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

release date - the Leaf Library

YEAH!... today's the day the new Leaf library single is OUT!... if you're a fan of Gideon Coe (and you should be) you will have heard the hit pretty much nightly on his BBC 6 music show, and you can hear it again (and buy it) here:

The Greater Good is a song about tiny moments of connection in a busy city, a bright and busy drone-pop love song for people you’ve never met glimpsed on underground platforms and opposite escalators. Built around a humming Farfisa, stacked guitars and late-for-work drums it hurries along to its happy, one chord finish - an ideal song for the Friday evening commute or for not dancing to whilst thinking about what could have been. The b-side, Goodbye Four Walls, is a quiet/noisy song for unplanned and unrehearsed expeditions on sunny city streets, preferably flying solo having just bought a good book. Both songs are optimistic odes to city living and will enhance your enjoyment of whichever urban conurbation you happen to be in.

The Leaf Library make droney, two-chord, pop that’s stuck halfway between the garage and the bedroom, all topped with lyrical love songs to buildings, stationery and the weather. Originally from Reading (ish) but now settled in London they have released one album so far, 2011’s ‘Different Activities, Similar Diversions’ on Proper Songs and a 10” single – ‘Losing Places’ (backed with a fantastic Isan remix). They love Hood, Broadcast, Yo La Tengo, To Rococo Rot, Mice Parade, Talk Talk, Stereolab, Brian Eno and The American Analog Set among many many other things.

The picture disc is illustrated by Tanya Meditzky

wiaiwya-7777777 2104

it's all been a bit quiet here on the blog for a while, but that's because we've been working hard on making next year's singles club as special as 2012's and 2013's, and i think we've DONE IT!

wiaiwya-7777777 2014

wiaiwya-7777777 2014 will be a series of seven picture discs, which together form a step-by-step guide to releasing your own records

on 7th November i'll announce all of the bands and all the illustrators (i'm thrilled!), and you can buy your subscriptions - they make perfect Christmas presents too - from the blog...

All the records

labels for the Hong Kong In The 60s single

all approved today:

Darren Hayman masters have been sent off

the third single of wiaiwya-7777777 are on their way to manufacture too... that's 2 brand new Darren Hayman tracks - you're going to love them...

labels for Jeff's single

the label artwork has been given the nod - perfect to coincide with Gideon Coe playing the single last night... thanks Gid!

assembling Jeff's record

this week i've been busy assembling Jeff's record... the vinyl isn't here yet, but everything else is...

assembling Jeff's record

the sleeves for wiaiwya-7777777 have arrived

yup... i now have 4000 of these under the Christmas tree... and thanks very much to Footprint Workers Co-Operative for doing such a great job on them:

wiaiwya-7777777 2013 die cut sleeves

to subscribe to wiaiwya-7777777 2013 (all seven 7" singles)

incl UK p&p £35.00 GBP  incl EUR p&p £42.00 GBP  incl US & ROW p&p £49.00 GBP

add 2012 membership number

Allo Darlin singles have arrived too...

pre order the Allo Darlin Christmas single

yup... the final 7" of wiaiwya-7777777 2012 is the BRAND NEW Christmas single from Allo Darlin... 3 exclusive tracks from the band that gave Rough Trade their biggest selling album of the year... it's every bit as gorgeous as you're imagining, and there are only limited copies available... place your order sharpish to avoid disappointment:

new Werewandas video

just in time for Hallowe'en we have a video for the excellent Dig My Grave by the Werewandas, and it's better than THRILLER:

next year's singles club...

wiaiwya-7777777 2013 die cut sleeve mock up

You may be wondering about the new look on the blog?... well, this year's wiaiwya-7777777 has gone so well, we're doing at all over again next year... yup, that's another 7 awesome bands on another seven beautiful 7" singles, released on each day of the week, on the 7th day of 7 months, throughout 2013...

the bands are all confirmed, and i'm just working on the schedule now...

want to know who they are?... of COURSE you do... we have, in no particular order, exclusive singles from Darren Hayman, Jeff Mellin, Hong Kong In The 60s, Sourpatch, Pups, Comet Gain and the Middle Ones!

i'm afraid the prices have gone up a little (postage, printing and pressing have gone up too)... the sleeves and inserts should be something pretty special though, not to mention the records themselves

if you subscribed in 2012, and order your 2013 subscription before 1st December you can also keep the same membership number:

to subscribe to wiaiwya-7777777 2013 (all seven 7" singles)

incl UK p&p £35.00 GBP incl EUR p&p £42.00 GBP incl US & ROW p&p £49.00 GBP

add 2012 membership number

Allo Darlin Test Pressings approved

Eux Autres Test Pressings approved

pre order the Eux Autres single

for anyone who still maintains they don't NEED the whole set of wiaiwya-7777777, the next release from the magnificent Eux Autres, is now available for pre order... kind of like a boy/girl Rubinoos for the 21st century, but don't take my word for it:

the Shrag singles are here...

yup, thanks to Lisa at Key the fifth wiaiwya-7777777 single arrived just in time for Shrag's gig at the London Palladium last night:

the orange vinyl looks pretty special, and if you ignore my spelling mistake all is peachy... you can get your copy here:

Eux Autres masters have been sent off

Andy at RMS has mastered the final 3 tracks for wiaiwya-7777777, the brand new single from Eux Autres

subscribe, subscribe subscribe

the final three tracks arrived in the early hours of this morning, and have already been sent off to be mastered... i've been listening to all 21 tunes together, and they sound amazing...

there are very few subscriptions remaining, so if you need 7 exclusive three track 7" singles on coloured vinyl by the Wave Pictures, the Werewandas, Tally Ho! (feat. Rose Melberg), Standard Fare, Shrag, Eux Autres and Allo Darlin, just click the buy now button below... very reasonable rates, etc...

to buy all seven 7" singles

7777777 (incl UK postage) £28.00 7777777 (incl EUR postage) £35.00 7777777 (incl USA postage) £42.00 7777777 (incl ROW postage) £49.00