all the sets of wiaiwya-7777777 2018 have now sold

but don't worry, there are still sets of 2017, 2016 and 2015 available - seven amazing, and beautiful, singles per year

the last two releases of wiaiwya-7777777

the time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things...

mostly, who are the 48th and 49th bands to release 7"es on the wiaiwya-7777777 singles club

well, the wait is over:

on 7th November there will be a new 7" from Saint Etienne - 'Camel Coat' and 'Little Chef'

and on 7th December there will be a split 7" from the Wedding Present and Cinerama - 'White Riot' and 'The Name Of The Game'

subscribers will of course get their copies in the mail as usual (in an all new tote) - but if you haven't subscribed this year, 250 (hand numbered, transparent vinyl) copies will be available to pre-order from 6pm (UK time) on 27th September from the usual bandcamp page:

wiaiwya.bandcamp.com

here's a handy countdown timer for you:

Pete Astor's records have arrived

came home last night to find these on the doorstep - the 47th single of 49

and you can get your copy here:

sleeve approvals - Pete Astor

Pete gave these the nod this week

release date - the Orchids

the Orchids formed in Glasgow in 1985, releasing their first flexi, on the Sha La La label in 1987

"I've Got A Habit" came in 1988 - it was the second single release on the legendary Sarah Records

Their fourth single, "An Ill Wind That Blows" was released on Caff, the label run by Bob Stanley (of the band Saint Etienne) - the label also released 7"es by Pulp and the Manic Street Preachers

In 1989 the Orchids released Lyceum, the first long player on Sarah Records (described by Melody Maker as "Another fountainhead of unqualified greatness")

This was followed by Unholy Soul (1991 - "A beautiful album – timeless melodies for sure."), Epicurean (a compilation) and Striving For the Lazy Perfection (1994 - "Encompassing everything from dream pop to trip-hop, it's certainly a product of its time and place, yet it also possesses a certain timeless quality")

All three albums were produced by Ian Carmichael, a member of One Dove

In 1995 the Orchids played at the Sarah Records farewell party on board the Thekla in Bristol

The band then when quiet for just over a decade before releasing their fourth album proper in 2007 - Good To Be A Stranger - "it doesn’t matter if this is just a one-off because the Orchids have added another classic album to their already impressive back catalogue"

Fans just had a three year wait for The Lost Star, and their sixth album, Beatitude#9 came out in 2014

I Never Learn / Echos (Have Hope) is their 10th single, and is released by wiaiwya on 7th August 2018

Catenary Wires video

 

release date - Birdie

it's a lovely bank holiday weekend here in London, and to top it off, the new Birdie single is released today!



sorry to say the individual copies of the vinyl sold out very quickly, but you can still subscribe and get all seven of the 2018 singles club releases (so far announced - Spearmint, the Orchids, the Catenary Wires and Birdie)

to subscribe to wiaiwya-7777777 2018 (seven 7" singles)

incl UK p&p £42.00 GBP incl EUR p&p £49.00 GBP incl US & ROW p&p £56.00 GBP

add 2017 membership number

Release date - Spearmint

it's 7th April, which means release day for the final first seven inch single of the wiaiwya-7777777 singles club... following in the footsteps of the Wave Pictures, Jeff Mellin, Freschard, the Fairlight Myth, Deerful and Famous Problems here's the new single from Spearmint

77 days is too long - Birdie

here we go - the second single from the 2018 club is now available for non-subscribers to buy, and it's by Birdie!

yep, that's Debsey from Dolly Mixture and Paul from East Village



and here's a little reminder of their second single from 1999

77 days is too long - Spearmint

the first release from this year's singles club comes from Spearmint - get your copy here



and a quick reminder of what made me fall for them 20 years ago:

sleeve approvals - Spearmint

artwork for the Spearmint single has been approved

remember to sign up to wiaiwya-7777777 2017

yep - this week i'm packing up records to send to subscribers to wiaiwya-7777777 2017, so if you're thinking of signing up, now's the time to do it

i'm sure you are aware, but previous years have included exclusive 7"es from the likes of Allo Darlin, Darren Hayman, The Wave Pictures, Comet Gain, Deerful, Shrag, Standard Fare, Citizen Helene, Norman Blake and Woodpigeon

so, don't delay! sign up today! and get seven 7" singles in the post throughout 2017...

the schedule, as it stands at the moment is:

7th April - Famous Problems

7th May - The Smith Garrett Band

7th June - Scrabbel

7th August - The Great Electric

7th October - Emma Kupa

7th November - DJ Downfall

7th December - special guest!

to subscribe to wiaiwya-7777777 2017 (seven 7" singles)

incl UK p&p £42.00 GBP incl EUR p&p £49.00 GBP incl US & ROW p&p £56.00 GBP

add 2016 membership number

Release Date - Woodpigeon & Norman Blake

as you may or may not know, wiaiwya-7777777 is a seven inch singles club, a very ambitious seven inch singles club, due to last for seven years

today we reach the mid point, the 25th single of the set...


The Woodpigeon and Norman Blake 45 is the sound of the Laurel Canyon recorded on a feather, with a bit of Prefab Sprout and Fairport Convention added for good measure; delicate wispy harmonies, intimate acoustic instrumentation, and the West Coast feel that Glaswegians do so well.

Woodpigeon is fundamentally Mark Andrew Hamilton writing songs. Starting off in Edinburgh (with members of eagleowl), then moving to Canada for the band's first full-length album, entitled Songbook, released in late 2006. Three years later the second long player, Treasury Library Canada c/w Houndstooth Europa was long-listed for the Polaris Prize, and Hamilton served as the curator of the first annual Sled Island Festival in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
2010 saw the band's third album, Die Stadt Muzikanten, then 2012 marked a move to Vienna and 2013 the release of Thumbtacks + Glue on Fierce Panda.
Woodpigeon has collaborated with over 70 musicians, and has played alongside Withered Hand, Ólöf Arnalds, Broken Social Scene, Patrick Wolf, Iron and Wine, Grizzly Bear, and Calexico, has appeared as part of Ray Davies’ Meltdown, and played Iceland Airwaves festival twice.

Of course Norman Blake needs no introduction, but here goes anyway: Norman has been recording hits since the Boy Hairdressers ep in 1986, after a stint in the BMX Bandits he formed Teenage Fanclub in 1989, two years later they released one of the best albums of the 90’s – Bandwagonesque… aside from 10 Fanclub LPs (with another in the pipeline) Norman has recorded with Joe Pernice, Euros Childs, Jad Fair, the Pastels, Tenniscoats, Kevin Ayers, Bill Wells, The Reindeer Section, Snowgoose, Yeon Gene and The Pearlfishers.

Today we’re adding Woodpigeon to that list.

subscribe!

the first two singles should be coming out to all you lucky subscribers in the next fortnight or so, so now's the time to renew your subscription (if you haven't already) or sign up for the first time

as a member you will get all 7 of these lovely, and exclusive, singles in the post, along with some very special bits and bobs

to subscribe to wiaiwya-7777777 2015 (seven 7" singles)

incl UK p&p £42.00 GBP incl EUR p&p £49.00 GBP incl US & ROW p&p £56.00 GBP

add 2014 membership number

Release Date - eagleowl

eagleowl's Christmas-ish single is the final release of wiaiwya-7777777 2014 - hope you've enjoyed all seven hits, and all the amazing artwork - if for any reason you don't have all the records, there's a link to get them just there on the right ==========> so, eagleowl:  

“a funereal shanty, bleakly captivating and rousing, and a reminder that the boys Yorkston and Roberts used to make records this good.” Did Not Chart
“glass-half-empty sensibility… lifted skywards by an unexpected melodic chorus and more lovely harmonies” SoundsXP
Formed in Edinburgh in 2005, eagleowl - all lower-case if you please - were initially a duo comprising Bartholomew Owl (guitar, vocals) and Malcolm Benzie (violin, guitar, vocals). With the addition of Clarissa Cheong (double bass, vocals), several years of activity as a trio followed. The band has since grown into a multi-instrumental six-piece also featuring Rob St. John (organ, harmonium, vocals), Hannah Shepherd (cello) and Owen Williams (drums). eagleowl’s sound - trembling strings, hushed harmonies and gauzy electric guitar, tracing a line somewhere between Low, Mogwai and the Dirty Three - has likewise expanded. But without sacrifice to a resolutely less-is-more song writing approach that eschews bombast in favour of restraint, promotes suspenseful builds over cathartic climaxes, and never rushes when it can take its own precious time. 
eagleowl’s debut long player (This Silent Year - released on Lost Map in June 2014) confirmed them as one of the gems and keystones of the Edinburgh and Scottish lo-fi independent music scene. Prior to that there were a string of critically-acclaimed, impossible to come by, limited-edition releases on Scottish micro labels Fife Kills and Kilter - 2008 EP ‘For The Thoughts You Never Had’ (“gorgeously quavering folk harmonies” -Word), 2010 EP ‘Into The Fold’ (“Wonderfully atmospheric” - Drowned In Sound) and 2009 7” single ‘Sleep The Winter’ (“monumentally affecting” - The Skinny).
When not performing together, all six members are highly active in other bands and collaborations, be it with Scottish alt-folk troubadour Withered Hand, Icelandic singer-songwriter Benni Hemm Hemm, their band mate Rob St. John (who also pursues a solo career), or Canadian indie-pop collective Woodpigeon.  The single will be launched in Edinburgh at Pilrig St Paul's Church Hall on Friday 12th December, as part of the inaugural Irregular Owl Movements Christmas Panto.
The picture disc is illustrated by Frances Castle

sign up to wiaiwya-7777777 2015

the full lineup for next year's (the 4th!) wiaiwya-7777777 singles club is being announced on 7th Nov - AND WHAT A LINEUP IT IS! - but if you just can't wait you can sign up here and make sure you don't miss out.

i'm afraid with escalating postage costs the subscription prices have gone up a little, but remember that all subscribers get 10% off everything in the wiaiwya shop for the year.

2015 is going to be a VERY busy year, with brand new albums from Darran Hayman, Emma Kupa, Smile Down Upon Us and the Leaf Library already scheduled.

to subscribe to wiaiwya-7777777 2015 (seven 7" singles)

incl UK p&p £42.00 GBP incl EUR p&p £49.00 GBP incl US & ROW p&p £56.00 GBP

add 2014 membership number

Part 4: Designing the Sleeves

Let's face it, none of us have enough room, if I just wanted the music it would be far more practical to get it digitally, but i don't. I want the THING cos it's beautiful, the grooves, the labels, the 12" mailers on the doormat, the 7" bag in the pub... and the SLEEVES

I've lost track of the unlistenable records I have bought cos they look fantastic, and more importantly the hits I haven't cos they look dreadful.

A well designed sleeve in a shop or on a record stall makes me want a record I have never heard. 

Is it the same for you?

In which case (obviously) use your imagination to design a sleeve that will stand out on a shelf load of its peers - have a chat with your art college and photographer mates who, I assure you, are itching to design a record sleeve. Money is always going to be tight so think of alternatives to the regular card sleeves, talk to local printers, think about hand making, invite all your chums round when you have the parts and have a put-it-all-together party.

If you decide to hand over the sleeve with the record to the manufacturer, talk to them, make sure you have the right templates, resolution and bleeds.

Perhaps also think about coloured vinyl or picture discs, although they will put the unit cost up considerably.

If you're putting together a number of different releases, think about a standard label sleeve you can use for all of them (these can all be printed in one go, and so end up much cheaper per unit), or a theme (if I have part four of a seven-single set I'm going to find it hard to walk past the other six) but remember NEVER to trust a band with a logo (metal excluded).

While you’re working on the pictures think very carefully about the WORDS - have you credited everyone? Is the catalogue number correct? Is the tracklisting in the right order? have you thanked the guitarist’s previous boyfriend by mistake? Have you called the producer the engineer? is the band name spelt correctly? Have you included website and social media details? For you AND the band?

Are you including sleevenotes too?... perhaps a guide to releasing your own records?

Read, re-read, re-re-read and re-re-re-read, give it to a friend to read a few times too, and then leave the corrected copy for a weekend, and re-re-re-re-read it before sending it off to print.

A good cover will help, but won't guarantee, you sell your records - at the very least you will have a handsome pile of unsold pop sleeves to wallpaper your pad.

release date - the School

the fourth element of this year's 7777777 singles club is out TODAY!

yes, SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER

 THE SCHOOL are a pop band from Cardiff. Their debut album 'Loveless Unbeliever' was released in 2010 on legendary label Elefant Records, produced by Ian Catt (Saint Etienne, The Field Mice).

The album appeared in over 70 'Best of 2010' lists, 6Music's Album of the Day, Rough Trade's Album of the Week and Radio Nowhere's Album of the Year. Adam Walton declared it his "favourite Welsh pop album of all time". Molly Ringwald is also a fan. 

In 2011 the band were nominated for 'Best International Artist' at the Spanish Independent Music Awards, and they performed a live TV concert for 'Los Conciertos De Radio 3' (TVE).

Second album 'Reading Too Much Into Things Like Everything' was released in May 2012, produced by David Wrench (Euros Childs, Everything Everything, Bat For Lashes). Dave Rowntree from Blur said he bought it. 

Everett True asked “could this be the best pop song of 2012?” of single ‘Never Thought I’d See The Day’ and declared ‘Reading Too Much..’ his 2nd favourite album of the year, only behind Dexys. 

The band will release their 3rd album on Elefant Records in 2014

" some of the Phil Spector lushness of Lucky Soul, the Belle & Sebastian-style modesty of Camera Obscura, and the airy, girl-group vocals of both" - Pitchfork

The picture disc is illustrated by Andy Hart

All the records

Sourpatch single available for pre-order

you will fall in love with Sourpatch; completely, joyously, unconditionally, justifiably, eternally, and imminently…

Sourpatch have a new single, the double A-side "You Knew" and "Let's Get Educated"

Sourpatch is a four piece pop-worshiping ensemble from San Jose, Ca.
Sourpatch endorse a gender freeing, queer positive, feminist thinking, body positive, crush worthy lifestyle!
Sourpatch is a band, a gang, a movement, a resource, a PARTY, an inspiration, a TOUR DE FORCE.
Sourpatch love you as much as you love them, sometimes more so
Sourpatch have TUNES… so, so many tunes
Sourpatch embrace the ethics of Dischord, the attitude of Kill Rock Stars, the geography of Beserkley, the tunes of Lookout!, the patronage of Happy Happy Birthday To Me, and the records they have all released
Sourpatch have CHORUSES… such great, sing-along, choruses.
Sourpatch’s record collection includes (but is not limited to) C86 bands, Pacific-Northwest riot grrrl, pop and indie, grind and ’90s hardcore… and this week’s top 40.
Sourpatch is best enjoyed LOUD… no… LOUDER!
Sourpatch thank you, and ask that you tidy up after yourself