Yip Man // Introducing Yip Man of Scotland

Well hello! I'm Yip Man. You probably know me as Al Nero if you know me at all. The former sorta-frontman of Le Reno Amps and co-founder of this here, Armellodie Records. You might be forgiven for thinking that I've been somewhat idle, or at least focussing on running Armellodie, since Le Reno Amps bowed out in 2011. But in truth I've been away. Al Nero went to China… Yip Man came back. 

Upon my return to Scotland I hooked up with my old sparring partner, Scott Maple and we began to work together on some songs that I had written while I was away courting The Red Dragon. We found a cosy little studio in Glasgow courtesy of Sean Pollock and Beatroute Arts and I roped in some other pals to flesh out my bones, Neil Warrack (Super Adventure Club) came and played some drums, Greg Barnes (who has previously provided generous organ donations to Le Reno Amps and Chris Devotion & The Expectations) came and played keyboards, Gordon Kyle joined us for a splash of trumpets and a dear friend, Clare Rajan came in and sang some sweet, sweet harmonies. Together we made a record, the debut record of Yip Man. It's called 'Braw Power' and it looks like it'll be out in November this year. That's the plan anyways, though plans change all the time don't they!?! Who really knows...

There's a couple of tunes from the album that have found their way out into the ether. I've been fortunate enough to have some spins on BBC 6 Music courtesy of Steve Lamacq and Stuart Maconie, and Radio Scotland thanks to Vic Galloway. I'm also lucky to have such talented pals willing to commit a lot of their time to making me look good. Namely, Ian Tilling (he of Trapped Mice fame) for making the Not That Easy video and Jason Sinclair of Poppycock Films for making the For Your Own Good video. It's been a blast so far and we've only just got started. You can check out both of those videos below and stay tuned for more Yip Man in the coming months. Braw!

Armellodie Records // Label Sampler 2015

It's that time of year again when we here at ArmHq toast to the coming year's sure-to-be-hits and the floppy discs of yore that we so proudly stand behind.  It's the Armellodie Records Sampler 2015. Free for all!

2014 was a fun one. The first 6 months were proper boppin' on the release front. We had our French compadres, Appletop, release 'Brave Mountains' in March. Followed by Super Adventure Club's 'Built-In Redundancy' live album for Record Store Day in April. We then released a hat-trick of belters in the shape of Dan Lyth & The Euphrates, 'Benthic Lines', Chris Devotion & The Expectations, 'Break Out', and The Hazey Janes, 'Language of Faint Theory'.

After summer there we put our feet up on the label-front, busying ourselves with real-shit for a change. There's been some tasty freebies from Gastric Band and The Douglas Firs to tide us over and we're very much looking forward to 2015. As you'll hear/see when you grab the sampler we have forthcoming albums on the way from Trapped Mice with 'Sacred To The Shades', and Thirty Pounds of Bone with 'The Taxidermist'. They'll both hit the streets in the Springtime and sounding beautiful so they are.

So thanks for all the hoots this year and all the very best for 2015.

Al + Scott
xxx

 

Armellodie Records // Sounds Of The Insomniac Radio Show

Our very own Scott Maple popped into the Pulse 98.4 studios this week as a guest of Alan Clarke's excellent Sounds Of The Insomniac show. Armed with a handful of Armellodie-hits (Armellodits?) and plenty of chit-chat you can listen to the show here on Mixcloud.

Sounds Of The Insomniac (Show 16 with special guest Scott Maple of Armellodie Records) by Sounds Of The Insomniac on Mixcloud

Armellodie Records // New Label Sampler - Merry Christmas!

The gift that keeps on giving…

Every year’s a winner here at ArmHq but this last year has been especially productive, having worked on and released 7 new albums and a couple of booming EPs over the past 12 months it’s been mega-rewarding.

On top of that we managed to squeeze in another label tour in the summertime which saw us host a string of shows around our beloved Scotland showcasing the impeccable talent that resides on our burgeoning roster.

To catch up on what you’ve missed, put the skip in your step, and discover your new favourite band we’ve compiled a new label sampler. An annual toast to the hits and the floppy discs we so proudly stand behind. 

You can download the SAMPLER RIGHT HERE and please spread the word and support the artists involved.

The new year is already shaping up nicely, we’ll have records from new troops and fresh efforts from familiar faces.  

Going international, we’ll be bringing you the new album from Appletop who hail from the exotic dirty south of France. C’est tres bien! 

We’ll also have the new album by Dan Lyth, from the slightly less exotic but no less dirty, Dunfermline. A stunning record recorded entirely outdoors. More news soon!

Then there’s the second effort from garage-rock’n’rollers, Chris Devotion & The Expectations, currently holed up in the studio with producer Andy Miller, who also worked with the band on their much celebrated debut, Amalgamation & Capital.

Further still we’ll be releasing the new album from Dundee’s finest young things, The Hazey Janes. The follow up to 2011’s, The Winter That Was, was recorded in Spain earlier this year and is almost all dressed up and ready to leave the house. We can’t wait.

Plenty more too nae doot! Busy times. Exciting times. Join us!?

All that’s left to say is thank you for your continued support. Armellodie is a teeny-tiny operation, so buying an album or coming to a show goes a long way and means a great deal to us. You deserve a holiday! Enjoy the sampler. Merry Christmas, happy new year and we’ll see you on the other side!

ArmHq

Armellodie Records // Label Sampler 2012

It’s the end of another year and so we gift to you a label sampler. Hits of the near future, flops of the past and spankers from the back catalogue compiled for your listening pleasure. Featuring a track from each of Armellodie’s troops, you can download it for free right here.

1. Super Adventure Club - Sheila’s Stabiliser Wheels
2. The Douglas Firs - Apologia
3. The Pure Conjecture - The Tumbler That Never Ran Out
4. Something Beginning With L - Last Night’s Party
5. Galoshins - The 4th Chord
6. Kill The Captains - Fun Anxiety
7. Trapped Mice - Mona Lisa
8. Thirty Pounds Of Bone - The Streets I Staggered Down
9. The Hazey Janes - Girl In The Night
10. Conor Mason - Misunderstood
11. Chris Devotion & The Expectations - The Girl Is Leaving
12. Le Reno Amps - God Loves A Trier
13. The Scottish Enlightenment - All Homemade Things
14. Cuddly Shark - Trigger Happy 

It’s been a fun year for the label, we’ve released a handful of awesome records which have all done us proud.

We embarked on our first ever label tour in the summer, steam-rolling our way round our native Scotland.

There was barely a festival that Chris Devotion & The Expectations didn’t pop up at and The Hazey Janes headed off to support Wilco on their European tour in October, good vibes all round.

Anyways, it wouldn’t be so good if it wasn’t for the people who buy the albums and go to the shows. So thank you.

Enjoy the sampler, have a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2013.

Now, let’s get sloshed.

ARMELLODIE SAMPLER 2012 - DOWNLOAD

Thirty Pounds Of Bone // Have Done With The Celtic Phantom →

Johny Lamb’s Thirty Pounds Of Bone has recorded a selection of songs from people he’s played shows with exclusively for Woodland Recordings

Recorded mostly for fun, but also as way of being mildly sarcastic about traditional music’s claim over oral transmission. 'Have Done with the Celtic Phantom'includes super quiet and affectionate versions of tracks by Electric Soft Parade, Chris T-T, The Great Park, Mary Hampton, Dive Dive and Armellodie label-mates, Le Reno Amps and Something Beginning With L.

Each CD is individually numbered out of 100, and comes with characteristically lovingly prepared hand made artwork from Woodland Recordings. 

The album is out today and you can purchase it via Armellodie from HERE

Le Reno Amps briefly tickled our listening lobes again this summer with a series of shows as part of the Armellodie tour, you could call it a break from their break. As they jet off again (Communist China calls) they leave us, for now, with a new video directed by Felix Gilfedder who the band previously worked with on the video for their track, 'The Stand Off'.

So there you go, watch, enjoy, share.

*Warning - contains flashing images. Seriously. The end is the universe collapsing in on itself*

Taken from the album ‘Appetite’ available now on CD/Download from the SHOP.

Ah, the halcyon days of Summer 2012. The Armellodie train rolled through Scotland bringing fun to YOUR town! …if you live in a town that we visited.

Footage from The Hazey Janes’ Summer tour of Scotland 2012.

Featuring, in no particular order, Le Reno Amps, Cuddly Shark, Super Adventure Club, Chris Devotion & The Expectations, Esperi, Riley Briggs (Aberfeldy), Bernie, Fraser Stewart (Fat Goth) and Richy Ritalins (Ritalins). 

'Southern Lawns' is taken from The Hazey Janes latest album 'The Winter That Was' - out now.

Video by Andrew Ridgeley. Thanks Andrew!

Armellodie On Tour // Aberdeen, Lossiemouth, Elgin, let's boogie-woogie.

And so the train rolls on…

So we’re half way there, a big thank you to all of those that have come down to the shows thus far. It’s been belting good times. BUT a label’s work is never done… Northwards!

Le Reno Amps + The Hazey Janes + Chris Devotion & The Expectations + Cuddly Shark
Tunnels, Aberdeen
Thursday 9th August 2012
8:00PM
£5.00
http://www.facebook.com/events/443389915679925/

Chris Devotion & The Expectations + Cuddly Shark + Le Reno Amps
The Steamboat, Lossiemouth
Friday 10th August 2012
8:00PM
Free Entry
http://www.facebook.com/events/382508625139492/

Cuddly Shark + Le Reno Amps + Chris Devotion & The Expectations
The Thunderton, Elgin
Saturday 11th August 2012
8:00PM
Free Entry
http://www.facebook.com/events/328040657272835/

Armellodie On Tour // Travel By Train August 2012

 

We’re going on a tour! Incidentally the poster for these shows is a direct steal of a Stiff Records 1978 tour poster so there you go - August 2012 will see an elite squadron of Armellodie’s troops taking to the rail lines and steam-rolling their way around bonnie Scotland, stopping off only to shower, shit, shave and shebang. Catch them in a compromising position near you.

Here’s the det’s… 

Super Adventure Club + The Douglas Firs + Trapped Mice
Wee Red Bar, College of Art, Edinburgh
Thursday 2nd August 2012
7:00PM
£5.00
http://www.facebook.com/events/114706158669913/

The Hazey Janes + Le Reno Amps + Cuddly Shark
Duke’s Corner, Dundee
Friday 3rd August 2012
8:00PM
Free Entry
http://www.facebook.com/events/420825447938297/

Le Reno Amps + Cuddly Shark + The Scottish Enlightenment + Trapped Mice
Captains Rest, Glasgow
Saturday 4th August 2012
8:00PM
£5.00
http://www.facebook.com/events/421617447869829/

Super Adventure Club + The Hazey Janes + Chris Devotion & The Expectations
Art School, Glasgow
Wednesday 8th August 2012
8:00PM
£5.00
http://www.facebook.com/events/225036357615158/

Le Reno Amps + The Hazey Janes + Chris Devotion & The Expectations + Cuddly Shark
Tunnels, Aberdeen
Thursday 9th August 2012
8:00PM
£5.00
http://www.facebook.com/events/443389915679925/

Chris Devotion & The Expectations + Cuddly Shark + Le Reno Amps
The Steamboat, Lossiemouth
Friday 10th August 2012
8:00PM
Free Entry
http://www.facebook.com/events/382508625139492/

Cuddly Shark + Le Reno Amps + Chris Devotion & The Expectations
The Thunderton, Elgin
Saturday 11th August 2012
8:00PM
Free Entry
http://www.facebook.com/events/328040657272835/

And a needless bit about our elite touring squadron…

Super Adventure Club
It’s like the musical equivalent of Screwball Scramble. Or maybe like a really intense game of Hungry Hippo’s, like it’s pretty fun but it’s quite erratic, ye have to totally go nuts on that Hippo’s head otherwise you’ll never get the ball. No-one ever gets the ball though. Need we say more? We don’t think so.

The Douglas Firs
From the northern gales of the Highlands to the peaks of Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, The Douglas Firs is the brainchild of Neil Insh, born and bred in Aberdeen before de-camping to Scotland’s capital. Daring, lively and tender, The Douglas Firs have previously been described as “Belle & Sebastian on a spirit-quest” (The List). To which Neil responded, “I would agree, but only if the ‘spirit’ was hard liquor, and Belle and Sebastian had some balls.” Come and see the Douglas Firs’ long balls on display tonight!

Le Reno Amps
Imagine your favourite bands were pumped full of steroids before being cooped up together in a small zoo enclosure. Every day the zoo-keeper visits them and throws them cuts of high-quality steak which has been marinated in same-said steroids.  The bands go feral and fuck like bunnies until they produce offspring. Le Reno Amps sound like the music the zoo-keeper writes on her days off.  She volunteers once a week at the local Hospital’s WRVS shop.  It isn’t much but it gets her out of the house and things haven’t been the same at home since her mother died. This tour marks the only shows LRA have and will be playing in 2012, catch them while you can.

Chris Devotion & The Expectations
Fresh from a summer of festivals Chris Devotion & The Expectations - or CD/EX if urgency is your prerogative – are fond of a little savage rock’n’roll and a pert frolic with the classic pop song.  Coming together in perfect harmonious, lyrical and mathematical order for an approximate running time of 2 and a half minutes, these songs have the power to align planets.  Part swaggering hubris, part relationship-confessional, these songs remind you of the joyful existence of your reproductive organs, while at the same time the bitter knowledge that you’ve been dumped. 

Cuddly Shark
Anarchic and free spirited, Colin works in IT and drives a Volvo but we all know that’s just a smokescreen, and one time Ruth punched Jason’s mum. The threesome we know and love as Cuddly Shark return to the stage and to our stereos this year with the release of their sophomore record, ‘The Road To Ugly’ looming. Brimming with punk attitude and spilling over with melodic brilliance Cuddly Shark will never have an ounce of pretentious hip fat on them; it’s all muscle, come and have a feel at these peck peck peck peck pecks.

The Hazey Janes
October 2011 saw the return of The Hazey Janes flaunting their timeless sound with new album, The Winter That Was, showcasing a band that have grown immeasurably in stature during their somewhat enforced hiatus from the public eye.  Pumped full of pop vitamins like Big Star on steroids, the Hazey Janes are firing on all cylinders, touring every nook-and-crannie and smashing it every night. You best believe!

The Scottish Enlightenment
Scotland’s most subterranean, ecclesiastical rock band, The Scottish Enlightenment have gone underground since the release of their all-round critically adored debut, St. Thomas, back in 2010. Once again they are slowly incubating their new songs with the full time dedication and care of a placenta to birth a new record of exquisite beauty next year. This show sees a rare outing for the band in 2012, showcasing new material in amongst old favourites. We cannae wait. 

Trapped Mice
The latest additions to the Armellodie roster have their debut album out this winter and it’s a corker. Swaying gently in the parochial breeze, Trapped Mice are the kind of band that aim to make serious seem fun. Or perhaps fun seem serious. Maybe. Singer Ian Tiling – in a manner reminiscent of a Morrissey after the surgical removal of all camp humour – emotes from the back of the stage only occasionally sneaking out to punch the air.

What can we say, get involved?

ArmHq

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Le Reno Amps 'Appetite' Oot Noo!

It’s dropped. The LRA album is out. Watch as the crowds go wild. Wow, look at ‘em.

You can get it in real shops on CD up and down the country but we would recommend getting it from your local independent store if you have one, although not all of us do anymore sadly. If that’s the case then head along to here or here or here.

There’s still some limited edition versions ’Appetite for Construction’ available direct from our shop, get it while it’s still simmering.

Those of you in Scotland will also be able to pick up the limited edition from these select stores and all round good guys:

Avalanche, Edinburgh
LoveMusic, Glasgow
Mono, Glasgow
One-Up, Aberdeen

And of course the download is avaliable from the usual haunts - iTunes, eMusic, even fae Tesco.

To celebrate this momentous release we’re having a party at The Captains Rest, Glasgow on Thursday (21st April) with a feast of label troops and compadres flexing their musical pecks for us - Super Adventure Club, the douglas firs and Galoshins - doors are at 7:30pm and it’s a crisp £5 to get in on the door.

Swish.

ArmHq
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Hungry For Le Amps

Le Reno Amps new album Appetite is released on Monday 18th April 2011. A limited version (cunningly named, Appetite for Construction) shall see the full album released alongside a free exclusive 6-track digital EP, Construction.  Construction is a collection of songs that were recorded during the album sessions but didn’t make the final cut, Scott Maple explains, “Ok, there’s got to be some losers, but think of these songs as our “Buzz Aldrin” collection - Neil Armstrong may always usurp him, but for god’s sake – he still walked on the fucking moon!”

To celebrate the release the band will be hitting the road this week to play a series of pre-release parties in Al Nero’s hometown of Aberdeen, Scott Maple’s hometown of Elgin - scary biscuits - and the band’s spiritual home of Inverness :

Thurs 10 March - Drummonds, Aberdeen  w/ The Scottish Enlightenment, Steven Milne & Kilmory Day Trip.
Fri 11 March - Thunderton, Elgin (An Audience With Le Reno Amps)
Sat 12 March - Hootanannys, Inverness (An Audience with Le Reno Amps)

Appetite will be available for purchase at the pre-release shows complete with a download code for the Construction EP. Limited copies of Appetite for Construction are available online now HERE and in select independent music shops to coincide with the pre-release parties.

Appetite for Construction is available at the following stores:

Avalanche, Edinburgh
Love Music Glasgow, Glasgow
Mono, Glasgow
One-Up, Aberdeen

Expect to pay no more than £8.00.

The official album launch will take place in Glasgow at The Captains Rest on Thursday 21st April.

ArmHq
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