aesthetic that most of us already link to the brand. We will also be distributing music from the Power Rangers Samurai series to digital retailers for the very first time. Go, go Power Rangers! (But really: Go, go IRIS!)

Also, make sure to check out the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. Paul Frank will be debuting their balloon of Julius the monkey! Here's a sneak peak: http://www.sciencefriday.com/videos/watch/10415

Another piece of good news: IRIS has signed with Google Music Store to offer our full catalog to yet another major retailer! Having launched in the Android Market just last week, the Google Music Store will allow users to not only purchase tracks, but also stream them for free. In addition, it has a cloud music storage space where one can store their purchases and upload other files to the cloud. This means, you can take your full music library with you anywhere you go, as long as there is internet connection. Make way, as Google becomes a major player in the digital music marketplace!

For all the good things coming our way as of late, we are thankful. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Eye On New Releases: November 22nd, 2011

2011-11-22T09:00:00.000-08:00

Label: Chemikal Underground

Album: If Then Not When

Artist: King’s Daughters & Sons

Genre: Alternative

The ghost stories, murder ballads, and grimoires on the newfull-length album If Then Not When by Louisville, KY'sKing's Daughters & Sons are haunting, spare and at times explosively unsettling; part William Faulkner, part Led Zeppelin. Giventhe musical pedigree at play here, it should come as no surprise that everynote, drum beat and vocal has been employed with an economy few bands have thesense to muster. The album itself, clocking in at over 51 minutes despitethere being only eight tracks, shows that King's Daughters & Sons are quitehappy for the aforementioned ghost stories, murder ballads and grimoires tounfold at their own pace. The album's axis, in more ways than one, is theeight-minute-plus, fourth track, "The Anniversary": a rich cast of charactersweave their way through a tale of love, treachery and murder while the musiceddies, tumbles and roars in sympathy with the narrator. It's a phenomenaltrack, explaining the reference to Faulkner in their press release's openingsalvo and clearly demonstrating that this is not your average album.

Label: Moodgadget Records

Album: No Body EP

Artist: Beacon

Genre: Electronic, R&B, Ambient

Beacon is Thomas Mullarney III and Jacob Gossett. Their NoBody EP explores a combination of deepsouth bass music and ambient pop melodies, with R&B tinged vocals thataccompany warm arpeggiated synthesizers. The EP's atmosphere and narrativerecall brooding spirituality in the wake of first love and the allure of theparanormal in teenage romance. Jacob and Thomas’s extensive work in the videoproduction and set building worlds has given them the techniques to producetheir own unique vision for the release of No Body; a cheap prom set where real and imaginary momentscontinually conjure up feelings of love, lust and all things in between.

Label: Coco Machete Records

Album: Remix Your Face Showdown

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Electro House

Here are the three winners of the Coco Machete 'Remix YourFace' Showdown from late spring 2011. The label offered up all the remix partsto three different classic Coco Machete releases setting them free for anyoneto take a shot. There was one winner picked for each track based on quality andhis or her own fan participation on Facebook...it can't get any more real thanthat. These are the ones to watch: Naeleck & Oddity are a production duebased in both France and Japan, Sebastian Love hails from Italy, and D' SecretSVC, Coco Machete mainstay came in with a funk break remix of "In Da Club" thatis undeniable....Just keep on watchin’!

Eye On New Release: Novemeber 15th

2011-11-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

Label: Kaotic

Release: I'm Taking Off:Relaunched & Remixed

Artist: Nick Carter

Genre: Pop

Backstreet’s back, alright!Okay, well maybe the Backstreet Boys aren’t back, but our beloved Nick Carteris back with his new remix album I’m Taking Off: Relaunched & Remixed. Its upbeat pop tempo automatically puts one in aclub where the dancing never stops (with neon lights and maybeeven foam machine. Actually, scratch the foam). The album is the product of an Indaba contest in whichparticipants submitted remixes of the five tracks ("I'm Taking Off," "SoFar Away," "Love Can't Wait," "Not the Other Guy," and"Falling Down") from Nick's second solo release, I'm Taking Off.The prize? The chance to appear on Nick’s new remix album. There are so manyremixes to choose from, and each creates a different mood and individual soundthat will keep the dancing going until the break of dawn. Nick Carter is backand he’s definitely "taking off.”

Label: Anchor Brain

Release: A Jumper's Handbook

Artist: Doomsday Student/

Genre: Alternative, Punk,Noise

Warning: This album willdefinitely keep you on the edge with its mixture of alternative, punk, andnoise. Doomsday Student’s new album A Jumper Handbook is extreme, with different layers of static put togetherto create a complex structure of high-pitched vocals, guitar noises, anddestructive drums. “Ape In Love” is an head-bangingtrack that’s screaming for one to let loose and mosh with energetic chaos. AJumper Handbook is ruthless and akin to a battle cry. Watch out for thisalbum because you might just lose your head.

Eye On New Releases : November 8th

2011-11-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

This week's eye on new releases, is almost like a mini journey across the globe. Take either the Glitchy Industrial American dubstep, African indie-pop, or Swedish post-punk vessel, sit back, relax, and enjoy the aural ride!

Label: (FiXT / Celldweller)

Release: Goodbye (2012)

Artist: Celldweller

Genre: Dubstep

The multi-instrumentalist producer, songwriter, andre-mixer, Klayton, aka Celldweller, is back with a feverish electronic rockjuggernaut, Goodbye (2012). The well of stylistic aesthetics andinfluences that Celldweller hybridizes into one cohesive whole on Goodbye(2012), including dubstep basslines, D’n’Bbeats, electric guitars, precise glitch edits, and ethereal vocal hooks,continues to show the range and diversity of Celldweller, the songwriter. This latest release by Celldweller issure to resonate with fans of artists like Prodigy, Nine Inch Nails, andMindless Self Indulgence.

Label: Zealrecords

Release: Self-Titled

Artist: Cape Coast Radio

Genre: Pop

Cape Coast Radio is fronted by Nick Berkvens (ex-Transit)and brothers Wouter and Lode Wlaeminck (tomán). However, the album chroniclesthe experiences of their alter-egos – Ed the Vulture, Ned the Rhinoceros, andTed the Mandrill. As the storygoes, Ed, Ned, and Ted are three friends from the Luangwa Valley in Zambiawho’ve creatively infused the influences of the African savannah into acheerful and memorable indie-pop record. The album’s end result is as vibrant as it is catchy, and it is aptlyembodied on tracks like “Daytrip to the Zoo,” and “Giant Jungles.” If you’re wondering how these threemajestic animals create pulsating and winning safarian pop anthems, check outCape Coast Radio!

Label: Vendetta Music

Release: The Black Album

Artist: The Exploding Boy

Genre: Alternative, Post-Punk

North America, are you ready? Vendetta Music is proud tointroduce Swedish post-punk-synth-pop sensation, The Exploding Boy, to theStates with their third full-length release, The Black Album. Their2009 album, Afterglow garneredtremendous success in Europe: Belgian magazine Dark Entriesand Swedish magazine Zero calledthe release “Album of the Year,” and tracks “London,” “Heart Of Glass,” and “40Days” all charted within the top ten on the official German alternative chart(DAC). The Black Album, with itsdark and robust blending of post-punk timbres, melancholic vocal hooks, anddark alternative rhythms, is sure to please fans of Interpol, Joy Division, andThe Mary Onettes.

Eye On New Releases: November 1st

2011-11-01T09:00:00.001-07:00

Label: Burning House Records
Release: The Cantos ii

Artist: K Serå
Genre: Alternative

Introducing their debutalbum titled The Cantos ii, KSerå is an unbelievably skilled band with an alternative rock sound similar to that of Muse and Panic at the Disco. With each track varying from rock to melodious piano, The Cantos ii is a record that belongs in any music collection,right next to Fall Out Boy. “The Youth That I Spent” clearly gives off an edgyrock vibe that can easily be compared to Muse, and its great guitar riffs and heavy drums will automatically have one's head bobbing.“Asleep At The Wheel” is another cool track that has a haunting feel to it. Thelyrics present the idea of death clawing at one falling asleep at the wheel(scary, but REALLY cool.)

Label: Moodgadet Records

Release: Fantasiarexia

Artist: Jacob 2-2

Genre: Electronic, Synth-Pop

With its electronic glitch sounds and pop tones, Fantasiarexia makes one feel like she were backin the 80s, and Jacob 2-2 is brilliant for capturing the essence of the decade. The first track “Fantasiarexia” is reminiscent of the classic 80's movie The Never Ending Story. It first starts with an insane intro that bleeds into a simple xylophone soundthat is purely The Never Ending Story. Fantasiarexia is basically dripping with 80s essence, and one can't help but smile as she is listening.

Eye On New Releases: October 25th

2011-10-25T16:58:00.000-07:00

Halloween is right around the corner, which begs the question, what is the most legendary costume of all time? Hint, it's not the unfunky drummer, or an eleventhfloorrecord. Those are clearly two of this week's releases!

Label: Nordic Trax

Release: Unfunky Drummer EP

Artist: Charles Scott

Genre: Deep House

Seasoned Los Angeles Producer Charles Scott, aka ScottFindley, is finally back on the scene after a ten-year hiatus, releasing the UnfunkyDrummer EP on house music imprint NordicTrax. The album has seen upfrontsupport from a variety of international selectors, including Slam, Abyss, NickHolder, Robert Owens, Nacho Marco, Alland Byallo, Mark Bell / Blakkat andMurray Richardson. If we establisha working definition of funky to mean “offbeat”, then this writer is convincedof this production’s “unfunkyness.” Charles Scott’s rhythmic deliberateness on this album transportsclubbers to a vivacious dance floor utopia, one filled with purifying texturesof dreamy synth melodies layered into propulsive and winning houseanthems. On the title track, theproduction is loaded with a mantra of deep thumping bass that’s sure to get themasses moving. If you’re one who’skeen on having their music act as a spaceship that leads you through the galaxythat is the dance floor, let the Unfunky Drummer EP be your soundtrack.

Label: n5MD

Release: Self Titled

Artist: eleventhfloorrecords

Genre: Electronic, Indie Rock

Oakland’s electronic label, n5MD, is ready to share with the world the self-titled debut from Sweden’s modern shoegaze duo, eleventhfloorrecords. The Eleventhfloorrecords title symbolizes the location of the apartment where best friends Niso and Henke birthed these recordings, and additionally, as the duo describes, “the endless formless collection of sounds and events.” The album’s expansive textures successfully build a sonic bridge between the influences of chillwave and modern electronic music, while cleverly weaving guitars, drum machines, synth lines, and angelic vocals into one cohesive and tranquil whole. For listeners, the juxtaposition of these two styles creates a uniquely cinematic and whimsical environment, one that feeds into the album’s emotional comforts. For fans of M83, Maps, or Jatun, eleventhfloorrecord’s debut album is an extension of n5MD’s manifesto, a release that symbolizes an “emotional experiment in music.”

Eye on New Releases: October 18th

2011-10-18T09:00:00.001-07:00

Label: Infinita Records
Release: Elevation

Artist: Lawson Rollins
Genre: World

The title of this albumdefinitely describes what you feel…Elevation. Thelatest album from the talented guitarist, Lawson Rollins, Elevation is sensational with a mixture of Latin jazz, sambaand salsa rhythms, and a harmonic blues melody that calms and soothes your moodand the atmosphere around you. The first track, “Elevation” delivers a warmsound that makes you want to be outside relaxing in the sun or be cozied up ina beach home. The third track, “Persian Night,” is sensual, starting off with Spanish guitar and then a flamenco flare that’s undeniably hot. Thefourth track, “Parisian Rhapsody,” is a good-morning feeling song that gets youright up to start your day, and the sixth track, “Daybreak,” is one song youwill definitely have playing while cooking Sunday breakfast. Honestly, thisalbum is amazingly good, because now… I want Sunday breakfast.

Label: Galapagos4
Release: Dreastronaut
Artist: Dreas
Genre: Hip Hop

Three letters to describethe album Dreastronaut is WTF?! Because if you are not listening to thisalbum, you'd be asking yourself, “WTF?! Why am I not listening to this?”First, just to put it out there, this album is… realistic, but surreal in somany ways. Dreastronaut by Dreas, the founder of Heardrums Records,makes you feel like you are moving in slow motion…as if you are an astronaut…inspace…on the moon (crazy, right?). Some tracks really standout from this albumlike “Floating,” which gives the feeling of one being both consciously aware of their surroundings. “Michiana Noise,” gives a feeling of beingin the woods around a campfire, but with beautiful violin and orchestralsounds. Even “ Solo Capacity” brings you a jazz hip hop flare that could easilyremind you of the song “All I Need” by Method Man featuring Mary J Blige. Thisis really good album that you’d for sure want to sit down and listen.

Label: Environ
Release: I'm Not What YouWant
Artist: Kelley Polar
Genre: Electronic,Alternative

Imagine traveling throughtime and you come across leg warmers, members-only jackets, shoulder pads, acidwash jeans, crazy hair, cool Ray-Bans sunglasses, and music that is undeniably “bangin'.”Yes, that’s right. I’m talking about the 80s! (Totally wearing an “I Love the 80’st-shirt right now). And it turns out, this brand new album I’m Not WhatYou Want by Kelley Polar, is screaming80s! You’d want to go back to this era after listening to this album (sorry 90sbabies, you can come too.) The first track “I'm Not What You Want” has a coolupbeat tempo that brings you back to Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go For That.”With the second track “Nocturne,” this single release will bringyou back. Definitely take a listen, especially, if you’re going for the 80slook this Halloween.

Eye on New Releases: October 11th

2011-10-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Whether you're carving pumpkins, picking out that perfect halloween costume, or booking those holiday plans, two of this week's releases will stir your creative juices, err, egg nog, into results!

Label: Cosmicleaf Records

Release: Phial Of Love

Artist: Eguana

Genre: Downtempo, Ambient

Careening through space on a shimmering cloud built from ambient dreams births the latest release from Eguana, Phial Of Love. Cinematic sonic environments detailed with wispy and organic synthesizers, nimble vocals, and a warm, welcoming low end, elevate listeners into an intimate involvement within their own senses. The album’s second track, “Last Dream Of A Galaxy Warrior,” pulls the imagination into a cathartic canvas filled with dreamy, and euphoric landscapes, gracefully rising and falling from static passages. “Spaceship War,” the album’s final track, is the most up-tempo of the three, inviting the body’s imagination to embrace the danceable conflict of the song’s climax. The album’s symbolic title represents Eguana’s offering to the masses, a freedom to let your spirit radiate in all its hypnotic capacity.

Label: Q Division Records

Release: Q Dee Rock and Soul #3: Muck and the Mires

Artist: Muck and the Mires

Genre: Rock

The Q Dee Rock and Soul 7” Series is back in all its bouncy, garage-punk-surf glory, carrying a timeless rock-and-roll attitude with their latest release, Muck and the Mires. The 7” Series pays homage to rock-and-roll history, times when record labels were synonymous with the studios they were built around. Both songs from the release are filled to the brim with the whimsical and restless energy found on British Invasion records. Fans of the Ramones, Sonics and Beatles take note: “Muck and the Mires” will have listeners reminiscing about freewheeling summer nights, nights where exciting young romance flourishes.

Eye on New Releases: October 4th

2011-10-04T09:00:00.001-07:00

Two well-respected artists have finally decided to make new music! Lucky for you, we got it all here...

Label: FUNCK Music

Release: Skinetic Culpture

Artist: Roel Funcken

Genre: Dub

Okay, so we all know robotshaven’t taken over the world (yet), aliens aren’t probing our brains (well, itcould happen), and the flying cars don’t exist (I wish), but what we do have issomeone at border of a new futuristic sound: Roel Funcken. With his sophomorealbum, Skinetic Culpture, Funcken creates an other-worldly sound, and youcan’t help but feel like you’re in some kind of futuristic, life-size videogame, with an insane robotic dub style mix and berserk head-bobbing beats. Withhis layering of different engineering sounds, one cannot help but ask, “ Is hefrom Earth?” His first track, “Subject Matter” it starts off with a dub beat,then transforms into a surreal futuristic one. No wonder one would feel likethey’re in robot heaven on the dance floor.

Label: Kranky

Release: Exile

Artist: Charalambides

Genre: Alternative

The innovative group,Charalambides, presents their new album, Exile, an artistic alternative release with moving,hypnotizing tones mixed with soothing waves of sound. Exile creates a meaningful and bizarre stir that makes youthink, “No wonder it took five years of recording and traveling to createlocations in creating this indescribable piece of art.” Each song delivers a spiritual-like effect, yet theyhave different layers and moods that create other worlds. For example, thetrack “Words Inside,” has a beautiful and sensual melody, but also a hauntinglyalluring twist. The song “Autumn Leaves,” produces a raw sound with an unhingedguitar that gives a feeling as if you were there in the room with just theguitar. An incredible album that has breath-taking effects.

Eye on New Releases: September 27th

2011-09-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Fall has arrived, and the music is getting hauntingly chilly---just in time for our favorite holiday of the year.

Label: n5MD

Album: Delirium Portraits

Artist: Tobias Lilja

Genre: Electronic

DeliriumPortraits is Tobias Lilja’s third official release, and second offering on Oakland, CA’s electronic DIY label, n5MD. Tobias Lilja, whose hometown is Malmö, Sweden, started a livelihoodof music production during his teenage years, a fact that is representedwithin the richly cultured orchestrations on Delirium Portraits. The album flows evenly between dreamymagnetic techno numbers, and interludes of emotive experimental pianoballadry. Comparative to his2007 release Time Is On My Side, Lilja has expanded his ambient musicalpalette to incorporate more orchestrated beats and vocal textures; a twist thatgives the album more cinematic appeal. The atmospheric treatment of the vocals adds a haunting serenity to themysterious electronic landscapes traversed on Delirium Portraits. For house and techno enthusiasts alike, infectious dance numberslike “North,” “Our Noise,” and “No Death Star” will have your body bouncing tothe groovy consciousness of Delirium Portraits.

Label: Jackpot Records

Album: Grok

Artist: Crock

Genre: Rock

If you’ve ever wondered what the genre "spaced-out doom rock" embodies, look no further than the debut album collaboration between Quasi’sSam Coomes and Hella’s Spencer Seim, Grok. This duo settled on the moniker “Crock,” which aptlyrepresents the sonic cauldron in which they pummel listeners with theirmechanical and frenetic art rock. The swaggering and manic doom rock infrastructure found on tracks like“No More Dumb Fun,” “Eat Your Hat Out,” and “Kasneezerblatz” will appeal tofans of Lightning Bolt, King Crimson, and Black Sabbath alike. Grok, in all its’ groove-sputteringand funky-spasm glory, embody what the soundtrack is like inside a hauntedpinball machine.

Eye on New Releases: September 20th

2011-09-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Label: Vermin Street

Release: Stardust

Artist: Yoseph

Genre: Dubstep

Putting out his new 3 trackalbum Stardust, Yoseph does it again with his insane mastermind sounds ofunhinged dubstep style that creates a bass influenced, mellow jungle mix, yetbrings in a reggae merengue tone. And pulling inspiration from all musicalbranches (from IDM- Dubstep- Merengue), his 10 years of experience clearlyshows from this album with his crazy ability to move from one sound to the nextwithout missing dub beat.

With his first track Stardust, it begins with a bizarre futuristicout-of-this-world sound, then slowly goes into a head bobbing bass that makesyou wish you can break out and start busting moves in your office, car, oralone in your living room. Then the track makes a smooth transition to anupbeat reggae-merengue mix, wishing you were at some fiesta, while stillkeeping the electronic, futuristic dubstep sound. From this song, one woulddefinitely have this album playing anywhere where there are speakers.

Label: Moodgadget Records

Release: Starfawn EP

Artist: Starfawn

Genre: Electronic, Synth-Pop

This album Starfawn EP from band Starfawn, composed by Misha Mross(Synths/ Production) and Amber Schaefer (Vocals), is purely a dreamlike artwith an outlandish mix of electronic engineering synch-pop sound, combined withyelling and ghastly sound as if you’re in some magical-otherworldly place. Thisalbum is definitely an album where the music will help you go to and imaginethat surreal state.

Each individual song is ridiculously alluring and magnetic asif one is time traveling through different dreams with each song. With thefirst track Nothing Dead, gives you the feeling of being in a magical dreamthat one can’t help but fall deeper and deeper into the dream. With its airysounds in the beginning leading into an unworldly beat of synch-electronic popthat’s extremely hypnotic and mesmerizing, you really can’t help but to hitREPEAT. The same goes for the song Err, giving you a head bobbing beat with astatic-y electronic feeling or the song 12,000 B.C., giving a ghostlyspellbinding sound that is bizarre in the most exhilarating way. A wondrousalbum that’s definitely worth falling sleep to during any night…or day.

Eye on New Releases: September 13th

2011-09-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

With Autumn encroaching and San Francisco experiencing its first real pangs of summer (AKA cloudy & 68.2 degrees) we head into a busy new release season, of which these three eclectic highlights are but the mere tip of the iceberg!

Label: 444 Records
Release: Exposed
Artist: Liz Primo
Genre: Dance

Ms. Primo is the newest Pop Dance diva on the scene, and she arrives with major fanfare! Armed with a stable of producers supplying her electrifying beats (responsible for hits by chart-topping artists like Lady Gaga, Pussycat Dolls and Eminem), Liz is poised to break through on a high-profile multinational platform. Her newest EP Exposed features six new tracks brimming with sexuality, sass and a celebration of partying that have already caught the imagination of the LGBT community, where Liz's strongest support lies. Uptempo club vibes abound on tracks like the title jam with its "What happens here/ Stays here" refrain or "Wind Me Up" with its buzzing synth melodies and sub-bass thump. Look out for Liz Primo - as she sings on "Wasted Love": "I'm not your ordinary broad/ I get whatever I want/ Whether you like it or not."

Label: kranky
Release: A Winged Victory For The Sullen
Artist: A Winged Victory For The Sullen
Genre: Alternative

Shifting gears from pumping dance-club pop to ambient neoclassical drone is this new project from Stars of the Lid member Adam Wiltzie and modern classical composer Dustin O'Halloran. Lush pieces for piano, guitar plus effects and string quartet, recorded in West Berlin's famed Grunewald Church using a nine-foot Boesendorfer piano - sought after for its extreme sonic low end - achieve a drifting mellowness that is soothing, engaging and starkly beautiful. Gorgeous harmonic structures emerge like glaciers out of the sea of reverb & slowly decaying sound, occasionally reaching emotional peaks among the deep acoustic valleys. Incredible on headphones...

Label: Voltaire Records
Release: Split Infinitive EP
Artist: Tussle/Publicist
Genre: Electronic

Leaving the drone behind and moving to the indie disco dancefloor sees upstart San Francisco imprint Voltaire Records unleash their finest release to date - a split EP featuring two fantastic modern talents. First up, SF's own Tussle, having previously released two albums on respected Norwegian label Smalltown Supersound (with a forthcoming third produced by JD Twitch of unstoppable leftfield DJ duo Optimo), who contribute "Dusty Roads", a quirky funk monster whose strange groove comes from all manner of percussion and Tomo Yasuda's loping basslines. The other half of the equation here is Publicist, aka Sebastian Thomson of Trans Am, who drops the cosmic "Do You Know Who I Am", all spooky synths, robot vocals and wonderfully Italian melodies, sounding like a mixture of John Carpenter film soundtracks and Giorgio Moroder discoscapes. Each artist remixes the other to round out the EP to fantastic effect, finishing off its rock-meets-dance vibe perfectly. Voltaire - one to watch!

Eye on New Releases: August 30th

2011-08-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

Label: Yellowelectric
7-inch: Water People
Artist: Grouper
Genre: Experimental, Ethereal Pop

While actually recorded in Marfa, Texas, the latest release from Grouper ( AKA Liz Harris ) is pure pacific northwest bleak that demands attention simply by being so quiet and unobtrusive. Both tracks, “Water People” and “Moving Machine”, serve up healthy doses of melancholy even as they manage to avoid being overly dour. The A-side’s simple structure and layered vocals are wonderfully offset by the vigorous bliss offered on the flip. A perfect soundtrack for an early morning spent alone and contemplating one’s next move, this latest bit of aural sex offers compelling reason to set the controls to repeat as by each tracks end you are irretrievably under Grouper’s spell.

Label: Third Side Music
Album: All These Fires
Artist: Huddle
Genre: Indie Pop

Energetic playing and clever song crafting infect this latest release from the Georgian Bay's Huddle. They claim The National, White Denim, and Bowie as influences, and that may be, but thankfully the listener is not treated to tepid renderings of the aforementioned. Tempos may vary but the pop keeps flowing and the ten tracks breeze by unhindered. To this writer, the smart use of horns and keyboards serving as accents rather than distractions indicates that the band has an astute sense of pop arrangement – well done! Do yourself a favor and set some time aside for Huddle…

High Castle In Your Town!

2011-08-25T10:25:00.000-07:00

High Castle, an Oakland-based punk band, has released their first full album Spirit of the West today on Zum Records. High Castle eschews lectures and overt philosophy talk, but naming themselves after a Phillip K Dick novel lets you know where they're coming from. So far they have received some good press, and we only they will get more! See:

Built On A Weak Spot Review: http://bit.ly/oDDrCJ
Punk World Review: http://bit.ly/qUGuE1
Pitchfork Review: http://p4k.in/D2CmJ

High Castle will also be embarking on their national tour next week, and will most likely be coming to your town:

9/1: LA. -The Smell w/Piles, Precious, Ancient Animals

9/2: San Diego

9/3: Phoenix, AZ- Yellow Canary Dance Hall

9/4: El Paso-- TBA

9/5: Austin-- Club 1808

9/6: New Orleans-TBA

9/7: Atlanta

9/8: Chapel Hill-- Night Light w/Pipe, Chest Pains more tba

9/9: Greensboro-- Glenwood Coffee and Book w/ tba

9/10: TBA

9/11: Baltimore

9/12: Brooklyn-- Death By Audio

9/13: Philadelphia--TBA

9/14: Cleveland-- Now That's Class

9/15: Columbus, OH

9/16: Cincinnati-- Mayday

9/17: Detroit-- Trumbull Plex w/tba

9/18: TBA

9/19: Chicago--Empty Bottle w/ Mayor Daley, Bad Drugs

9/20: Minneapolis-- Maddame with Hasps

9/21: Iowa City-- The Mill

9/22: St. Louis-- Apop

9/23: Memphis

9/24: Hot Springs-- The Exchange

9/25: Denton, TX-- TBA

9/26: hang out with us in roswell

9/27: Albuquerque NM-- Small Engine Gallery

9/28: Las Vegas

9/29: LA- The Smell, Los Angeles

9/30: Van Nuys- Take Off Store (evening)

Eye on New Releases: August 23rd

2011-08-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

While the sun is setting on summer all across the country, here in SF we're just getting started! Since our weather is like Autumn mixed with Winter and Monsoon Season all year round, we relish the chance to break out the shorts 'n' barbecues and get outside. A perfect opportunity, then, to check out these three hot new titles from IRIS:

Label: Moodgadget

Album: Spiral Style

Artist: D Gookin

Genre: Electronic Pop!

If you're desperately hanging on to the last vestiges of your summer vibe, look no further than the fourth album from D Gookin, Spiral Style, a shiny, happy kaleidoscope of electropop sure to put a spring back in your step. The record is so relentlessly upbeat and nearly rave-like in its intensity that it could easily act as a coffee substitute! Mr. Gookin likes his pop messy, though, so don't expect anything too clean as he shreds a breakbeat on "Unbraid the Knot", pushes his synths into overdrive on massively smiley album opener "Way 2 Grow" or filters his voice through all manner of disguises. Let this album worm its way into your brain when you need a boost - you'll be bouncing around the room in no time!

Label: Demigodz/Dirty Version
Album: Honkey Kong
Artist: Apathy
Genre: Hip Hop

If bumping jeep beats through large car audio systems is more your summer steez, you'd do well to check Honkey Kong, the newest missive from Apathy. The Connecticut-born emcee has been around the block a few times - since his first raps on Jedi Mind Tricks' underground-classic debut in 1997, through his partnerships with downlow legends like Celph Titled and 7L & Esoteric as Demigodz and enough major label BS to make him an indie rap warrior, Apathy has remained steadfastly dedicated to his craft. Over hot production from the likes of DJ Premier, Evidence, DJ Muggs (Cypress Hill), and Da Beatminerz, Apathy's burly raps hurl themselves out of the speakers with inventive wordplay and a forceful attitude. Who needs sun & fun when you can mean-mug down the boulevard blasting these raw joints?

Label: SmartGuy Records
EP: Rat Columns
Artist: Rat Columns
Genre: Pop

Finally, if you're cynical and prone to brooding during summer (like me), this spectacular new EP from Rat Columns might be more up your alley. You know that scene in most John Hughes movies where our humble protagonist sees his dream girl across the room and has his moment of epiphany? "I Wonder" is the soundtrack to that moment.

Delightfully lo-fi, recalling the best of the 80's "college rock" scene, Rat Columns' new EP will satiate your desire for something strange and familiar simultaneously. Sounding like Joy Division as covered by a gamelan orchestra at times ("Glass Coffin"), atmospheric without sounding overly polished at others ("Darkness"), This EP delves deeper than your average indie pop band and comes up with the stuff of summers spent inside, like so many of my own…

Eye on New Releases: August 16th

2011-08-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well this week we've got two rockin' all-male bands and a few ladies out to prove they can rock even harder! Who's it gonna be?

Label: Cozy Music
Album: The Italian Nightmare
Artist: makeupbreakup
Genre: Indie Rock, Pop, Electronic

What's summer without a little mellow punk to associate all those vacation memories with? Well no worries. It's here just in time to wrap up the sunny, or not-so-sunny in San Francisco, season. And it's got the feel of '80s punk mixed with psychedelic indie which sounds just as ridiculously good as you'd imagine. Although the album is titled The Italian Nightmare, it doesn't sound very Italian... or much like a nightmare. It actually sounds more like a dream of sand and surf where you have MGMT playing in one ear and Duran Duran playing in the other.

This is the sophomore LP of Makeupbreakup, hailing to us from the tiny state of Rhode Island. The album, however, is sure to have a big impact on the end of summer. Don't miss it!

Label: Q Division
Album: Zero/Don't Make Me Wait
Artist: Sea Monsters
Genre: Rock, R&B

Get ready to rock out with this Dave Matthews meets Zac Brown Band eight-person ensemble. Known around Boston for their audience-inclusive, anything-goes live performances, the Sea Monsters bring the same passion and high-energy to the recording studio with the release of singles "Zero" and "Don't Make Me Wait." Both songs are as full and funky as you'd expect and oozing with soul and rock n' roll. "Come on please, please tell the truth despite the devil inside you," sings Jesse Dee with deep, bluesy emotion on "Don't Make Me Wait." Even the lyrics are telling of the southern rock influences that are obvious upon listen.

Sea Monsters originally started out as a forum for fellow musicians to help develop each others' previous works, but their chemistry on stage made them an instant live-performing success. And alas the on-stage magic has been documented for our convenient listening pleasure.

Label: Anchor Brain
Album: Menarchy
Artist: Whore Paint
Genre: Experimental, Punk, Rock

Whore Paint's Menarchy can be otherwise summed up as a 2011 feminist manifesto. The combination of the words "men" and "anarchy," merged to form the album's title explains a lot about the album's content. It seems the three women of Whore Paint documented their audio musical conspiring of an uprising against a still patriarchal society and listeners have the benefit of eavesdropping. All their anger toward female oppression wells up into banging electric guitar riffs, the most racket you've ever heard on the drums and merciless vocal screams. They definitely succeed in making their voices heard because these girls are as loud as they come. Thus proving also that they can rock just as hard as the boys can.

Sony Music/PIAS Warehouse Fire and How You Can Help

2011-08-11T10:56:00.001-07:00

If you haven't already heard, the Sony Music/PIAS warehouse has burned down this past week due to the riots in the UK, affecting about 150 independent record labels (including our very own Chemikal Underground). Although insurance may cover some of the losses, the fire may push some of the smaller labels out of business. Because we are indie music lovers, we are greatly saddened, and we hope that with the support of fans and others in the industry we can help these labels recoup their losses. Wondering how you can help?

LabelLove has set up a page where you can donate: http://cognitivedissonancerecords.com/labellove/labellove/

Indie label trade association AIM (sister of A2IM here in the States) is encouraging fans to purchase digital downloads from those labels that are affected. See affected labels here: http://www.musicindie.com/news/1131.

AIM has also created a fund with PIAS to support the smaller labels as they get back on their feet. To donate to the fund, see http://www.musicindie.com/news/1132

As always, support the indies!

Eye on New Releases: August 9th

2011-08-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

If anyone out there is a little bummed out because it’s only Tuesday but deep down you want to pretend it’s Friday just so you can get through the day, believe me, you’re not the only one! But thankfully, one of the perks of working in the music industry is that I’m the first to hear that brand new album and I’m not exaggerating when I say that it makes me smile. Don’t worry, I’m a good person and I’ve been taught to share when good things come my way.

Upcoming releases this week will include Erik Wollo’s Silent Currents (Live at Star’s End), The Adopted’s No Matter Where You Are, and Jami Lunde’s Big Black Birds.

Label: Projekt
Artist: Erik Wollo
Release: Silent Currents (Live at Star's End)
Genre: New Age, Ambient, Electronic

For those dark wave lovers out there, I’ve got a treat for you! Silent Wave just can’t get more soothing yet dramatic, and it’s been road tested by yours truly to be a great accompaniment to my morning cup of Joe. Erik’s fascinating electronic/ambient landscapes with slow-motion structures, surreal soundscapes and floating currents somewhat brings me back to the 1990’s show Roswell. Remember that? Well, with Erik’s atmospheric waves, you’ll think that you discovered the spaceship, yes, right now with your ears attached to your headphones. Silent Currents demonstrates a different side of Erik Wollo, with more focus on deep drones than melody and rhythm, zones drift and morph, and they all flow into each other organically. Experience something extraterrestrial with Norwegian guitarist’s 15th release and in fact Erik says, “To perform 'on the air' late at night in the radio studio contributed to these unique and inspired performances. In this setting, it felt very natural to do some downtempo and quiet, floating ambient music. Thus, this release is more abstract and chilled out than I usually present on my studio albums."

Label: One Man Industry
Artist: The Adopted
Release: No Matter Where You Are
Genre: Rock, Alternative

It’s weird when people ask my about my music choice. Most people are amused by just how many albums of punk rock/indie rock I own on my iPod. So, in this case I was really excited because I found another to add to my never-ending playlist! Canadian artist The Adopted’s new release “No Matter Where You Are” was one of thoe “fits like a glove”…but for my ears. This melodic guitar and story telling lyrics lure you into the song as you would imagine at the beach at sunset. Seriously, I’ve re listened to this song about five times now and it doesn’t get old. I especially love the vocal…oh nevermind, I’m not going to spoil it for you. In any case, good music lovers, you’ll love this one! For a sneak peek, go to www.TheAdopted.com and you can take a listen.

Label: Awnry Girl Records
Artist: Jami Lunde
Release: Big Black Birds
Genre: Alt Country

One thing that I’ve noticed about living in San Francisco is the massive amount of walking that I do every day. You know the drill, walk to and from work everyday, walk to get my weekly groceries…and so it is that I found my new “walking song”. Jami Lunde’s soft alternative country tunes takes me through the day. Oh, and a little fun fact, Jami’s album is inspired by Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven and her songs are about the conversations between herself and the black birds that followed her all over her travels while she was writing this album. Consequently, it depicts her weaving tales of travel, self-realization and death. I can’t tell you how much I feel like I’m in a self-directed movie when I walk and listen to her new album. Give it a try, and you’ll know what I mean.

Palmetto Records Sale at iTunes

2011-08-05T16:45:00.000-07:00

Attention all jazz enthusiasts! (I'm talking to YOU, everyone!)

Critically-acclaimed and Grammy-nominated jazz label Palmetto Records is currently having a sale at iTunes! All albums are discounted for a limited time, so you better stock up on your Dr. Lonnie Smith, Fred Hersch, and Ben Allison while you can for those times you just want to sit back and relax. (This should be every day, by the way) Founded in 1990, Palmetto has emerged as one of the leading jazz labels in the industry, making music that matters to the artist, and most importantly to the audience.

Check out the sale here!
For more info on Palmetto Records, go here: http://www.palmetto-records.com

Eye on New Releases: August 2nd

2011-08-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

This week our new releases are ready to take you to a movie, throw a party and give you a history lesson! There's definitely something for everyone!

Label: Moodgadget Records
Album: End of Line
Artist: Mogi Grumbles
Genre: Electronic, Electro, Soundtrack

Mogi Grumbles' End of Line was made as an intended soundtrack of the original 1981 version of the movie Tron. Mogi Grumbles is completely independent from the movie-makers, but a re-cut of the film has been released as a visual companion piece to End of Line. The visual of Tron pretty adequately describes the listening experience of this album. With song titles like "Tron's Theme" and "Off the Grid Part 1," you can imagine how diligently the album was catered to fit the action of the movie. All 20 tracks on the album are electronic episodes of high-tech sound effects differentiated to fit the changing scenes of the movie in sequence.

Label: Cinderella Records
Album: Hennessey & Redbull
Artist: G-Bolo
Genre: Hip Hop

G-Bolo's Red Bull and Hennessey is a hip hop dance club anthem at its finest. "Errbody in the club sippin henney and red bull," raps G in the main hook of the song which is a single release. The song features an accompanying official music video adding a visual of what else but a party scene. G-Bolo has a very Caribbean sound which he developed early on by "pounding on drums and pans." The single has all the elements of an urban-pop hit including catchy lyrics and a full beat that would make anyone feel like bouncing and head-bobbing.

Label: The Fossil Dungeon
Album: Quintessence
Artist: The Soil Bleeds Black
Genre: Celtic, Gothic, Folk

The Soil Bleeds Black has been around since 1992 and they have stayed true to their medieval influences ever since. They wanted to depict, in detail, every aspect of European medieval life in Quintessence and they were very successful in doing so. The band, comprised of two brothers and a female singer, have a strong ability to bring history back to life. All songs on the album have a very choral, chant-like sound portrayed through angelic harmonies and very Middle Age-esque melodies. Quintessence will take you on a very intriguing journey back through time.

IRIS Distribution on Spotify

2011-07-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

(Look at that sexy interface!)

As if the the world wide web couldn't get any more interactive, we are now ready to present to you our very own public profile on Spotify where you'll be able to see what's in our library, what we're currently listening to, and our favorite tracks (IRIS and non-IRIS-related). We've already curated a list of our top tracks from a few of our labels--just to give you a sneak peek into the great things they have going on. We'll be updating our playlists periodically, so click on the Spotify button below to get started (or search for us; our username is irisdistro). You never know what you'll find!

Eye on New Releases: July 26th

2011-07-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

Black Rob is back and so is 1982! We had a blast with this week's releases and we know you will too!

Label: Duck Down Records
Album: Game Tested Streets Approved
Artist: Black Rob
Genre: Hip Hop

Black Rob, whose biggest hit single "Whoa!" has recently been sampled in B.O.B.'s "The Biz" and Girl Talk's "Let It Out," is back with a brand new album of his own. Black Rob dropped his first album Life Story in 2000 while signed to Bad Boy. It instantly debuted at number three in the Billboard top 200 and number one in the rap chart. Now he's back and better than ever! His new album Game Tested Streets Approved features production work from names as big as Jay-Z and his long time Bad Boy friend, Diddy. "The biz is reefer, I sold more of that s*** than Wiz Khalifa," raps featured fellow Duck Down artist Sean Price on the album's last track "No Fear." Track 14 is the only with a vocal guest appearance but the album is so good, it didn't need to be sugar-coated with a multitude of guest artists. Definitely a must-listen for hip hop lovers.

Label: FiXT
Album: RED (The FiXT Remixes)
Artist: Cell 7
Genre: Electronic Rock

After Cell 7's last album RE: COGNITION reached number one in FiXT store music sales and was named one of FiXT's "Must Have Albums," the track "Red" was selected to be remixed by FiXT's online community. The result was RED (The FiXT Remixes). The album consists of the original version of "Red," as wells as eight remixed versions and two different mixes of the previously unreleased track, "Splinter." The two western Aussies, Nick and Paul, that comprise Cell 7 have a very unique musical chemistry. Their sound is genuinely unlike any other. If you can imagine scene-metal vocals and guitar over electronic house music with bursts of industrial sound effects, you may be getting a pretty close idea. Oh, who are we kidding? The sound is indescribable. This is definitely worth hearing for yourself.

Label: Moodgadget Records
Album: Vintage Romance
Artist: 18 Carat Affair
Genre: Electronic, R&B

Time to break out the acid wash jeans, color block tee's and AquaNet because the '80s are back in full swing in 18 Carat Affair's Vintage Romance. These 14 tracks of throwback lo-fi synth-pop will have your bangs standing up on end. Even the music video for the track "Pretty Girls I Don't Know Anymore" screams 1980s in everything from the apparel to the video quality. The album hops back and forth between long, lyrical songs and short, instrumental interludes. Nonetheless, it keeps a very chill-wave consistency all the way through. Time to break out your favorite '80s movies and reminisce about the Vintage Romance of the days of Top Gun and Dirty Dancing.

Eye on New Releases: July 19th

2011-07-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Label: definitive.
Album: All Star Remixers 2011 Vol. 1
Artist: John Acquaviva & Olivier Giacomotto
Genre: Electronic, Tech-House

Whether you're sitting in your seat at work, driving in your car, or hanging out in the club on a Friday night, these super funky mixes will have you dancing all day long. All four songs on the EP are uptempo tech-house beats with occasional bouts of rather montotone, computer-voiced lyrics. The only exception would be the last track on the album, which contains some rather familiar sampling. With clever play-on-words titles like "While my Wiki Gently Leaks," there's no doubt these guys are masters of the electronic craft. All Star Remixers 2011 Vol 1 is the collaboration of music mixers John Acquaviva and Olivier Giacomotto, both very reputable amongst several genres of music. This is one of two releases by John Acquaviva this week. Both are on the same label but fall under different genres.

Label: FiXT
Album: Wish Upon a Blackstar Chapter 04 of 05
Artist: Celldweller
Genre: Electronic Rock

Celldweller has already achieved much success with a metal-meets-electronica aggressive sound. Their previous release was the number one electronic album on iTunes in three countries and number ten in 12 countries. Celldweller has been featured in more than 200 films, tv shows and video games including Iron Man, X-Men, Spider-Man 2 & 3, The Surrogates, Ninja Assassin, The Spirit, Speed Racer, CSI, American Idol, NCIS, NFL, UFC, Ultimate Gamer, Dead Rising 2 and Crackdown.

Celldweller has been releasing Wish Upon a Blackstar in two-track increments known as chapters since 2005. This is the fourth of five chapters on the album, which has yet to be released in full.

Label: walnut room records
Album: live at the walnut room (Denver) 12.31.2010
Artist: Soul Daddy & Blackfyre
Genre: hip hop

Soul Daddy and Blackfyre's Live at The Walnut Room sounds like an intimate, jazzy, late night poetry reading. Each track consists of slowed down hip hop style rhymes over smooth, mellow jazz music. The second track on the album is a little more upbeat and intense than the rest. In fact, it's got a much larger dose of sillyness which is a nice break from the more serious, mellow tone of the rest of the album. Soul Daddy had previously (though not surprisingly) hosted an open mic night for a year in Denver which was called "The Speakeasy" and a speakeasy is exactly what these tracks are sort of reminiscent of. Soul Daddy and Blackfyre definitely bring back the soulfulness of original jazz music in Live at the Walnut Room.

Eye on New Releases: July 12th

2011-07-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

This week's new releases are here to teach you How To Dress Well, Lift Ya Hands Hy, and tell Tall Tales...

Label: Love Letters Ink
Album: Just Once EP
Artist: How To Dress Well
Genre: R&B, Instrumental, Pop

Something about How To Dress Well's Just Once EP feels strangely familiar. Likely because it's characterized by the haze of a dream, the sentimentality of distant memories, the solemnness of death and the bittersweetness of remembering those who are lost. All four songs on the EP are very soft and mellow as if they were made to bypass cognition and speak straight to your soul. "Suicide Dream 1" sounds so angelic and otherworldly, it feels less like a morbid suicide and more like a blissful meeting with the eternal. Then incomes the sorrowful violin of "Suicide Dream 2" and the desperation in the lyrics "no air, no air, no air." The only new track on the EP, "Suicide Dream 3," was written by How To Dress Well's Tom Krell after he unexpectedly lost his best friend last fall. Along with writing a song solely about the incident, Tom wrote in new verses to the other songs which have been featured on previous albums to tell a complete story. The fourth and last track, "Decisions," wraps up the EP with the decision to enjoy life and be happy for the time we do have here on Earth. Just Once EP feels like one of the most trying yet peaceful emotional journeys ever to be embarked upon.

Label: Wilshire District
Album: Lift Ya Hands Hy
Artist: Hymnlayas
Genre: Hip Hop

Excuse my informality but this album is legitttt! "The military tested me before they perfected me... Able to drop verses at a thousand mile projectory," raps Jay Lee in "Gift of Gab" and the gift of gab he has! This is a MUST listen for hip hop lovers. And even if you're not particularly fond of the genre, rhymes this clever may threaten to change your opinion forever. With a name like Hymnlayas, an album titled Lift Ya Hands Hy and an opening track called "The Love," you'd swear it was a religion-influenced album. And it is--if your religion is hip-hop and your love is for witty rhymes. It's not all about the rhymes, though. The beats on this album are as funky and feel-good as they come.

Hymnlayas is comprised of Tommy Lift and DJ Hylanda who were the producers of the album. "The Love" features Reach on the verses and "Gift of Gab" as previously stated, features Jay Lee of Heet Mob. Also on the album are instrumentals of the two songs and an interlude to separate them.

Label: Me and the Machine Records
Album: Tall Tales
Artist: Adam Burrows
Genre: Folk

Tall Tales will make your heart melt like butter over a warm stack of country mornin' pancakes. Every once in a while we come across an artist who knows how to perfectly captivate the little things in life and recreate them so vividly in listeners' imaginations. This time, it's Adam Burrows. In his sweet, boyish Nashville twang Adam sings, "as usual we talked about selling off everything that we own, we could live our lives in a way that prioritized moments like those," on the album's third track "Moments Like Those." As if that isn't adorable enough, Adam has a couple tracks on the album written specifically for the ladies in his life. Such is the case in "San Diego Sally," a song about a boy missing his big sister who moved to west coast to pursue her dreams and "Me and Olivia," a tribute to the struggles of a relationship and the closeness that amounts from them. His very folksy sound makes this album appealing to country fans and indie fans alike. This is the second of Adam's albums, both of which are entirely self-written and recorded in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.

Digital Sales On The Rise and Spotify!

2011-07-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

Good news in the music world! Digital music sales have increased for the first time in 7 years, according to Nielsen SoundScan data. The mid-year report shows that digital album sales are up 19% and digital track sales are up 11%. With 8 years in the business, it is without question that IRIS's retail marketing and distribution efforts have contributed to this. :) More information about the report can be found in the Washington Post article: http://wapo.st/oOVqTL

In other news, our retail partner Spotify has finally announced that they will launch in the US "very soon". The extremely popular music service has been operating in Europe for the past few years (often considered iTunes' biggest competitor in Europe), offering free streaming for users. Worried your music won't be available at Spotify in time for its much-anticipated launch? Don't fret! IRIS has been working with Spotify for almost a year now; and everything that is currently live in their European database will be available in the US once they open up shop here. Be one of the first to get Spotify by signing up for an invite at spotify.com. As an industry insider we were able to use Spotify for a few months now, and let us tell you: it's amazing!

Eye on New Releases: July 5th

2011-07-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

From the very office of IRIS, we bring you the best remedies for the day after Independence Day in the form of our new releases this week. With a little bit of jazz, R&B, deep house, and a sprinkle of hip-hop, you’ll ease into the day with no sweat, or any day-old silly string hanging on your ears—just headphones.

Label: Palmetto Records
Album: Woods & Mays
Artist: Phil Woods & Bill Mays
Genre: Jazz

Oooohhhh nothing eases the soul like that smooth, smooth jazz. Whether you associate jazz music with your local book store coffee shop, the romantic ambiance of your favorite candle-lit dinner spot or the feeling you get when you're walking city streets on a winter evening, this album is sure to make you feel so reminiscent and so... just good. Woods & Mays serves up nine tracks of rich, decadent alto sax poured beautifully over a bed of sweet jazz piano melodies. The result: sinfully delicious. Alas, an indulgence that doesn't come with calories.

Woods & Mays is the audio documentation of Phil Woods' (sax) and Bill Mays' (piano) collaboration at Maggie's Farm, an 18th century stone barn turned serene recording studio in Buck's County, Pennsylvania. Many jazz musicians have recorded at Maggie's Farm, but these two may be the most legendary. Most of us are familiar with Phil Wood's infamous sax solo on Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are" but he's also worked with popular artists Carly Simon, Steely Dan and Paul Simon among others. Bill Mays was lucky enough to have worked with the one and only Frank Sinatra as well as Al Jarreau, Peggy Lee and Anita O'Day to name a few.

Label: Trippin 'n Rhythm
Album: Feel the Heat
Artist: Nick Colionne
Genre: Jazz, R&B

Do yourself a favor—help Nick’s smooth vocals, funky R&B and bluesy jazz find its way to your playlist around 2:30 pm. Gliding you into his album, he starts off with “Some Funky” and “The Windy Dance,” two fast moving instrumentals that bring you the afternoon energy that you’ve been craving since lunch. Then, dream with his lyrics in “Let’s Spend Some Time” and switch your settings to a candle light dinner…well, at the office. Now, back to reality—bopping your head with his irresistible R&B hit “The Connection,” followed by a happy-go-lucky reminder of Nick’s talented guitarist tunes. “Midnight and You” is his soft vocal reminiscent of the lonely romance that rummages its way through everyone once in a while. While we’re there, think of the 80’s and listen to “It’s Gonna Be Alright” and since nobody’s watching, just shake it a little. In “Wessin,” take it slower and enjoy Nick’s jazz guitar and light keyboard and in “Can’t Let Go,” take it even slower and sway to his amorous vocals. Finally, since New Orleans has always been such a talked about destination known for its cultivation of the roots of blues music, bring your imagination to the land of jazz and blues, and listen to stories about life with a pocket o’ coins in his final track, “Po’House.” Nick was honored with the prestigious 2007 International Instrumental Artist of the Year Award at the Wave Jazz Awards and he is known for his unique take on guitar that compliments his deep, nourishing voice.

Label: Galapagos 4
Album: Style be the King
Artist: Qwazaar & Batsauce
Genre: Hip Hop

We can all get a little sluggish during the week--especially after a long celebratory weekend. Need a boost? Turn up Qwazaar & Batsauce’s new album Style Be The King and bop your head to the strong beats of “I Remember.” Can’t get enough of his heavy soul and striking melody? Switch to “Mind Murder” and give yourself a musical addiction of his MC techniques and catchy melody. Smooth it out with “Rule” featuring Chefket for a slash of intense rap and “Run It” for a blast of his powerful voice. As you'll soon notice, the best part of this album is its flawless packaging of a variety of moods, topic and style. Make a U-turn and turn up “Shake” for a hip-twisting/hands in the air beat. Break! “Still Hurts” stops you before you get too carried away and tells a story of memories and pain. Back it up with heavy bass and rhythmic vocals in “Summer Fly By” and funky beats with skillful rap in “To The Death”. Then, finish with final hit for some truthful lyrics and mesmerizing instrumentals in “Style Be The King.” Look how time flies when good music's on your mind!

Label: La Folia Recordings
Album: Pinwheel Mix
Artist: An On Bast
Genre: Dance, Tech-house

Every one needs a pick-me-up after a party-filled weekend. Shhh…we won’t tell! So, treat yourself to some deep tech-house with head-bopping beats to bring you back to sanity. Start off with “O Wanderer” and cruise with some light techno. Follow with “Dum Dum” with its added sonic interest to its traditional electronic beats. An On Bast brings you “Trusting My Path” with a little cowboys versus aliens mix and investigates the electronic bliss that her listeners crave. Continue with “Tu Veux” with a twist of the French and experience the splattering of bitcrushed dub stabs with its micro-granule percussive bits. Move on to “Hator”, for an isolated ring and experience “Enter and Flow” to find the medium that moves your mental music. Now, blast “Cat the King” for some light humored beats that plays with volume and allow its rhythm to move you towards the enthusiastic clapping of “Saxhopper”. Whoa. Now, take a breath when it comes to “Dance Deconstruction”. Talk about an interesting ride!

An On Bast is the pseudonym of Anna Suda, a Polish electronic producer. This is her third release on La Folia Recordings. She was first discovered in 2006 by the Red Bull Music Academy and went on to participate in the academy's Melbourne edition.

IRIS Friday Wrap-Up

2011-07-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Great things have happened (and are still happening) in both hip hop and pop this week!

Hip hop legends Pete Rock and Smif-N-Wessun team up to bring you a free (yes, FREE!!) download this week of their new track "Night Time" at the Zune Marketplace. What's more, they've been featured prominently on the Hip Hop page at Zune, and their new album Monumental, released on June 28, has been reviewed favorably by many (see here).

The former boy-band-member train keeps chugging along, as we get even more intimate with our man Nick Carter. First, Nick gives us a glimpse into his home away from home. Second, he gets serious and discusses what he thinks the future holds for him. What next? Nick declaring his love for IRIS? Nope! (Although, we wish that were true). Instead, he hopes to secure a cameo on the hit show Glee. The show is a guilty pleasure of ours, so fingers-crossed! See Nick in all his glory here:

On life on the road: http://bit.ly/kZD7D4
On going solo: http://bit.ly/kW1zcS
On Glee: http://bit.ly/ldbV0Z

And calling all locals! Yes, you, our fellow San Fransiscans, NorCal-ians, hella cool residents of the bay area and even tourists out here to celebrate the 4th with us! This Saturday, July 2, Against Me! will be playing at the Vans Warped Tour in Mountain View amongst many other big names. If you've never been to the tour before, rest assured it's the most fun you've had in one day since your last trip to Disneyland. And the best part is, the tickets are only $35 so you (and your wallet) are still ready to throw down for Independence Day. IRIS loves Against Me! See them live and find out why. <3

Tickets and more info can be found online here.

Can you tell we're proud of our artists? ;)

Eye on New Releases: June 28th

2011-06-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well this is exciting. We've got a fun, eclectic mix of big names in new releases for you this week--everything from hip-hop to indie rock to harmonic pop! Enjoy.

Label: Duck Down Records
Album: Monumental
Artist: Pete Rock & Smif-N-Wessun
Genre: Rap, Hip Hop

While this album is... well... monumental, even the title seems like a bit of an understatement. An adequate description would run more along the lines of hip-hop orgasmica. Seriously. For starters, the entire album is produced by hip-hop legend Pete Rock. Not familiar? His list of past collabos is comprised of some of the biggest names in the biz: Jay-Z, Kanye West, Biggie Smalls, Diddy, Mary J. Blige and Madonna to name a few. Pete Rock is also a featured vocal guest amongst Sean Price, Raekwon, Hurricane G and many others. Collectively, Pete Rock and Smif N Wessun have spit out a multitude of hip-hop game changers since the early '90s and their collaboration on this record may prove to be the biggest of them all--definitely a Monumental moment in music history.

Label: +1 Records
Album: White Night EP
Artist: The Postelles
Genre: Indie Rock

The Postelles are so vintage in every aspect, you'd swear they teleported straight out of the late 1950s--from the very beginning of rock n' roll's long, lovely life in the states. Some elements of the Postelles' music are pushing '70s-esque, but one look at these guys will make you think late '50s/early '60s all the way baby. "Sleep on the Dancefloor," one of three tracks on the White Night EP, makes you want to hop into a pair of blue suedes, slick your hair back and dance til the jukebox stops... then sleep there. While not near as old as their decade-based influences, these guys are by no means fresh on the scene. They've toured previously with Kings of Leon, Vampire Weekend, OK Go and The Stills to name a few. However, The Postelles are currently headlining their own nationwide tour with dates booked from now til the end of the 2011 summer.

Label: Beach Breakz Records
Album: Beu~tiful Vol. 1
Artist: Beu Sisters
Genre: Pop, Rock

"From the end to the start, I'll show you what I call art," goes the song "H~Art" off the Beu Sisters' Beu~tiful Vol. 1 and beautiful art is exactly what this album is from "end to start." Beu~tiful is an artsy, mystical masterpiece all brought to you courtesy of the XX chromosome and the natural harmonies that come with having multiple talented vocalists in the same bloodline. If you're thinking these voices sound familiar, but you're not sure why, it's likely because these girls' previous hits have been most widely played in movies. They've been featured on the soundtracks of movies such as Catch Me If You Can, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days and Ella Enchanted. Their songs have also been featured on multiple television series including Charmed, Gilmore Girls and Smallville.The first single and video from the EP Beu~tiful Vol. 1 is "Definition of a Lady," which captures their playful journey of self-expression and creative empowerment with elegance, grace and beu-ty.

Eye on New Releases: June 21st

2011-06-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

This week's new releases all request one thing in common from listeners: put your dancin' shoes on and let your inner indie-kid loose!

Label: Mt. Fuji Records
Album: Wooden Bones
Artist: Follow That Bird
Genre: Alternative, Rock

"Ahhh"--a sigh of relief is what Follow That Bird's Wooden Bones is more than deserving of with Lauren Green's deeper-toned vocals separating the band from the genre's many oh-so-soprano counterparts. (ie. the female-lead mellow rock bands of the early-to-late 2000's: Eisley, Metric, Gregory and the Hawk, etc.) Feels like we haven't gotten our share of silky-smooth alto vocals like this since the days of Fleetwood Mac. Not only are they finally here, they're perfectly layered over variations of a guitar/bass/drums combo manifested into rockin' indie greatness. Matador Records President Gerard Cosloy called the trio "one of the best bands in the country for a couple years now." Wooden Bones is a single album that consists of two tracks: "Wooden Bones" and "Antlers." The full-length album is due to debut this fall and the band is embarking on a nation-wide tour that spans the rest of the year and then some.

Label: ant-zen
Album: slaves of capital
Artist: proyecto mirage
Genre: Industrial

Trance-endental would be the perfect word to describe the very new-age, very hypnotizing 11-track compilation that is slaves of capital. This is one to break out the best headphones you've got for. The rapid shifts in sounds from your right to left ear literally allow you to feel the music moving through your head. Don't know what I'm talking about? Trust me, prior to this record I wouldn't have either. And it's definitely an experience worth having. The sounds are so complex and so many that you give up even trying to keep up almost immediately and just succumb to the ridiculously stimulating meditative state it pulls you into. If you're feeling more extroverted than headphones would allow for, crank this one up (yeah... all the way) in your car and feel yourself submerged in high-intensity techno-industrial bliss--especially if you're looking to give those party nights a serious blast of electro-psychedelic energy. This is the sixth full-length album by the Spanish duo who released their first tracks together on the verge of the millennium.

Label: Triangle Earth
Album: Ohncet
Artist: Dino Felipe
Genre: Alternative, Pop, Rock, Dance

It's no surprise upon listening to Ohncet that Dino Felipe chose to name it after a slightly rearranged backwards spelling of the word "techno." His electro-dance pop really does sound like what you might imagine as techno's evil twin and what quickly becomes your new favorite guilty pleasure. There are a few mellow tracks thrown in here and there, but don't get comfortable because the next track will always yank you back up out of your seat. Just listen to the transition between consecutive tracks "Lipglossed" and "Body Shouts." It kind of reminds you of one of those nights in which, shortly after getting dolled up, your night takes a very wild turn. Not in a bad way, of course. This album is just fun, fun and more fun all the way through.

IRIS at A2IM's Indie Week and AIM's AIM For America 2011

2011-06-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

Join us next week as both IRIS & BlinkerActive will be leading and participating in a bevy of activities and discussions surrounding digital music sales and marketing at A2IM’s Indie Week and AIM’s AIM For America 2011, both being held in New York City.

At Indie Week BlinkerActive will be participating as in the “Tech Day: Case Studies Using Metrics/Analytics” panel. There, we will be joined by other digital marketing experts in reviewing and analyzing the effectiveness of certain marketing techniques in various case studies. Meanwhile, A2IM’s UK counterpart AIM (Association of Independent Music) will be hosting AIM For America 2011, an event focusing on helping UK music businesses work successfully within the US digital market. IRIS Distribution CEO Matt Laszuk will be participating in the panel “How the US Does Digital”, where he will provide insight into key differences between the US and UK digital markets. The discussion will cover various subtopics including mechanicals, differing approaches to business in the US versus the UK markets, cloud lockers, sync deals, and the future of music in the digital space. In addition to the panel, Matt will be attending the one-on-one sessions.

More information on the 2 events can be found here:

A2IM Indie Week: http://a2im.org/2011/02/01/a2im-indie-week-nyc-june-21-23/

AIM For America 2011: http://www.musicindie.com/events/industry/2011/06/20/1111

Eye on New Releases: June 14th

2011-06-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

Today marks a big day for a few familiar faces. Hip hop supergroup Random Axe, punk's Against Me!, and new age veterans Steve Roach & Erik Wøllo bring new music this week for your listening pleasure.

Label: Duck Down Records

Album: Random Axe

Artist: Random Axe

Genre: Rap, Hip Hop

The ultimate hip-hop trio comprised of Sean Price, Black Milk and Guilty Simpson brings you their debut album produced entirely by member Black Milk (currently on tour with Lupe Fiasco). To get a feel for Random Axe's sound, imagine this year's previous mash-up of Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa and Wale that was Retrosuperfuture II only with heavier lyrics. The self-titled album is an array of feel-good beats paired with Sean Price's infamous social commentary-like rhymes about the dark side of urban life. The album also features many guest artists including Roc Marciano, Danny Brow

n and Fat Ray. Don't miss one of 2011's greatest random "axe" of hip-hop collaboration.

Label: Sabot Productioins

Album: Russian Spies / Occult Enemies - Single

Artist: Against Me!

Genre: Rock, Punk

Against Me! is back in all its messy, garage-punk glory carrying an esoteric, almost apocalyptic message this time with their single Russian Spies/Occult Enemies. The two-track album is the first official release featuring the band's new drummer, Jay Weinberg, after having several drummers play musical chairs behind the kit over the years. It's also their first release back on Sabot Productions, after a stint on Sire/Warner Bros. Staying true to their vintage-loving fans, the band has made t

he album available in 7" vinyl in record stores as well as tour merch stands. Of course, the record is also available digitally! The single follows Against Me!'s May 23rd release of Total Clarity, "a collection of rarities and demo recordings on Fat Wreck Chords recorded during the 'Searching for a Former Clarity' era." You can catch Against Me! on tour this summer with the Dropkick Murphys or at multiple dates and locations of the Vans Warped Tour. So as the song goes, "watch out for occult enemies" and check out Against Me!'s new single and tour dates... "better believe they're comin' for you!"

Label: Projekt

Album: The Road Eternal

Artist: Steve Roach & Erik Wøllo

Genre: New Age, Ambient, Electronic

If you're looking for a little spiritual healing or meditation assistance in an age when it seems even the monthly weather forecast almost always includes a rapture of some sort, your prayers have been answered! From the man who brought you Amazon's Best New Age Album for 2003 and 2007 (Erik Wøllo) in collaboration with one who is recognized as one of the "leading innovators of contemporary electronic music" (Steve Roach) comes an ambient album of six sequencer-based tracks comprehensively titled The Road Eternal. Don't let the album's short six-track roster fool you: The Road Eternal spans over an hour in length guiding listeners from "Depart at Sunrise" to "Travel by Moonlight." The album takes you on an audible spiritual journey of intricate and everchanging rhythmic cycles merging with melodic phrases to create a compelling groundwork that propels the music forward. The Road Eternal is an album sure to make the top of your "what to pack" checklists for any outdoor yoga adventures or moonlight drives this year.

Apple's iCloud Service

2011-06-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

While the world was aflutter earlier this week over Apple's official announcement of iCloud at WWDC next door, we at IRIS have been busy trying to figure out what it all means for independent artists and labels. As it stands so far, Apple is offering 53% of revenue to independent labels and 12% to publishers, however the deal has not yet been finalized. Whatever the case, the iTunes Match service launching in the Fall will allow record labels to collect revenue from pirated music (details here). On the down side, this service will not be available outside of the US until at least 2012. Whether iCloud will in the long run benefit independent artists (and the music industry) is "clouded" by the widely varying opinions. However, one thing is clear: cloud-based music services is the future.

Eye On New Releases: June 7th

2011-06-06T18:00:00.000-07:00

Today's Eye On New Releases edition brings to you New York City indie rockers and the local (to IRIS) electronic house beats of Moniker.

Label: +1 Records

Album: The Postelles

Artist: The Postelles

Genre: Indie Rock

A new gem in the indie rock world, The Postelles have been quoted in Rolling Stone to “sound like the wound-up early hours of what will be a long Saturday night on the town.” This New York City-raised group has a fresh sound that’s reminiscent of the mod-scene with a post-punk edge that’ll make you want to get up and dance! The Postelles’ debut self-titled album was co-produced by The Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr., with tracks having been remixed by Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor and The Knocks. Get a taste of their sound at Rolling Stone here. Also, be on the lookout for them later this summer when they perform on The Late Show with David Letterman.

Label: Smash Hit Music Co.

Album: Live At Sunset, SF

Artist: Moniker

Genre: Electronic, House

Moniker's sound is describable yet completely unique; thoughtful, deep, 4/4, vintage, analog, mostly instrumental house music performed using an array of keyboards and drum machines - partially programmed and partially improvised - and never the same twice. These Bay Area boys really capture the San Francisco fringe scene but add their own flair. On June 13th, 2010, Eo and Kenneth of Moniker received the distinct invitation of performing their live set for a massive crowd of up-for-it Sunset partygoers, and the rest as they say, is history. Fortunately for all of us, high-resolution digital recorders were on hand, capturing the duo's biggest performance to date in all its glory. Live At Sunset, SF is the un-edited, gapless playback mix from that very special afternoon.

Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat on "Getting Older"

2011-06-03T12:04:00.000-07:00

Our good friends Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat (of the band Arab Strap) from Chemikal Underground have been getting quite a bit of press lately. This week, their new album Everything's Getting Older has been reviewed on Pitchfork, and they've been featured on Epitonic. In fact, you can even download their track "The Copper Top" for free here. If you're the type that likes visuals with your music, check out their video:

Eye On New Releases: May 31st

2011-05-31T12:11:00.000-07:00

Today marks the inauguration of a new weekly series we'd like to call Eye On New Releases. Every Tuesday, we'll bring you up to date on a few new releases for that week, and then some. Today's post is a bit delayed due to the Memorial Day holiday, but here we go!

Label: Q Division

Album: Quichenight I

Artist: Quichenight

Genre: Indie Rock

Quichenight, the by-product of Nashville transplace/sideman Brett Rosenberg's various pop fixations, creates lo-fi, high-brow cassette rock, as twisted as it is catchy. Classic pop hooks swim in echo and tape hiss on their 15-track debut. Quichenight I was recorded entirely by Brett Rosenberg on a Tascam 424 four-track in his basement, and was mixed by Owl Cave engineer Kyle Hunt.

Label: daly city records

Artist: Mindelixir

Album: Doomsday Ticket LP

Genre: Electronic

Mindelixir's jazz/funk infused blend has been often categorized as dubstep, but there's something very different about his sound. Doomsday Ticket is the soundtrack to an alternate version of reality where cephalopods have risen to assume control of the planet and man is offered a ticket at the end of days if he wishes to survive. Blending hip hop rhythms with reggae and jazz in a futuristic bowl of dubstep based soup, the album delivers from a sub in the club per-spective to a melodies in my headphones. The album was created to be able to stand-alone as a piece that listeners can enjoy at home, in their cars or on headphones, while simultaneously being compatible with the raging dancefloors that influenced the producer's sound. Leaning back to the old school funk musicians of the 70s and hinting at the UK funky rhythms of today, this is a release not to be missed. It's Mindelixir's second full length LP supported by a Madison House booked national tour effort and released on Mochipet's Daly City Records. Get ready to leave the planet.

IRIS Album Debuts in iTunes Top 20!

2011-05-25T11:16:00.000-07:00

Nick Carter is certainly taking off--on the charts that is! IRIS is proud to announce that Nick's new album I'm Taking Off debuted yesterday at #16 on the iTunes top albums chart! If you haven't become a believer yet, listen now as our friends at Rdio have provided a full stream of his album here.

Want more Nick? He has also curated a playlist of his favorite songs at Rdio.

IRIS Is Still Alive!

2011-05-23T15:01:00.000-07:00

Now that we've survived the Rapture, it's time to get back to work! We've been busy busy the past few months, but we have some exciting news on the IRIS front:

First, our marketing arm BlinkerActive has launched Noiseclerk, a pre-cleared licensing platform where developers can easily locate and license music and sound effects for synchronization to applications. Noiseclerk connects premium catalogs of music and sound effects (currently over 10k tracks) with budding and established app developers, social gaming companies, production houses, and more. It was recently featured in a Billboard article where our very own Bryn Boughton noted that this is "going to be a big part of the future of music".

Second, we've teamed up with Nick Carter (of Backstreet Boys fame) to release his new solo album I'm Taking Off, which comes out tomorrow, May 24th. Fulfill your inner-tween's dreams and watch the music video for the song "Just One Kiss" off Nick's new album here. (Yes, IRIS and Nick are on a first-name basis now.)

The Strap App AKA The Arab Str(app)

2010-08-09T13:13:00.000-07:00

Aren't we clever?

We've launched a custom app for the re-issues of the seminal Arab Strap releases; Philophobia and The Week Never Starts Round Here. Our friends at My Old Kentucky Blog sum it up for us:

Last week we filled you in on the Chemikal Underground reissues of Arab Strap's first two releases, The Week Never Starts Round Here and Philophobia, and shared the closest thing to a new track from the duo, Daughters Of Darkness....

In order to properly hype these two reissues, Chemikal Underground is sponsoring the Arab Strap Twitter Sweepstakes, which is offering fans a candid (and perhaps sordid) view of the life of Aidan Moffat via his video diary. Now, even if you’re not keen on seeing Aidan wax philosophical from the loo, you should still have a look at the contest (which, MOKB is not affiliated with in any way) simply because it represents a chance at free gear including Arab Strap’s entire Chemikal Underground catalogue.

Moodgadget Spotlight at iTunes: It's a brush fire sale!

2010-05-12T11:29:00.001-07:00

As former Ghostly International staff, Jakub Alexander and Adam Hunt have been tempering musical personalities for more than a decade. Now, the founders of the electronic bi-coastal powerhouse Moodgadget bring to you the beauty of music discovery in a sweetly packaged, highly discounted giftbox. No, it doesn't include a hand carved obelisk in some maniacal ploy to get you to pay more for a 4 track EP than a full length (ahem ahem, Billy Corgan @ Smashing Pumpkins). Quite simply...

...it's an iTunes Summer Sale!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/genre/music-electronic/id7

Scroll down for the "Spotlight on: Moodgadget". And for a full list of titles at their discounted prices (60% off), you can check out Moodgadget's homepage.

Ninja Spotlight at NME

2010-05-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the brief hiatus from the blog; we've been busy wheeling and dealing. Lots of new music demands our attention! ;)

Today seemed like an appropriate time to return to the digital whiteboard, especially with an NME forefront feature for our favorite fantastically fanatical (...whew...) electro label, Ninja Tune. They wrote up a great little article, noting that with Ninja Tune content "however alien the name might be on the front, you can guarantee the contents will be decent, or at the very least interesting. There’s not many labels with that kind of cachet; even Warp signed Maximo Park."

Love below!

http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=122&title=title_390&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

Interview w/ Bryn Boughton - Identity of an Indie

2010-03-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

IRIS CMO and co-founder Bryn Boughton was recently pegged for perspective in an Adage paper titled "Post-SXSW, a Brief History of 'Indie'...". The article includes a timeline of successes and failures for the indie media world, bullet-pointing cornerstone events in popular culture, events, music, and film. Teasers:

1992: Indie Lives! Quentin Tarantino releases "Reservoir Dogs."
1993: Indie Is Dead! Disney acquires Miramax.
1994: Indie Lives! SXSW adds film and interactive conferences.
1994: Indie Is Dead (Literally)! Kurt Cobain kills himself.

That last one might leave a sour taste in your mouth...tough stuff for a Monday. We'll leave you with the knowledge that it's actually an uplifting article for the future of our industry. Take a closer look.

MORE: http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=142866

Listen Up! Enter your code here.

2010-03-22T09:18:00.000-07:00

Bonobo - The Reverse Remix?

2010-03-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

The downtempo electronic producer/DJ has produced a substantial cult following over his storied carrier. In keeping with the times, Simon Green AKA Bonobo is about more than just music - although his latest album is FANTASTIC (more on that below). His latest venture sees the DJ soliciting his fans for THEIR music in a reverse remix competition. You read right. Instead of putting the remix burden on his fans, Bonobo will remix YOUR song.

Link to vote on submissions - or enter your own - below.
http://www.bonobomusic.co.uk/remixcompetition/

-Black Sands-
VIDEO
iTunes

IRIS and BlinkerActive at SXSW 2010

2010-03-03T15:45:00.001-08:00

R&R at the Winter Olympics: Nordic Lounge

2010-01-28T09:55:00.000-08:00

Vancouver-bound for the Winter Olympic season this year? Nordic Trax has the ultimate destination spot for a bit of unwinding and music appreciation. 'Get Housed'!

Nike Sportswear & Nordic Trax Present: NORDIC LOUNGE
Vancouver BC, February 10-24, 2010

On Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=435273540421

Featuring a cast of local & international deejays and an installation w/ Nike Sportswear, all of the events are hosted by label founder LUKE MCKEEHAN, named among the city's Top 50 Artist & Entertainers by Vancouver Magazine. Each night expect an eclectic mixture of classics, rare groove, downtempo and funk early before they switch things up and get housey as we club the night away.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

02.10.10
**Opening Night**
ALI B [Air Recordings]
DANA D [Nordic Trax]

02.17.10
DJ HEATHER [Blackcherry]
DJ KROWN [Ginger62]

02.24.10
MARK FARINA [Great Lakes/Om]
MAHOGANY SPEED [YYZ Ent]

IRIS/ BlinkerActive at Midem

2010-01-25T12:03:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, IRIS went eastward for the annual Midem conference in Cannes. Between meetings, panels, and a whole lot of networking, we caught a bit of R&R with our friends in the industry. Paparazzi pics below!

Matt Laszuk (IRIS) and Rob Wetstone (eMusic)

Bryn Boughton (IRIS)

Rock Band Nicoise!

Lou Rhodes discusses "One Good Thing" in this raw internet video:

2010-01-21T15:08:00.000-08:00

Lou Rhodes, a longstanding musical vet and primary singer/songwriter for Manchester's 'Lamb', will release her third solo album March 2010. Lou details the creative and recording process in this raw internet video:

http://www.youtube.com/motionaudiorecords

Stay tuned for "One Good Thing" in a few short months!

The Heavy on David Letterman!

2010-01-19T09:48:00.000-08:00

After a short but hectic tour of the northeast coast, British rockers ended their trip to the states with a gig on last night's episode of The Late Show with David Letterman! The band performed their US television debut of their single "How You Like Me Now?" off their second album, The House That Dirt Built, on Counter/+1 Records.

Eli Reed Featured on Live From Daryl's House

2010-01-18T15:24:00.001-08:00

R&B soul singer Eli Reed is featured on the current episode of "Live From Daryl's House," a monthly Internet webcast featuring Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates playing along with some of his friends and colleagues.

In this episode, Daryl and Eli collaborate together and cover old Hall and Oates' songs in addition to performing some of Reed's songs as well.

To read more about this episode, visit Live From Daryl's House and watch it here!

FREE compilation from FSS with EXCLUSIVE tracks/artwork

2010-01-14T16:21:00.000-08:00

IRIS label FSS (Wrnlrd, Grief No Absolution) is excited to announce the release of THEY DON'T KNOW UNLESS YOU TELL THEM, a fifteen track digital compilation with exclusive traks. There's almost an hour and a half of music from all the artists on the label plus special guests. The album is available in MP3 and WAV format. Best part? It's available completely GRATIS (that's free in Spanish).

Wrnlrd has designed amazing art in collaboration with the contributing artists. They Don't Know.... is meant to be shared so please pass the music around.

FREE - They Don't Know Unless You Tell Them
http://www.mediafire.com/fss

FSS
http://www.flingcosound.com/

SF Music Tech Summit

2009-12-18T09:56:00.000-08:00

On the heels of the Bay's own SF Music Tech Summit, IRIS returns to work leaner, smarter, and a whole lot more connected. Featured speakers included R.J. Pittman of Google, Ali Partovi of Myspace, and our own Bryn Boughton (CMO) of BlinkerActive, among many other panelists. Enjoy the following images of IRIS and affiliates, courtesy of 'thelettertwo.'

Bryn Boughton in 'Convergence Marketing'

Chad Taylor, CoFounder of ThrillCall

Nice banner placement Brian Zisk. Thanks!

IRIS Distribution - pioneers of digital-music distribution

2009-12-11T15:46:00.000-08:00

SF Weekly recently stated that the city is "home to pioneers of digital-music distribution," but that IRIS has abstained from working with major labels, which has prevented the big market budgets, distribution limitations, and control of media outlets (according to our very own Bryn Boughton)!

Read the snipet here!

IRIS expands!

2009-12-11T14:48:00.000-08:00

Today Hypebot.com published a short description of IRIS's growth and development. Seems we're doing pretty well!

Hypebot writes, "Independent digital distributor IRIS has added several category leading labels to its catalog: Metropolis Records, BYO, Mt. Fuji, In The Fishtank, and Pocketsongs. IRIS is one of a handful of digital distributors without ties to the majors and these label additions come on the heels of the company’s report of profitability, a rarity in the current digital music space."

Click here to read the full article!

Support your local team!

2009-09-21T17:33:00.000-07:00

We're not just music fans...

IRIS hit AT&T park this past week (Home of the SF Giants) for some community R&R. Catch up with the team here!

From left to right - Matt + Eric

Kristen, Marley (Rhapsody) + Glenn

Bryn + Eric

IRIS Distribution has been featured in USA Today!

2009-09-09T12:02:00.000-07:00

Cited as a “case in point,” IRIS was chosen to partake as a successful case study with the YouSendIt Platform. Byron Acohido’s article features IRIS in his section about online information flow, presenting IRIS’ decision in using YouSendIt for file transfer as lucrative and more efficient.

Click on the link to find out more about how IRIS works, and see what Bryn Boughton has to say on the subject!

http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/2009-09-08-online-services-startups_N.htm

IRIS artists featured in this month's Detroit sampler!

2009-08-26T14:57:00.000-07:00

Two of IRIS' artists, The Hard Lessons and The Pop Project, have been featured in August's Detroit music sampler!

LimeWire Store and Metro Times present a compilation of the best indie music the city of Detroit has to offer, in a 16-track sampler available here.

Best thing is, all the songs are free for downloading!
Hurry to the site for some instant ear-candy, and show The Hard Lessons and The Pop Project some love.

Access the sampler

IRIS Featured in Insomniac Magazine

2009-07-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

Insomniac Magazine, “The World’s Only Hip Hop Industry Publication”, features an interview with IRIS' CMO, Bryn Boughton.

Read it through for a discussion of IRIS' history and how our hands-on approach with our clientele has differentiated us from the growing market. Bryn also discusses what promising opportunities lie ahead for the company in a rapidly changing industry.

Read the interview here.

Kidz In The Hall, featured on Myspace Music Homepage!

2009-07-23T13:57:00.000-07:00

Check out Kidz In The Hall's featured playlist on Myspace today!

Access the playlist here!

For Immediate Release by Affluent PR & Media Group!

2009-06-30T16:56:00.000-07:00

AFFLUENT RECORDS RELEASES NEW ARTIST & NEW SINGLES
FOR THE SUMMER OF 2009

JUNE 25, New York, NY- Oscar Sanchez CEO of NYC#1 Urban Digital label Affluent Records is ready to get your Summer started by releasing new singles for your must have Summer Play List of 2009.

“We have been blessed and are having a great year. We have set up a great foundation and are now able to expand. We are happy to be able to release new music from artist all across the nation this summer” says Sanchez. “We have been actively searching online thru our Affluent America contest and have found great new acts to sign. We have signed 15 year old rapper/dancehall artist Youn Lion from the Bronx, Ike Burna from Florida, Jase Cook & Hustleman Records from Orlando, Madam Biggz from the NYC, Kenny Ali from Ohio, Jay Stylez from Florida. We have also expanded our roster and signed our 1st Rock Band The SBGz. We also have our Affluent America Vol 1 Compilation and we are still looking for 8 more slots to fill before releasing the album. We also have more records coming soon from Minnesota’s SodaBoy, WuTang producer Mathematics, and a new DVD & Soundtrack entitled “The Art Of Entertainment” which will also follow a conference that will tour based on the film later this fall.

Download this years’ summer bangers for your play list from AFFLUENT RECORDS through IRIS Distribution on all major online sites such as on ITUNES check out for new music from:

1. THE SBGz “THE CODE”
2. YOUN LION / Mel-Share Ent “MOVE YOUR BODY”
3. AFFLUENT AMERICA Vol1. “GAME TIME”
4. SODABOY “BEEN A LONGTIME”
5. IKE BURNA “BORN 2 DO IT”
6. KENNY ALI “MONSTA”
7. JASE COOK / Hustlemann Records “4 THA HOODZ”
8. MADAM BIGGZ “NYC CHICK”
9. JAY STYLEZ “SMELL MY COLOGNE”

More music and solo albums from all of the artist above will be available in stores online everywhere later this year distributed via Affluent Records www.affluentrecords.com / Iris Distribution.

Affluent Records is NYC's top Urban Digital Label dedicated to advancing Hip-Hop, R&B, Pop, Dance, Rock, and Reggae formats. CEO Oscar Sanchez says, 'In today's market, there are great opportunities for artists to grow as businessmen. Affluent supplies an outlet for them. Affluent Records provide a safe-house where Urban, Pop, Dance & Rock music can be preserved and where it will be able to flourish.'
Affluent Records has world wide digital distribution.

Hear or contact Affluent Records:

www.affluentrecords.com
www.myspace.com/affluentrecords
www.facebook.com/oscarsanchez
http://twitter.com/affluentnyc
www.youtube.com/affluentrecords

IRIS' Affluent Records announces new label signing

2009-05-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release
Contact: Affluent PR & Media Group affluentnyc@gmail.com

AFFLUENT RECORDS EXPANDS ROSTER
SIGNS 1st ROCK/RAP BAND TO LABEL
Orlando Florida
The SBGz

May 14, 2009 New York, NY- Oscar Sanchez, CEO of NYC's #1 Urban Digital Indie powerhouse Affluent Records expands his labels roster as he announces the signing of Orlando, Florida’s underground hit sensation rock/rap band The SBGz.

“We are very happy to be able to have the opportunity to sign and distribute under Affluent Records more great new artist like The SBGz. The SBGz is comprised of the most amazing group of talented musicians coming from the Orlando, Florida region. Although the band only recently formed together as group radio program directors, dj, on air personalities, critics and many industry tastemakers already compare their sound to a Linkin Park meets Public Enemy 2009. “Their music attacks the Rock and Hip Hop genre with an infectious power, working with the SBGz is so great for Affluent because it allows us to expand our roster of music and expand our market share into the rock world.” says Sanchez.

Founder of Dirty Bakerz, an independent hit record production company /marketing imprint and VP of marketing for Affluent Records, Mr.Shaff brought the attention of The SBGz over to CEO Oscar Sanchez of Affluent Records. “Once Shaff played me their music I spoke with them, heard their passion and ability to book their own touring. I thought they would be a perfect fit for our new program so I then signed them to a worldwide single deal with us. I believe their music will be able to grow and cross both rap and rock genre. They have a big sound and their music sounds like it should be part of a soundtrack for a movie. Affluent is currently expanding not only its music formats but also its business model structure. We are currently focusing on more Artist development programs for our artist, label and consumers. We have learned how to embrace the Digital Era and now have the ability to give more artist more freedom, more room for creativity and provide for them a platform for more artist development and as well as the chance to get their music heard faster by bring back SINGLE DEALS for artists. “ says Sanchez.

Their Single “THE CODE” will be exclusively released digital worldwide this summer. It will be available June 2009 on AFFLUENT RECORDS through IRIS Distribution on all major online sites. Check them out touring at Friday June 5th at the Central Station downtown Orlando at 10:30pm Wed. June 27th AKA Lounge downtown Orlando, and at the 101.1 WJRR rock station outdoor festival.

Affluent Records is NYC's top Urban Independent Digital label dedicated to advancing Hip-Hop, R&B, Pop, Rock, and Reggae formats. CEO Oscar Sanchez says, 'In today's market, there are great opportunities for artists to grow as businessmen. Affluent supplies an outlet for them. Affluent Records provide a safe-house where Hip-Hop R&B, Urban Pop, Rock and Reggae music can be preserved and where it will be able to flourish.' Affluent Records has world wide digital distribution.

FOR CONTACT OR MORE INFO:
www.affluentrecords.com
www.myspace.com/affluentrecords
www.facebook.com/oscarsanchez
http://twitter.com/affluentnyc
Hear or contact SBGz / Jist Records:
http://www.myspace.com/sbgztheband

The Phantom Band - DEBUT Music Video

2009-05-06T16:42:00.001-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The Phantom Band – The Howling

First Official Video Released Exclusively on MUZU.TV
The critically-acclaimed Chemikal Underground signing The Phantom Band have released their first official music video exclusively on new music video site www.muzu.tv. The video is for the band’s second single The Howling from their amazing debut album Checkmate Savage, which was released in January, 2009. The single will be released on May 25th.

The Phantom Band - The Howling on MUZU.

Alternatively, you can link to it from:
http://www.muzu.tv/thephantomband/the-howling-music-video/193285

ABOUT:
The video was shot in one day at various locations around Glasgow (the band’s adoptive home), with a 40 strong following of the band’s fans standing in as cast and extras. Glasgow actor Allan Tall - who can be seen in Mel Gibson's Braveheart - was enlisted to help with one of the more demanding performance pieces. After rushing from his matinee performance in Cosi Fan Tutti at the Scottish Opera, he was dirtied up and readied to push himself to the opposite end of the spectrum, fantastically pulling off the role of a whisky drinking tramp in the Clyde underpass. The band were reluctant to have a strong role in the video, but those who have seen their storming live shows will be able to spot their cameo appearances dotted throughout the film, even though most are hidden behind the strange tetrahederon masks.

IRIS on the Road: Youtubing It

2009-04-27T12:07:00.000-07:00

If you thought working in digital distribution was a life of FTP deliveries, metadata, and oversized computer screens - you're pretty much spot on. With the SF summer coming on early, even we have to get out of the office once in a while. We journeyed down to San Bruno for Lunch with our friends at YouTube...and a little exercise.

Bryn (IRIS) and Michelle (YouTube)

Glenn sizes up the Treadwall

Anti-Pop Consortium sign to Big Dada

2009-04-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

Hey Friends - the ink has finally dried on the press release for the newest Big Dada signing.

Big Dada Recordings are proud and pleased to announce that legendary avant-rap group Anti-Pop Consortium have signed a two album deal with the label. Their first album in seven years, “Fluorescent Black,” will be released on 09/09/09.

The news premiered on Pitchfork today and we're all super excited to welcome them into the fold!
-READ MORE

Thunderheist debuts video on Pitchfork

2009-04-07T09:35:00.000-07:00

Big Dada's newest signing is turning up the heat with an ironically "grounded", dance floor number. They KILLED it at SXSW; this just marks the beginning for the electronic/rap duo.

Thunderheist - Nothin' 2 Step 2

You can watch the video from its original source HERE:
http://pitchfork.com/tv/#/musicvideo/907-thunderheist-nothing-2-step-2-big-dada

We're Back From SXSW!

2009-03-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

Another year and SXSW has us all scouting out myspace pages for bands
we loved, and those we couldn't take our eyes off of. We caught up
with some of our favorites, including the southern-style and soulful
Alice Russell Band. What pipes! If we didn't have the pleasure, IRIS
will be out in Miami this week for WMC so send us an email.

People at our loft party enjoying the Whiskey

The Alice Russell Band at Maggie Mae's

Aaron Berkowitz and George Davis at Aaron's Knuckle Rumbler Party

The Playboy Party

Bunnies on Stage during DJ set

Playboy logo

Jane's Addiction @ said Playboy Party

We had a blast! See you next year!

EXCLUSIVE NinjaTune's 'The Long Lost' at Amie St

2009-02-24T16:46:00.000-08:00

Catch up with the notorious husband-wife duo of Laura and Alfred Darlington for an EXCLUSIVE one-week prerelease at Amie St. The album comes hot off the heels of the stellar LOVE TO MAKE MUSIC TO by Daedelus (a.k.a. Alfred Darlington).

-OUT NOW-
http://amiestreet.com/music/the-long-lost/

__________

Packin up the tourbus - 09' Conferences

2009-02-23T18:16:00.000-08:00

IRIS kicked off the 09 conference season with a fruitful bid to Cannes for the annual Midem convention. The food was delicious (albeit in meager proportions) and we just couldn't get enough of the travel bug. So we're keeping the tour alive with stops at numerous other conferences over the next few months. Groupies welcome!

-Digital Music Forum East
Feb 25-26
NYC, NY
http://www.digitalmusicforum.com/east/speakers09.shtml
*IRIS CEO Matt Laszuk is an invited guest speaker

-SxSW
March 18-22
Austin, TX
http://sxsw.com/

-WMC
March 24-28
Miami Beach, FL
http://www.wmcon.com/

Best in the Biz: IRIS holds it Down...

2009-01-30T12:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks to your vote, IRIS was recognized in three categories in the NARIP Best of the Biz Awards. Our illustrious designer, Ember Harker/Creative Metaphor, was also selected. See below for our sweet recognition and THANKS AGAIN!
-Full Article-

Best Digital Distribution Company (6 nominees)

1. iTunes with 51.2% of the vote
2. IRIS Distribution
3. Independent Distribution Collective

Top New Media Executive (5 nominees)

1. Tie between Bryn Boughton, IRIS Distribution/BlinkerActive and Heather Luttrell, IndieClick, both with 28.8% of the vote
2. Ethan Kaplan, Warner Bros. Records
3. Richard Conlon, BMI

Top Music-Brand Executive (7 nominees)

1. Steffan Franz & Greg Gordon, epiphyterecords.com with 21.7% of the vote
2. Del Bryant, BMI
3. Bryn Boughton, BlinkerActive

Top Brand-Music Executive (6 nominees)

1. Chad Vogelsong, JVC with 24.7% of the vote
2. Dante Piacenta, Elias Arts
3. Ember Harker, Creative Metaphor Design

Inaugural Week In D.C.

2009-01-22T14:13:00.000-08:00

Where was the place to be this week...

IRIS client, Troublemaker, makes his imprint on the Inauguration by DJing the Manifest Hope Party in Washington, D.C. Here he is with celebrated pop culture/Obama artist Shepherd Fairey.

Troublemaker causin' trouble with Hollywood hottie Rosario Dawson.

Midem 2009

2009-01-22T13:05:00.000-08:00

Midem decided to let us know why we are all "hear". For those reading... Don't ever forget!

Adrian Pike of State 51 and Layne Fox, Director of Marketing & Sales for IRIS Distribution, taking a small break from a "crap load" of meetings... that's an industry term.

Seriously, the game is a phenomenom.

A word from our Directors

2009-01-15T15:47:00.001-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

IRIS DISTRIBUTION SEES STRONG GROWTH AND PROFITABILITY IN 2008
Outlook Bright for 2009

SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA – January 15, 2009
IRIS Distribution, a leading digital media distributor with global reach, announced a banner year including significant new label signings, international retail growth, and an expansion into brand marketing.

“We’re ecstatic about our growth in 2008,” said IRIS Chief Executive Officer, Matt Laszuk (left). “After delivering solid profitability in the second half of the year, we’re proud to be the stable and reliable choice for digital distribution and marketing. “

IRIS brought in significant new business in 2008 including agreements with prominent record labels including: Alleviated, Jake Records, M_nus, Pal Joey, Made For Success, Mothership, +1, and Starborne; direct to artist deals with She Wants Revenge, Lou Reed, Dave Stewart, Larry Heard, Claude Von Stroke, and Lawson Rollins as well as brand partnerships with Electrolux and Scion/Toyota. These agreements compliment existing relationships with artists including Joe Bonamassa, Ben Taylor, Le Tigre, Monolake, and Joshua Collins; world-class brands, Memorex and Chandon and high-profile labels such as Ninja Tune, Megaforce, K Records, Duck Down, Gemini Sun, Palmetto, Kranky and Chemikal Underground.

BlinkerActive, IRIS’ dedicated marketing division, found success with a new kind of client as agencies like DDB and Beyond Marketing sought to tap the power of music for their brand campaigns. The marketing power-house continued to build label and artist brands including Chemikal Underground, Bad Brains, Dave Stewart and Scion. For Infinita records artist Lawson Rollins, an innovative video campaign netted over 1.5 million views.

“Over the past six years, we’ve not only seen the rapid shift in the way fans acquire music, but also a change in the fundamental nature of the industry,” said IRIS Chief Marketing Officer, Bryn Boughton. “As the market continues to define and re-define itself, IRIS is uniquely positioned to strengthen and advance the independent community. We feel fortunate to be at a point in history when independent music is more valued and available than ever before.”
“We consider ourselves fortunate to have a partner like IRIS who understand our roster and the ethos behind the label,” said Stewart Henderson of Chemikal Underground Records. “It can be a bewildering and inaccessible marketplace at times and we trust their judgment implicitly when it comes to representing our best interests.”

Starborne President, Jim Schlichting shared his thoughts, “Starborne Productions researched our options for over two years. With a large catalog of over 1,200 recordings in our digital library we needed a distribution company with both reach and marketing savvy as well as someone who had a secure business. IRIS was the right match for us!”

About IRIS Distribution:
Founded in 2003, IRIS has emerged as a leader in the digital distribution and marketing of prominent independent music and video catalogs. IRIS provides a comprehensive suite of technical, marketing, and legal services, helping clients navigate the ever-changing digital marketplace. The company also provides support though BlinkerActive, it’s dedicated marketing division. IRIS boasts a strong roster of leading independent labels from all genres and distributes to over 450 digital outlets around the world

For More Information Please Contact:
Bryn Boughton
Chief Marketing Officer
San Francisco & New York
111 New Montgomery St. Suite 301
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 495 1545 main line
(415) 704 3327 fax
IRISdistribution.com

The New Beatport

2009-01-06T09:17:00.000-08:00

The world's largest digital dance dance store gets more than just a facelift. See for yourself!

IRIS Best of 2008'

2009-01-05T15:04:00.001-08:00

Without dwelling on the past TOO much...

(click to enlarge)

B-Real Video Debut

2008-11-24T17:05:00.000-08:00

The Cypress Hill frontman signed onto a deal with IRIS Distributed 'Duck Down Records' in Late August. Read more

__________

Client Sampler - DANCE

2008-11-20T15:12:00.000-08:00

Dance Priorities.
Just click play...they don't disappoint

You've got visitors!

2008-11-18T16:18:00.000-08:00

The guys pose for a snapshot after an intense brainstorming collaboration over Noah's bagels. Notice the ruffled hair...

Scalloped Fretboard guitar anyone?

2008-11-14T18:27:00.001-08:00

Matthew Montford has made a name for himself on an instrument that would make most people hungry. Improv meets passion in his latest release, SEVEN SERENADES FOR SCALLOPED FRETBOARD GUITAR

“The sparkling presence and sustain you hear is not an amplified acoustic with a lot of reverb, but a scalloped fretboard guitar. Matt’s the only person I know who can play one. Most rock musicians I’ve mentioned it to seem shocked that it even exists.’” – Jello Biafra, (seminal punk rock singer, Dead Kennedy front man turned spoken word activist, politician, mail recycler) ALTERNATIVE TENTACLES RECORDS

Finally it's out!

2008-08-22T13:22:00.001-07:00

We feel like we've birthed this video but it's finally here!

AMERICAN PRAYER SONG on iTunes: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZ...

RINGTONE
http://www.myxer.com/CHANGE or text "CHANGE" to 69937 to get your "American Prayer" ringtone

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT SONG
http://www.myamericanprayer.com

LIST OF GUESTS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:
Dave Stewart
Forest Whitaker
Amy Keys
Macy Gray
Jason Alexander
Colbie Caillat
Whoopi Goldberg
Joss Stone
Buju Banton
Ann Marie Calhoun
Barry Manilow
Linda Perry
Cyndi Lauper
Sergio Mendes
Herbie Hancock
Mike Bradford
Margaret Cho
Cindy Gomez
Speech
Joan Baez
Daedelus
Pamela Anderson
Peter & Gordon
Sierra Swan
Nadirah X
Perez Hilton

Intern speaks out

2008-08-04T10:32:00.001-07:00

Our very own H. Anne Lightly has her own blog series at Synthesis.net. Catch up with her here.

Be Our Friend!

2008-07-24T11:29:00.000-07:00

Wanna stay up to date? Be in the know? What's going down in the indie scene? Be our friend and stay in touch through these links:

Facebook

MySpace

Imeem

Yay Friends!

Help Us -- Save Moola

2008-06-20T15:32:00.001-07:00

Answer our short, ten question survey and receive $100 off a BlinkerActive Marketing Service.

Go to Survey

BlinkerActive site up and Running!

2008-06-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

By now you’ve heard rumblings about BlinkerActive and maybe you’ve even seen some of our handy work online. Well, we’ve decided it’s time to lift our kimono and show you a little more of what we’ve really been up to over here.

Check it: www.blinkeractive.com
Drop us a line for pricing and more details. info@blinkeractive.com 415 495 1545

Iris Happenings

Eye on New Releases: January 31st, 2012

Eye on New Releases: January 24th, 2012

Eye on New Releases: January 17th, 2012

Eye on New Releases: January 10th, 2012

Eye On New Releases: December 20th, 2011

Eye On New Releases: December 13th

Eye on New Releases: December 6th, 2011

Eye On New Releases: November 29th

We Are Thankful For...

Eye On New Releases: November 22nd, 2011

Eye On New Release: Novemeber 15th

Eye On New Releases : November 8th

Eye On New Releases: November 1st

Eye On New Releases: October 25th

Eye on New Releases: October 18th

Eye on New Releases: October 11th

Eye on New Releases: October 4th

Eye on New Releases: September 27th

Eye on New Releases: September 20th

Eye on New Releases: September 13th

Eye on New Releases: August 30th

High Castle In Your Town!

Eye on New Releases: August 23rd

Eye on New Releases: August 16th

Sony Music/PIAS Warehouse Fire and How You Can Help

Eye on New Releases: August 9th

Palmetto Records Sale at iTunes

Eye on New Releases: August 2nd

IRIS Distribution on Spotify

Eye on New Releases: July 26th

Eye on New Releases: July 19th

Eye on New Releases: July 12th

Digital Sales On The Rise and Spotify!

Eye on New Releases: July 5th

IRIS Friday Wrap-Up

Eye on New Releases: June 28th

Eye on New Releases: June 21st

IRIS at A2IM's Indie Week and AIM's AIM For America 2011

Eye on New Releases: June 14th

Apple's iCloud Service

Eye On New Releases: June 7th

Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat on "Getting Older"

Eye On New Releases: May 31st

IRIS Album Debuts in iTunes Top 20!

IRIS Is Still Alive!

The Strap App AKA The Arab Str(app)

Moodgadget Spotlight at iTunes: It's a brush fire sale!

Ninja Spotlight at NME

Interview w/ Bryn Boughton - Identity of an Indie

Listen Up! Enter your code here.

Bonobo - The Reverse Remix?

IRIS and BlinkerActive at SXSW 2010

R&R at the Winter Olympics: Nordic Lounge

IRIS/ BlinkerActive at Midem

Lou Rhodes discusses "One Good Thing" in this raw internet video:

The Heavy on David Letterman!

Eli Reed Featured on Live From Daryl's House

FREE compilation from FSS with EXCLUSIVE tracks/artwork

SF Music Tech Summit

IRIS Distribution - pioneers of digital-music distribution

IRIS expands!

Support your local team!

IRIS Distribution has been featured in USA Today!

IRIS artists featured in this month's Detroit sampler!

IRIS Featured in Insomniac Magazine

Kidz In The Hall, featured on Myspace Music Homepage!

For Immediate Release by Affluent PR & Media Group!

IRIS' Affluent Records announces new label signing

The Phantom Band - DEBUT Music Video

IRIS on the Road: Youtubing It

Anti-Pop Consortium sign to Big Dada

Thunderheist debuts video on Pitchfork

We're Back From SXSW!

*EXCLUSIVE* NinjaTune's 'The Long Lost' at Amie St

Packin up the tourbus - 09' Conferences

Best in the Biz: IRIS holds it Down...

Inaugural Week In D.C.

Midem 2009

A word from our Directors

EXCLUSIVE NinjaTune's 'The Long Lost' at Amie St