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While we are all celebrating chocolate rabbit day and other mythical things it is worth pointing out that there is something rather more relevant and important happening this month - Record Store Day. April 21, for those of you who get that MP3s suck.
Which is interesting timing really as arguably the bestest of the lot - Aquarius Records in San Francisco just posted a review of both Androsace's "Little Face / Demo" and Pairs' "Summer Sweat". If you don't know Aquarius you should, if Uptown don't have something you can order from these guys and a human will answer your mails and stuff, I know, very odd isn't it? And if you are looking for genuinely original and interesting underground sounds this is the place for you. Subscribe to their new arrivals list, really, do it.
Anyway, some nice words written about both these Shanghai bands and I guess proof that, yeah, there are some bands here that are world class. That and if you DIY your sounds it pays to think about the fact that it doesnt start and stop as recording in your bedroom for 20 kuai. There are lots of people around the place who will happily review and distribute your stuff if you make the effort to send them bits and pieces - if no one saw it in January The Wire (UK) posted an incredible review of Summer Sweat too. My view for what it is worth is DIY is much more about distribution and ownership than whether you did the mix yourself (Would Unknown Pleasures have ever been as ground breaking and awesome as it is without Martin Hannett?) , I think the whole DIY thing came about as part of a backlash against ridiculous record label deals that restricted or compromised your rights to do what the hell you liked with your output. And how you choose to package and market said output.
you can read the full reviews here:
http://www.aquariusrecords.org/cat/newest.html
ANDROSACE: Self-released cd-r demo from this noisy female fronted underground garage/grunge act from China.
PAIRS: Killer cd-r/dvd combo from this Chinese hypnotic lo-fi shit rock punk pop duo!
and if you want to send your CDs to these guys you can find their address on their website.
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