Play/Rec

Barra Head’s second full-length, ‘We Are Your Numbers’. The album contains ten tracks from this incredible trio, whose trademark sound and intelligent song-writing have given them a reputation as one of the most remarkable and unique acts in the business.

After the release of “We Are Your Numbers” in late 2004 Barra Head toured all over Europe with more than 60 shows in 13 different countries. One of the tours went to the Balkan area with planned shows in Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia and Bosnia. This tour turned out to be one of the most difficult, most weird, most disastrous and yet most eventful and interesting tours ever played by Barra Head. Not only were the band and the crew detained in no mans land at a borderline crossing for 24 hours, they also encountered lots of corrupt policemen, armed soldiers at shows, cancelled shows, fantastic shows, hard times, good times, beautiful landscapes and landscapes and towns destroyed by the war. During all these events in the post war zone in the Balkans Barra Head wrote two new songs, the melodic yet desperate rock song “Undermine” and the melancholy moody quiet song Gradiska. These are now being released as an exclusive 7” on Play/Rec.

Go Get Beat Up is Barra Head’s third album. They’ve found a more melodic and immediate form but have managed to maintain their distinct expression. The band has always been an exciting acquaintance, both musically and lyrically, and that has not changed on this record. Each track is served cool, dry and tight. They won’t bring you easy answers or simple slogans, but prefer to ask questions and describe the complex world they exist in.

Play/Rec 13 is the second split release by Play/Rec. A 12” split that features Barra Head and Menfolk – two amazing bands, their separate releases on the same piece of vinyl.

After three years of touring with the songs from the debut album, Barra Head is finally back with the release of 4 brand new trakcs. The four tracks by Barra Head on this 12” split were recorded at Black Tornado studios in Copenhagen in March 2004 by Simon Eriksen and Per C.S. Jensen. These four songs are in the vein of what we have come to know as Barra Heads unique style of music; energetic, complex, melodic, emotional and thoughtful. And utterly well played! Lyrically the EP focuses on fear of the unknown as both a political factor as well as an existential condition and the lyrics can be seen as a comment on the current political climate in Europe.

Are We Enemies is the first release by Menfolk since the explosive Double Date 7” back in 2001. The four songs presented by Menfolk on this split collaboration with fellow label mates Barra Head were recorded during 2002 and 2003 and were originally recorded as part of a full length release by the band. Shortly after the recordings the bass player Jacob Læby decided to leave the band and the recordings were put on a permanent hold. During 2004 people outside the band pushed for the release of these ´forgotten´ tracks which thankfully have led to this record. But this is by no means a trip down memory lane! Are We Enemies nicely captures the progress this unique four piece has made since their first release in 2001. Menfolk deliver four massive blows to the gut with their signature feeding guitars, ever changing rhythm patterns and pounding basses. Once again Menfolk produces an intense amount of noise that will leave the listener breathless.

Greg MacPherson is the new champion of a songwriting tradition stretching back to Woody Guthrie and including voices like Joe Strummer, Billy Bragg, David Byrne and Bruce Springsteen. Loud, passionate voices saying something about their place in the cruel and beautiful world. Greg MacPherson writes songs that walk an inscrutable line between beauty and determination. A place where the ordinary becomes important and actions bring hope. Songs that capture the imaginations of young and old alike.

Sun Beats Down is a collection of the best Greg MacPherson songs from the last couple of years, all previously unreleased in Europe.

Once again Lack has taken their unique expression and done something new with it. On their third album the music is controlled and very melodic. It’s either the most sophisticated hardcore you have ever heard or the meanest indie rock. But Lack doesn’t confine themselves to petty genre definitions and neither should you. With sarcastic lyrics, provocative song titles, catchy and utterly uncompromising music this is a record it’s hard NOT to have an opinion about. Listen. Love it. Lack kicks your ass. Again.

With great pleasure and a glowing conviction that we’re bringing you something unique Play/Rec presents: 7 inches that just might change your life.

In the white corner wearing what appears to be a homemade t-shirt with their name printed in big gold letters – Elitist, prophetic, defiant, sonic violence in a pop-coating from Denmark’s self-appointed band of genius. BETA SATAN.

In the red corner handling what appears to resemble a hand grenade (foul play, foul play, kids) with a track from their upcoming album to be released worldwide through Play/Rec in March 2008: LACK.

Two mindblowingly outstanding and utterly unstoppable bands on one little piece of vinyl. What’s not to like. And if you’re sitting there thinking: Why don’t they join the 21st century. Buy the 7’ and get both songs + a Beta Satan bonus track in high digital quality on top.

Marvins Revolt er det nye medlem i Play/Rec familien, og det er sgu et lækkert barn. Med Patrolling The Heights har de skabt et værk, der vil give genlyd i alle Europas hjørner. Albummet er indspillet i Nikolaj Nørlunds Sauna Studie og indspillet samt produceret af det decideret varme amerikanske producernavn T.J. Lipple (MGMT, Medications, Shudder To Think m.fl.). Allerede nu kan man forsikre sig om at bandet har taget endnu et skridt op ad de øverste trin på sangskrivningens stiger, og samtidig bevæget sig i en ny retning i forhold til forrige års lille mathrock mesterværk Killec, enten ved at lytte til tracket Antique Markers på myspace eller hente nummeret Organize Your Arms HER . Melodisk, sprødt, men samtidig krassende på den gode måde.

Patrolling The Heights udgives af The Richter Collective i Storbritannien og Irland, HipHipHip i Frankrig, Parabolica i Japan, og naturligvis Play/Rec i Danmark og Tyskland.

Menfolk er lyden af trodsig, kontrær, kompleks rock, der ikke lader sig
tæmme. Buldrende, skramlende, skingrende og arrig – somme tider er
det befriende bare at give los. Menfolk giver los på det nye album
“Beast One / Man Nil”.

“Beast One / Man Nil” er Menfolks længe ventede opfølger til den massive
debut, “Colossus”. 5 år er der gået siden debuten, og mange koncerter er
det heller ikke blevet til. Men Menfolk har aldrig været et band, der lader
efterspørgslen diktere outputtet: Pladerne kommer, når de er klar, og
koncerterne spilles, når tiden er til det. Den attitude kan høres på Menfolks
nye album. Der lefles ikke for nogen. Overhovedet. Dette er ikke radiovenlig
rock, ikke ungdommelig modepunk, ikke tilbagelænet voksenrock eller
lydsporet til en utilpasset generation. De fire sære herrer i Menfolk trækker
på albummets 10 skæringer lytteren rundt i ørerne ved hjælp af
guitarfeedback, skæve trommebeats og bidske tekster om liv og død.
Bandets kompromisløshed kommer også visuelt til udtryk på albummets
cover, der er prydet af udstyr, som bandet selv designede og byggede inden
indspilningerne. Menfolk lyder ikke som noget andet.

Modsat tidligere har bandet denne gang valgt ikke at være helt alene om
indspilningsprocessen. Med udgangspunkt i det succesfulde tekniker- og
producersamarbejde som Per Chnöeldh fra Menfolk har haft med Jakob
Reichert Nielsen på andre udgivelser (Lack “Saturate Every Atom”, Rising
mm.), har Menfolk valgt at invitere Jakob med indenfor. Jakob var med
under opstarten af indspilningerne og har efterfølgende stået for mixningen
af albummet. Som på Menfolks forrige udgivelser har bandet selv stået for
produktionen. Albummet blev indspillet på døgninstitutionen Fjordhøj (mens
børnene var på sommerferie!) samt i den øde tidligere feriebørnskoloni
Solhuset, hvor “Colossus” og “Are We Enemies” også blev til. Bob Weston
(Shellac) har stået for den nænsomme mastering, der i den grad får
musikken “ud” og samtidig er tro mod indspilningernes dynamik.
Menfolk har eksisteret siden 1999 og består af trommeslager,
guitarist/sanger og to bassister. Resultatet af det utraditionelle line-up med
to bassister er kantet aggressiv rock i sin helt egen form og udtryk. Musik
med kompleksitet, støj og nerve i centrum, som ikke umiddelbart lader sig
binde af rockens konventionelle rammer. Et anarkistisk bud på, hvordan
rock kan lyde, når den frigøres for alle tøjler.

Den 31/5–2010 udkommer “Beast One / Man Nil”. Som fysisk format
udelukkende på lækker 180g vinyl med medfølgende download. Som digital
download vil albummet både være tilgængeligt som mp3 og i 24-bit “bedre
end CD”-kvalitet.

Menfolk:
Lars Thor (guitar/vokal)
Søren Jakobsen (bas)
Per Jørgensen (bas)
Per Chnöeldh (trommer)