Don't be alarmed if you're unfamiliar with some of the names at tripTych. cos plenty of the acts take shots of the great music you already know and love and stir them
flavour of the month
up in to something new. frurty and dangerously intoxicating. ‘.‘.:'_::: Mark Robertson Disco Garage Lo-fi Jungle Cosmic Jazz Electra Blg- Funky Mad! House Folky l h like like the indie like rock like like band like like like like n a p rase - o - Donna Stooges like Goldie like Miles Kraft- jazz like Stevie Yoko Sasha Nick Summer Pavement Spirit- Davis work Count Wonder Ono Drake uallzed Baisie
Detroit's original head-turning
bad boy pushes electronica's boundaries
Many-monikered bedroom boffin turned big band leader
I:
A weekend in
the Glasto dance tent in 90 3 minutes courtesy of four muso mates
Noo Yoik's clas5y kids get groovy with some mellow bleeps-with- cellos
Shambling genius and a bashful experimenter Lou Barlow and pals
Glasgow's own eccentric masters of turntable eclecticism
Fey indie- maverick and gang do jangle magic
criirnilil
LABELLED WITH LOVE
For good music you need good labels and tripTych has five of the best. Words: Neil Cooper
ertain labels are maverick
and mysterious affairs. Warp.
Domino. Geographic. Leaf and BenbeCUla still have that truly independent Spirit, existing in imaginary places of their own design. All will. however. at various times and at various tripTych locales. allow you to share in their visionary sounds. From Plaid to the Pastels. Mapstation to Manitoba. Beans to Christ. a vague unspoken ethos binds their differences together. Whether laptop. hip hop or folk rock. it's those very differences that make them equal.
Musically. it's about being
‘
eclectically elitist but open to suggestion. 'A lot of labels don't seem to represent much.’ says Stephen Pastel. recording artist for Domino. 'boss' of its Geographic imprint. and accidental elder statesman of an underground based more on self-determination and DIY ethics than sell-out stadium tours. 'They're there. and they're functional. but all they contribute to is some all- encompassing terrible sea of average music that no one's really interested in. In that sense we're overwhelmed by the amount of records out there. and for a time we didn't want to contribute to it. There has to be a reason for putting a record out.’
In the mid-80$ Pastel was involved in the 53rd and 3rd label. which was limited by its ties to the so-called ‘shambling' scene. With Geographic. sheer missionary zeal won out. especially after Pastel heard
«y
Japanese noiseniks Maher Shalal Hash Baz. ‘In one way.' he says. ‘I just want to put out great art. and l'm not really that bothered how many records we sell. but if it's a really important release. you want it to reach as many people as possible.‘
With this in mind, Pastel sees an obvious affinity with the other labels showcased. and he uses the words ‘crusading,' ‘idealistic' and ‘organic' to sum up the Spirit of such a wilful and self-sufficient network. Yet. while Benbecula may be based in Edinburgh. and Geographic in Glasgow. a healthy expansive outlook goes beyond their own doorstep.'lt's ab0ut wanting to do something beautiful and impodant.‘ says Pastel. ‘But you also have to think what it's going to add.’
The labels are represented throughout trlp'lych, 25-27 Apr.
1/
g The faux-Gallic
in kids TV V V V V : programme
§ y0u can
a: dance to
' 3—24 AL' 2303 1’"! LIST 21