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‘SCOTLAND AND THE WORLD NEEDS WEE LABELS LIKE THIS TO KEEP MUSIC VITAL'
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\IAK‘I. [TS
Labeled with love
Scotland’s own SL Records have thrived under the radar for a decade, encouraging both individuality and camaraderie in a clinical musical world. Malcolm Jack reports
xcept l‘or boo/e. baked beans and the occasional
book. can you remember what you spent your
student loan on'.’ Probably not. lid Pybus is hardly likely to forget however: his spirited indie label SI. Records was launched using l‘unds from a student loan cheque 7- a detail that remains lovingly enshrined in the initials that comprise its rnonicker.
As a tenth calendar year ol‘ business winds down at the imprint. its one-man :\&R/mill'kcllng/pl‘Css/sille/ stamp licking team. who still largely rttns the business from his lidinburgh kitchen. admits he never expected the venture to endure for so long.
"I‘he first thing we did was a compilation album tl‘NTs It's a Life Sentence).' says Pybus. ‘We really just did that and didn‘t have any plans to make a label that would keep going. We did it jttst l'or l‘un. There's never been much ol‘ a master plan. As long as there‘s good music to put out. w c‘ve just sort of kept doing it.‘
Literary popsters ballboy'. melancholic indie dreamers Saint Judes Infirmary and ja/l/loungc eccentrics Misty"s Big Adventure are among the most notable of a generation ol‘ bands whose material Sl. has released over the years. All three have since moved on. but new artists. including altlolk alchemist Thomas Truax and psychedelic rockers Lords of Bastard. have recently been brought into the fold. It’s all part ot~ SL's t‘luid way of doing business.
‘Being a small label we don‘t sign bands up for multi— alburn deals.‘ Pybus explains. 'We put albums out one at a time. and bands have always been free to work with other people. We don't have huge resources so it's always been a bit of a flux with the bands.‘
70 THE LIST 13 Dec 2001-1 dart 2008
The passing ol‘ John Peel was a blow for Sl.. l'p until his death in 200-1. the legendary Radio I l).l had play cd practically every release by the label on his show. and frequently had Sl. bands in l‘or sessions. The growing power ol the internet as 11 sales and promotion tool has helped lill that gap over the last few years at least. And plenty ol‘ other key ligures in the industry continue to back IIIL‘ label. BBC Scotland's Vic (ialloway hit one. SI. were ‘l.abel ol' the Month' on his radio show throughout November. (ialloway cites the imprint‘s 'diversity' and vision' as its most impressive qualities.
‘.»\nother reason l‘or respecting Sl.. is their dedication to the undergroundf he continues. ‘lt seems to me that they're happy in this homogenous. celebrity-obsessed world to champion the underdog and stay independent. Scotland. and indeed the world. needs wee labels like them to keep music vital and alive.'
.-\ccording to Paul \'ickct's. l‘rontman ol' SI. longtimcrs Dawn ol‘ the Replicants. as well as the label‘s newest outlit Paul \'ickers and The leg tw hose debut album Tropical l'tii'ourrtvv will be out in February). working with SI. is about much more than a business relationship. even alter ten years.
‘Iior rne personally" it's a good l‘riendship that has the added element that he th'busi puts out my records] he esplains. ‘You sit in lid‘s kitchen and do your mail outs. and it‘s very much a cottage indtrstry. It‘s got a good feel about it.
'lt‘s a gang.‘ he adds. '\\'e're a gang.‘
The annual SL Records Christmas Shindig is at Bongo Club, Edinburgh, Sun 16 Dec.
71: Apocalyptica its the season to have four hoary rock loons kick out the classic rock and metal Jams on cellos and Violins. The Garage. Glasgow. Fri 74 Dec. tROCk 8 Pop)
71' James Yorkston, Aberfeldy, Colin Maclntyre and The Parsonage A stoating line-up for this Grmmo Shelter benefit show. Classrc Grand, Glasgow, Fri 74 Dec. (Rock Pop)
‘Z~ Rihanna The polyrhythmic R88 tartlet responsible for the feelgood hit of the summer ‘Umbrella' comes to a crty the song could have been written for. See preview, page 71. SECC. Glasgow. Fri 74 Dec. (Rock 8. Pop)
*2: Winter’s Love It's all about multiple band bills this season and we recommend you get to Falkirk for an entire day of beauteous indie action. See preview, page 71. The Polish Club, Fat/kirk, Fri 74 Dec.
(Rock 8 Pop)
ri- Part Chimp, Trout and Remember Remember Christmas time . . . mistletoe and GADUGGA-DUGGA-SPROING! That's right: Rock Action Records present a three band line-up showcasing the various shades of. erm, rock action. Sorry. Nice 'n 'Sleazy. G/asgow. Sat 75 Dec. (Rock 8 Pop)
1' Malcolm Middleton, The Pictish Trail, Mystery Juice, Nancy Elizabeth Cunlifle and Blueflint Gimme Shelter do it again. This time it's intimate acoustic turns from some truly mesmeric performers. Mono, Glasgow, Sun 16 Dec. (Flock & Pop)
". Vashti Bunyan, The “twilight Sad and Frightened Rabbit We featured the latter two only a few issues ago but that's no reason to stOp loving their genius rock yet. Complimented by the ethereal magic of original 603 folkster Vashti Bunyan. To win tickets for this show, turn to page 75. Arches. Glasgow. Thu 20 Dec. (Rock 8 Pop)