Drowned in Sound Recordings // Spotify Playlist

Bat For Lashes – The Wizard
Martha Wainwright – I Wish I Were
Jeniferever – From Across the Sea
Youthmovies – The Naughtiest Girl Is a Monitor
The Koreans – Machine Code
Kaiser Chiefs – Born to Be a Dancer (demo)
Les Incompétents – How it all Went Wrong
Metric – Handshakes
thisGIRL – Oscilloscope Love
Blood Red Shoes – Try Harder
Kaiser Chiefs – Oh My God
Metric – Monster Hospital (MSTRKRFT mix)
Les Incompétents – Chapter Two
thisGIRL – Drake
Redjetson – This, Every Day, For The Rest Of Your Life
The Stills – Helicopters
Jeniferever – Alvik
Emily Haines – Reading in Bed
Emmy The Great – The Hypnotist's Son
Martha Wainwright – Factory
Brett Anderson – Love Is Dead
Kaiser Chiefs – Caroline, Yes
Blood Red Shoes – You Bring Me Down
thisGIRL – Coffee & Giro Cheques
Youthmovies – Archive It Everywhere
The Stills – The House We Live In
Adam Gnade – Hymn California
Emmy The Great – Secret Circus
thisGIRL – St. James Gate Marylebone
Bat For Lashes – I Saw a Light
Brett Anderson – The More We Possess the Less We Own of Ourselves
Emily Haines – Our Hell
Redjetson – Stay Comfortable (Birdpen East of Here Remix)
Jeniferever – Closing In

Click here to listen to this playlist on Spotify.

For anyone who's wondering, the label is currently "on hiatus" and although we've given all of the acts on our label their records back, the label have picked up the option for the next Martha Wainwright album (actually, it's her next two records) and patiently await its arrival. The singles club/RCRD LBL Mp3 blog are still ideas I wish to pursue but the past 12months (since the demise of a deal for DrownedinSound.com with BSKYB and the associated fallout) have been hell plus "the record business" isn't exactly a future-proof thing to be involved with at the moment. I've spent a few year's investigating other options and hope to get back to finding, investing in/licensing and sharing great music in the future.

DiS Records related links:
http://www.myspace.com/disrecords
DiScography http://rateyourmusic.com/label/drowned_in_sound_recordings/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drowned_in_Sound#Record_label
http://www.last.fm/label/Drowned+in+Sound
http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/1655051-label-focus-1--drowned-in-sound-recordings
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/day-in-the-life-sean-adams-of-drowned-in-sound-442270.html

Best Albums of 2008 (getting it out of the way early to avoid the rush)

Apparently it's not too early, my ol' mucker Mike Diver has already done his over on his blog. As there's little left to be released this year and as I'm bound to be asked what mine are about 20 times in the next few weeks (and give out a different list and have them in varying orders whenever asked) here're the albums I've not been able to get enough of this year...


1. Cut Copy In Ghost Colours (Modular)
I've been utterly addicted to this mongoloid-space-monkey-disco album all year. (My Review)

2. Crystal Castles Crystal Castles (Last Gang)
I struggle to think of a record that sounds quite so refreshingly inventive for quite some time. Can totally believe Alice was frustrated being in a hardcore band and I won't be shocked if they implode before making another album.

3. The Stills Oceans Will Rise (Arts & Crafts)
I was obsessed with their debut and loved the follow-up so much that I released it. This record is a step above and beyond the previous two, it still has shimmering guitars and a definite brood to it but there's something perfectly sinister about the way the melodies stalk you for days after listening to it.

4. These New Puritans Beat Pyramid
5. Friendly Fires Friendly Fires
6. M83 Saturday = Youth
7. The Kills Midnight Boom
8. Youthmovies Good Nature (which, er, came out on my label and there are plenty left in the shops)
9. Panic at the Disco Pretty. Odd.
10. Nine in Nails Ghosts I-IV (available here for free)


Other notable goodness included newies from: Lykke Li (lacks any genuine sparkle), Santogold (bit over affected), Hauschka (really lush but gets a little dull), The Raveonettes (not quite as good as The Kills), Cathy Davey (breaks its promises), Gemma Hayes (little beyond her great voice and some nice hooks), Martha Wainwright (out via my label), Rolo Tomassi (haven't managed to listen to the whole album), Foals (runs outta steam), TV on the Radio (not as addictive as previous albums), No Age (not a patch on the last one), Deerhunter (ditto), Errors (being better than Foals doesn't make you the best band ever), Bon Iver (got a little dull when the addiction to 'Skinny Love' wore off), White Williams (probably would have been better as a covers album), Chairlift (lacks any life-affirming personality), Dandy Warhols (nice try at inventing stoner-disco), El Guincho (rarely play more than the first three tracks), Death Cab for Cutie (something a bit cringey about it), Olafur Arnalds (haven't had it long enough for it to make the 10), and other stuffs thati'veprobablyforgotten...

And whilst we're being premature here're some of my tips for 2009: Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man., Catherine A.D., Baddies, Gentle Friendly, Sudden Weather Change...