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Romantics Animals on… Scenewipe

Written on 01/18/2012 in News

Lovely kind words from Shaun Holland over at Manchester Scenewipe.

The organs sounds of opener ‘Wildlife’ sets the scene of the EP by creating a sparse environment for the listener. Unlike a lot of electronic music this first track is interesting throughout and constantly introduces new melodies just as your ears become satisfied with the previous one. ‘Delphi’ is a reflective track that makes good use of subtle changes in texture such as the reversed vocal. ‘Fire,Ice and Dynamite’ includes long synth swells reminiscent of M83’s ‘Run into flowers’ back before they had their recent success overload, but this track doesn’t quite reach the epic levels of an M83 song. The tracks are often crescendo based with a spacious opening being substituted for a more rhythmically and texturally involved sound later on.The final track ‘Moondog’ builds up throughout then leaves you alone at the end , with only the sound of the wind to accompany you, it is a fitting end to the ethereal sound of the EP.

Romantic Animals on… Groovement

Written on 01/18/2012 in News

Our mate Groovement is awfully kind and describes the new Borland release ‘Romantic Animals’.

“This is bloody beautiful. Less Bloodhound Gang (as the title might suggest) and more polar bears sharing spaghetti and kissing, play this as the soundtrack to your Frozen Planet DVD your mam got you for Christmas.”

Grab a copy now from the Gulf Records Store or grab it direct from iTunes, Bandcamp and a whole list of other online music sources.

Borland – Romantic Animals Out Now!

Written on 01/18/2012 in News

It’s finally here! Our second release comes courtesy of the Borland boys. Romantic Animals has been a long time in the making and sounds all the better for it.

It’s a five-track digital release and you can pick your copy up today from a number of online retails including: iTunes, Amazon and Bandcamp.

Support independent music and grab a copy today!

Borland – Clockmen (FTKOSQ Live Version)

Written on 05/13/2011 in News

Excellent video of From the Kites of San Quentin performing their remix of the Borland track ‘Clockmen’ live at Islington Mill, Manchester on May Day 2011. This video was put together by the guys at Manchester Scenewipe.

From The Kites Of San Quentin from MCR Scenewipe on Vimeo.

‘From the Kites of San Quentin were born out of a group of musician’s determination to do something truly unique. You have not heard or seen a band like this before. In its short life, From the Kites of San Quentin have been gathering momentum at a staggering rate. With one foot firmly planted in the glitch side of Electronica, and the other in the world of Future Dub & experimental Hip Hop, they are creating music that deserves the tag of ‘innovative. ’ With influences ranging from the classic prog rock of Yes & Rush, to the more experimental hip hop sounds of some of today’s new breed of beat makers: Flying Lotus, Burial & Hudson Mohawke; they will not be pinned down or pigeonholed. Already drowning the Manchester scene in their bass heavy frequencies, From the Kites of San Quentin could well be the Massive Attack or Portishead of a new generation.’

Check the Manchester Scenewipe piece in full here.

(Nice sticker!)

Gulf in… High Voltage

Written on 05/13/2011 in News

Five star review of GR001 from Alex Lynham one of the heads at High Voltage.

‘It’s a mark of just how bold Gulf Records are that their inaugural release in this download age is a 12” split single. Then again, when you see that the two bands on the sleeve are Borland and From the Kites of San Quentin, perhaps it makes some sense; at least the outside reflects the content.

Bizarrely enough though, out of all the tracks here (originals and remixes), the best track is an original- Kites’ ‘Chet Beaverbrooke’- and for the craziest of reasons, namely Alison’s vocals being un-effected.

Anybody who’s heard Kites before knows that vocal effects are a staple of their sound, and rightly so; they add a dynamism and drama that’s usually lacking in electronic music. Here, however, they ring out clear and fragile, alone amongst the beats, synth growls and washes that constitute the rest of their sound.

Not to overlook Borland, it’s worth mentioning that their original, ‘Clockmen’ is exceptional too in terms of instrumental electronic experimentalism, and the only complaint one can reasonably have about this package is that it’s a split single and not a split EP. Here’s to more material from both bands as soon as possible, I say.’

Check the original here.

Gulf in… Aural Delights

Written on 04/24/2011 in News

Aural Delights, a worldly Salford music blog, offers an in-depth view of GR001 with Borland and From the Kites of San Quentin.

‘All in all a very auspicious beginning for Gulf Records – the conceptual continuity across the four pieces is remarkable and the unique and cutting edge nature of the music makes this an early contender for short-form release of the year.’

Read the full article here.

Gulf in… Fat Roland

Written on 04/19/2011 in News

A glowing write-up of GR001 from the Big Bird of electronica, Fat Roland. Here’s an exert:

‘As for the music, what we have is Chet Beaverbrooke by From The Kites Of San Quentin, which is a ‘ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space’ ambient psych-out with Billie-Holiday-on-heroin vocals.’

‘Clockmen by Borland spits a growling melodic progression onto the floor of witch house then slurps it up with a hefty dose of melancholy.’

Read the full article.

(The jury is still out on whether the album art for GR001 is a pig or a bunny.)

Gulf in… Drowned in Sound (again)

Written on 04/18/2011 in News

A very kind write up of Borland, FTKOSQ and the label features in an excellent piece on the Manchester music scene over at Drowned in Sound.

Here’s the meat:

‘There’s a new boutique label popping up out of nowhere every five minutes these days, and Manchester appears to be just as fertile a place to grow one as anywhere else. Gulf Records was launched in 2010, but have only really got around to letting anybody know about it in the past couple of months – which makes sense, as they’re putting out their debut release now. The 12” vinyl features two artists that have somehow managed to be overlooked thus far in the gold rush. Borland has been ticking away under the radar despite having an almost prodigious output that continually shows ingenuity, mixing bits of that whole Witch House scene with more typical, Four Tet style influences to create something that is much better than most of the acts hyped on every other blog.

From the Kites of San Quentin reach for somewhere near trip hop and just about manage it – the word ‘dystopian’ in their biography isn’t used out of context, either. They’ve come together to create this split EP, whose lack of hype can either be seen as the strength in depth of the city at the minute or as a sign of how little people are actually listening to. Highly recommended.’

Read the full article here.

Gulf in… The BBC

Written on 04/17/2011 in News

An interview with label co-founder Rob Gregg and Alison and Luke of From the Kites of San Quentin. Recorded live on the BBC Introducing show with Sam Walker on BBC Radio Manchester on 10th April 2011.

Gulf in… The Pigeon Post

Written on 04/08/2011 in News

A nice piece on Borland over at The Pigeon Post.

‘…managing to be both wide-eyed and ambitious whilst retaining a slightly dirty edge – there’s the usual comparisons to be made with Four Tet and the like, and they’re hugely justified.’

Read the full article here.