Alex Tronic Records :Label & Artist News:March April/08
Roy's Iron DNA will play Spectrum Festival at the Queens Hall Edinburgh on April 20th 2008 , Other acts to be confirmed l.
Marvin Wilson -Being Here album to be released worldwide on Mon March 26th through distributors Arabesque and Cargo.The album is for sale now exclusivelyon our site in advance of the fullscale release date..
AsA -Have been interviewed on Radio 1 about the making of the new album to be broadcast on Vic Galloway show on 21st Feb 08
Supporting the Go Team February 2008
28 Feb 2008 19:00
Cabaret Voltaire- Fresh Air FM Show Edinburgh
29 Feb 2008 20:00
The Ironworks (supporting The Go! Team) Inverness
1 Mar 2008 19:00
Moshulu (supporting The Go! Team) Aberdeen
2 Mar 2008 19:00
Fat Sams (supporting The Go! Team) Dundee
Alex Tronic Records Volume II
We are now looking for submissions for the compilation album Alex Tronic Volume II. We are looking for tracks in the electronic genre, dance, chillout,experimental, anything new and interesting. Please send one selected track, on CD format to .
Alex Tronic Records
11 Hillside Cres Edinburgh
EH7 5EA
ROYS IRON DNA-Gig @ Caberat Volttaire in Edinburgh as part of Edinburgh Universities Radio Station Fresh Air F.M. Fresh Air Live Series
28 Feb 2008, 19:00
Not Available , Edinburgh,
Cost :
with Found and Down the Tiny Steps.
Alex Tronic Label & Artist News: Nov /Dec 07
Leith Fm (98.8) Interview on Sunday Alex Tronic Records will be guests on the fantastic Al Chivers show on Leith fm on Sunday Dec 16th . His show runs from 2-4pm we will be on from 3pm just after the news apparently . |
Keser gig
19 Dec 2007, 20:00
43b Frederick Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1EP
Cost : £5.00
THE MAGNIFICENTS, ACTION GROUP, SATELLITE DUB, KESER, HOW TO SWIM, New Found Sound end of year Party, December, 19 2007 at 43b Frederick Street, Edinburgh, Edinburgh @ Po Na Na, EH2 1EP Cost : £5
Christmas 2007 Special offer!
Buy our 5 album catalogue all cello wrapped albums for the AMAZING PRICE OF £29.99
ALTERNATIVELY SEND A CHEQUE OR POSTAL ORDER FOR £29.99 PAYABLE TO 'Alex Tronic Records' ALEX TRONIC RECORDS
11 Hillside Crescent Edinburgh EH7 5EA
SCOTLAND, UK
From todays Scotish sun celeb check 8th November by Martel Maxwell
Whats Hot ...Edinburgh-based Roy`s Iron Dna debut album is superb and out now on Alex Tronic Records www.alextronicrecords.co.uk . Catch them on tour in Glasgow ,Edinburgh and Aberdeen supporting Low fidelity Allstars . See www.tickets-scotland.com for details
Roys Iron DNA live dates
On Tour with the Low Fidelity Allstars
Nov 30 Edinburgh Hive
Dec 01 Aberdeen Tunnels
Dec 02 Glasgow King Tuts
Dec 04 Manchester Academy
Roys Iron Dna will release their debut album worldwide on Alex Tronic on November 2nd .Distribution through Cargo & Arabesqu
They will be doing a dj set at the legendary Born to be Wide night at The Street in Piccardy Pl Edinburgh @ 9pm onwards , The Roy`s Dna album entitled men in wax jackets is going be album of the month in November courtesy of Radio 1 Scotland , Get a discounted copy of men in wax jackets at Born to be Wide on the night .
Other confirmed guests at btbw are Gerry Farrell. He is the creative head of The Leith Agency, the ad agency behind the Irn Bru and Tennents ads . There will also be guest djs from the music course at Jewel & Esk college in Edinburgh .
Label News:Oct 07
We are having an album launch for Roy`s Iron DNA at Born to be Wide at the Street in Edinburgh Piccardy Pl on Thurs Nov 1st all welcome
The band will do a dj set along with other guests tbc
Alex Tronic Records host a radio session with Andi and Nick of Phonanza FM (Tide 96,0 FM Radio, Hamburg) will be broadcasted this Friday 12th October.
It will feature two live songs by Keser as well as interviews with the band and Paul Croan, label manager of Alex Tronic Records. Tracks from our album Esoteric Escape will also be played as well as tracks from other artists on Alex Tronic Records.
You can listen on 96,0 FM in Hamburg or online at:
There's a video online now showing a one off version of 4_Cycles,by Keser played with an acoustic! The link to the video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2Vp9QLhYho
Filming takes place at Kukuun club, on the Reeperbahn in Hamburg. There is also a Balcony TV show in Dublin, Ireland. The Balcony TV video archive can be found here:http://www.youtube.com/user/StephenORegan
Label News:Sept 07
Roy`s Iron DNA will release their debut album entitled Men in Wax Jackets on Nov 5th 2007 on Alex Tronic .The format is cd and it will contain 12 tracks. For more info on the band and their forthcoming tour to promote the album vist their website www.roysirondna.co.uk
Label News: Aug 07
29 Sep 2007, 20:00
Hamburg, Germany,
Keser confirmed at this year’s Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg. Other bands include Biffy Clyro, Hard-Fi, Logh, Ash... and many many more. Keser will perform at Kukuun (www.kukuun.com), Spielbudenplatz 22, 20359 Hamburg on Saturday 29th September. Festival Details: www.reeperbahnfestival.com 27-29th September 2007 3-Day-Pass: 55,00 € 2-Day-Pass: 38,00 € 1-Day-Pass: 26,00 € (All prices include tax, public transport, and advance sale fee) ADVANCE SALE The festival ticket is available at your nearest box office, online www.reeperbahnfestival.com or by phoning the TICKET-HOTLINE: 040-413 22 60 or 01805 - 62 62 80 (€ 0,14/min.)
Upcoming Roy`s Iron Dna Gigs
UK tour Nov - Now Booking
23 Aug 2007 Medina- Edinburgh Acoustic Show 20.00hrs
Keser Stu Fest
25 Aug 2007, 20:00
Bedfordshire,
Keser to play at a festival on a roof in Blunham, Bedfordshire. Other acts: Tinker Jack, The Johnny Parry Trio, Half the Man, Smotherlove, Show without Punch, The Grubby Mits, The old dance school, I see dead people, Acoustic: Sarah Smith, Aiden mackenzie
Label News:May 07
The Kind folks at Fresh Air FM,The online radio station have asked us to present an hour show on the label . There will be live sessions from Keser and ÅsA,and we will be previewing some new music on May 13th.
Alex Tronic Volume 1 is released on Digital such as itunes and Napster & HMV digital on May 1st and on general release in Europe on 11th May through Arabesque distribution . The cd is available to buy on our site and will be in the UK Record shops through Cargo distribution.
Label News:Apri 07
The first compilation album Alex Tronic Records Volume 1 has been manufactured and will feature the following artists. Release date to follow.
1. Strangest Thing , Dr A & Naz ( currently working on their debut album for us .(Boogie down is a taster).
2. El Bib is the work of producer Jock Forwell who specialise in dub dub roots vibes . He has worked with reggae legend Max Romeo and drum and bass pioneers General Levy.
3 .95BPMS -Heymann is the work of former Orange Grove members Murdo MacRury and Sam Hynd who toured with The Shamen amongst others . The track was a collaboration featuring Alex Tronic and vout .
4.Hooverfish featuring Mc Solareye . The Rain is another cool collaboration of ex Dope group frontman and Hooverfish whose music is to be released shortly on London label Jalapeno Records.
5.Joe Acheson Quartet , This tune Celtic Harp is a favourite as part of their live set .They have performed with Giles Paterson amongst others and have recently returned from gigs in Italy
6.vout -designs and builds synthesisers and is famous amongst programmers for his reactor synth modules . The track Deeper is a noodle with his extensive sonic arsenal and includes his own speech synthesis programmes and general sonic fannying around .
7.sixpeopleaway -. Providence is taken from their first ep . Ali is currently working on an album and has some festival dates including Spectrum in April and The Wickerman festival.
8.Keser - Horus is the lost track from his debut album Esoteric Escape released on A.T.R. to much praise . Keser has recently toured in Scandanavia and is currently working on his follow up album .
9.Whitespace is the work of Glasgow based electronica act 30k who occasionally moonlights on bass for Keser.
10.Velocity Experience is the work of English based producer /engineer Marvin Wilson.
11G.low is the work of pockets of resistance whose debut album Climate Change made the best of the month section in dj magazine Jan 2007.
12. Rien Va Plus is the work of global internet collaboration Kosmos Kollective who are based in Nova
Scotia and Edinburgh alike , they swap files a la net. .
13. ÅsA - Picture Perfect Dreams is the work of Alex Tronic and chanteuse Asa Seljestad who are to begin recording their second album after their debut On ./Off was our first release on the label .
A Pre launch party will be held at The Street in Piccardy Pl Edinburgh from 9pm, Thurs April 5th
9pm, Thurs April 5th at the The Street Piccardy Pl Edinburgh .
Free Entry with all welcome.
The guests are Sharon Stephen (Columbia A&R),
Six People Away, (Alex Tronic Records)
Demo set by Derick McInnon (New Found Sound).
Label News: Mar 07
Label News: Jan 07
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Gig at Bloc, Glasgow Tue Jan 23rd
The next gig will be a special one...
Sixpeopleaway, Keser and ÅsA
Tuesday, January 23rd 2007 at Bloc
117 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 2SZ 9pm, Cost : FREE! DJ Set by pockets of resistance between the acts
An excellent free night hosted by the brilliant Sixpeopleaway at Bloc in Glasgow, along with the fantastic ÅsA and Keser ..
More Details:
|
Pockets of Resistance are in the the reviews section for the best albums in this months Albums section of Dj Magazine for Jan 07 Issue 431.
Label News :Nov/Dec 2006
Keser and ÅsA both make their Norwegian debut at Blå in Oslo on Sunday 3 December
kl. 2100 / ENTRÉ: 120,- MEDLEM: Gratis!
Label News :Oct 2006
Thanks to everyone who came to vist our stall to buy ATR albums ant t shirts at Spectrum at the Queens hall last week . Here is A&R bod louise before she abandoned her post to drink lager and watch some cool bands.
We will be present at Spectrum 3 at the Queens Hall later in the month .Spectrum is a bi- annual creative arts and music festival.We will be present along with other Scots independents. Details of the festival line up are below. For more info about tickets etc www.spectrumfest.co.uk
SPECTRUM 3 | SUNDAY 22ND OCT 06 | THE QUEENS HALL | EDINBURGH
Main Stage
MR TUBAOB'U | RADIO MAGNETIC SOUND SYSTEM | THE ACUTE
THE DEAD BEAT CLUB | JOE ACHESON QUARTET | GENARO | BLACK MALCOLM
Acoustic Attic
BENIHANA | JESS BRYANT | BWANA DEVIL | TEAM SALT | THE KAYS LAVELLE | STEALER
FLOOZIE SOO | SON OF THOM | ALAN DAVISON | FUNKSPIEL | THE LAST BAND | DJ SI
Stalls
BENBECULA RECORDS | AUDIODACITY RECORDS | ALEX TRONIC RECORDS
RADIO MAGNETIC | SMOOCH | SPECTRUM PERFORMERS STALL ....MORE TBC
Multi-Media
SCOTTISH KIDS ARE MAKING MOVIES (SKAMM) | ECA | STRANGE COMPANY
AsA is back in the studio working on her second album due out in spring 2007,
Keser have a track Page 20 available on the Bannermans compilation album Under the Bridge Downtown Volume 3 along with some other cool bands.
LABEL NEWS:Aug 2006
Next Keser gig is Wednesday 30th August. Details:
'This is Music' night @ Henry's Cellar bar
"A new night Next Keser gig is Wednesday 30th August. Details:
'This is Music' night @ Henry's Cellar bar
"A new night in the capital showcasing an eclectic mix of local bands. Hoping to show the strength of Edinburgh's musical diversity.."
8 Morrison St, Edinburgh. £5 entry, 8pm - 3am. Keser on at 9.30pm.
The other bands playing are: Sher Khan, Damn Shames, Copy Haho, Q Without U and DJ Mike Fowler.
More details: www.myspace.com/thisismusicedinburgh
Keser will release their debut album to be entitled Esoteric Escape on Alex Tronic in August .The band and the General have been busy in the studio recently finishing the mixes. The album was recorded in the Alex Tronic house and we are told the General kept nipping into the diary room to moan about Kevan`s" essential "20th guitar track!...tough job rock n roll . The album was mastered at Cava Sound in Glasgow by Geoff Allan.
Label News June 2006
Big News Flash,The Studio has moved from June19th. We have a barry new facilty in central Edinburgh . Now we can record live drums . Good news for Mrs Tronic .Thanks to all the gang for their help with the move . Couldn`t have done it without ya!
P.O.R. album is available by pre-order from the site .Release date is to be June 26th. It will also be available as a download on all major servers such as Apple itunes , Napster ,Tunetribe, Karma , Virgin Digital etc .
Rhyme Rite and M.C. Dandy are recording in the studio at the moment. They also have a dj slot at Born to be wide on Thurs April 13th
Pockets of Resistance will be releasing their debut album entitled Climate Change on Alex Tronic Records. POR is the work of maverick Scots dj and producer Arch Campbell. A release date will be announced shortly as the album has gone to press .
Alex Tronic are pleased to announce a partnership with Apple i Tunes , Apple i Tunes will be stocking all our future releases . The ÅsA album On Off our debut release is the first to be listed. The diva herself sets the precedent for the label
Label News March 2006
ÅsA the band will be making a dj appearance at Born to be Wide on thursday 16th March 06 ..Born to be Wide is tipped by the N.M.E music bible as" the place to be". The magazine claims that the fortnightly get together at the city`s Street ,which has featured sets by acts such as Idlewild is "like an ipod of the arts scene ". This club has also been featured in yesterdays News of the World hot list . Nice one Boys! What next ....? Will Olaf and Martin be exposed in the News of the Screws?. What a shocker that would be..Not !
Electronic guitar experimentalists Keser are in the studio recording their debut album . For more info on theband and their music click here for the Keser information website. keser.co.uk
We at Alex Tronic would like to wish you all a happy new year and will be announcing details of our first 2006 release in the next few weeks!
Oslo Label Digicoustic sounds release their label sampler Oct 3rd . This contains a remix of the ÅsA track Breathe Again. Le Petit Remix works live bass n guitar into the track. We wish Stephan and the boys every success with the mix.
Alex Tronic are pleased to annouce a partnership with Simbiotic where together we have set up our online shop . Check out the music page ! simbioticstore.com/alextronic/
The Studio has been busy lately. Jamaican and Scots rap duo Dangerman and Rhyme Rite have been laying down tracks !
ÅsA have just signed a deal with White-flash productions to contribute music to their forthcoming DVD "Cheerleader Kicks" - www.white-flash.com for more details.
Alex Tronic have just completed a licencing agreement with Oslo label Digicoustic. They remix an ÅsA track from the Album On/Off for their label sampler due out in September ( digicoustic.com ).The track is to be Breathe Again. The "Petit remix" is a cracker .Release details to follow .
Alex Tronic Records is now a member of the NEMIS organisation www.nemis.co.uk Nemis does a great service to promote new music in Scotland.
ÅsA album On/Off gets into the "Whats hot this month" section for album reviews in The Music News Scotland.
MNS RATING- 7/8 Stars
ALEX TRONIC RECORDS / RECORDING STUDIO
11 Hillside Crescent Edinburgh EH7 5EA
SCOTLAND, UK.
Recording Studio : Tel: 0044( 0}131 556 5311 / Office 0131 554 3473 Mob : 07904713833
www.alextronicrecords.co.uk
Escape Artist : An Interview With Keser
Who are Keser and what are they all about?
Keser is primarily the work of myself (Kevan Whitley). I write and record the songs. I can play solo for live shows or draft in a bass player if necessary. David Reid played a few shows in the past and played bass in the studiofor most of the tracks on 'Esoteric Escape'. I used to play in guitar bands for a while before going solo, I wanted to mix guitar-orientated music with electronica and see what happened.
What are the main influences that helped create Keser sound?
I've always been a big fan of guitar bands and more recently electronica artists. It seemed natural for 'post rock' to progress further into various different routes and mixing it with electronica has achieved an interesting cross-over. The plan from the outset was to create reflective,futuristic music with abalance of analogue and digital sounds... I guess my main influences wouldbe Mogwai, Aereogramme, Arab Strap, Low, Stafraenn Hakon, Boards ofCanada, M83, Fourtet and many more.
Your new album "Esoteric Escape" has just been released, you describedtheproduction as a "steep learning curve". What did you learn?
Paul Croan (Alex Tronic Records Label Manager) and I recorded and mixed the majority of the album. I had no previous experience of the process and I learned as I went along - the production process, software, using the mixing desk, editing tracks etc. I learned a lot in a short time (Paul is an excellent mentor and fantastic producer) and it was extremely satisfying to do the entire album independently.
The first few tracks were recorded at Hidden Channel in Glasgow by a good friend, Gavin
Dick. He's very talented as well so I'm privileged to learn from these guys. Geoff Allen from CaVa also lent his experience, his input at the mastering stage was class. He had great stories of working with bands I have great respect for. I had no idea what input he had on the bands' recordings but, for example, if you listen to 'Solemn Thirsty' by Malcom Middleton... At the end when the guitar melody comes through prior to the vocal melody and sets it up brilliantly...that was Geoff's idea. Small details like thatare so important on a record!
The obvious input from Geoff for us was on 'Destination:Destiny' when it gets damn heavy! Similarly, Paul has great ideas for the production and whatsounds best where, the experience he offers is priceless. To achieve the sounds and atmosphere wedid was incredible to see taking shape. The focus and effort from Paul andI had to be relentles, but we're extremely happy with the outcome.
Is there anything you would change about it now?
Not a thing. I would have preferred another couple of tracks we had recorded were on there but it would have been too long. But it's a snapshot of where the music was at, at the time, and it's a busy, vibrant picture!.
Mogwai claim their song titles are taken from magazines such as The National Enquirer, how does Keser come up with their song titles?.
Anything I see or like the sound of at the time can become a song title. "FM Rocker" is taken from an Aerosmith biography for example. 'Rolling' was just a working title in the song's early days as I thought the middle section sounded like a RollingStones song! We are Closed on Every
Tuesday is a sign on the door of my favourite Chinese Take Away. They have a great Happy Hour price but, for one reason or another,they are closed on every Tuesday.
Most bands hate to be pigeonholed, what is your take on genre's such as post-rock?
Laziness. Some people need to be told what bands are like without finding out and forming their own opinions. Summing up a band into a couple of words is ludicrous. The best thing is to do is hear them for yourself. We'll sometimes use the term 'post rock electronica' as we feel we fit into this genre, it has sufficiently vast connotations so as not to be too 'pigeon-holed' but at the same time appealing to a niche musical genre.
Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) recently expressed concern about websites such as Myspace'influence over the music world, in terms of development of bands. What is your take on this?
I have not seen this so I can't comment. Myspace seems to be an excellent medium for music at present though.
Many bands develop over the years, what do you see as Keser strengths at themoment, and what weaknesses (if any) would you like to improve on?
I guess our main strength is our hard-working ethos, from the band and label. You can always improve, though.
Back to the album, Is there any significant meaning in the title "Esoteric Escape"
Yes. It's about striving to achieve truth about our lives, escaping the mysticism of why we are all here, why anything is here and seeing a bigger perspective. It was a theme of many of the songs so it was an apt summation. I am surprised that there is not a lot of focus on this in general when it is easily the single most important thing.
Your record was released on Edinburgh based label Alex Tronic. What is this label all about and what other bands are on it?
Alex Tronic Records is an Edinburgh-based indie label and studio run by Paul Croan. Alex Tronic Records has four artists so far on the label, Pockets of Resistance, Åsa, Keser and Alex Tronic himself (Paul Croan). Alex Tronic has released and licenced music to many labels notably Koyote/Peyote Records and Cherry Red Records. He has also dabbled in scoring the music for film and TV. The label has a stall at theupcoming Spectrum Festival at the Queen's Hall on Sunday October 22nd alongside other labels such as Benbecula Records. This will prove to be excellent exposure for a relatively new and underground label.
What is your favourite track from "Esoteric Escape".
"4_Cycles". This song was unique in that it wasn't written before entering the studio, it happened as we went along. Paul let me have free reign for a couple of hours, at one point he heard the guitar riff, put his paper down and said "that's it! let's go" and we started from there. Most of that song is first takes throughout and was completed in a few hours, we're both extremely happy with it and it's an enjoyable song to do live.
Your set up involves a drum machine, would you consider using live drums in the future?
Yes, there were even plans for using live drums in "Esoteric Escape " so it should happen at some point.
What is Edinburgh's music scene like. Is there any bands I should check out(apart from Keser) the next time I'm there.
It's doing well despite some of the recent closure of venues..........
'This is Music' (www.myspace.com/thisismusicedinburgh), 'New Found Sound'(www.myspace.com/nfspromos), andTaylorMadeMusic (www.taylormademusic) do extremely well to promote the live scene, as do Bannerman's (www.myspace.com/bannermans) to name a few. There's a lot of great bands here, I'll have to forward you some links.
Many 'critics' have lamented the poor state of the music scene in the UK. Do you agree?
Wholeheartedly. The scene that we hear and read about anyway. There is so much more to the scene that sadly does not receive as much recognition as the established and hyped acts, but this has been the case for a long time. I found recently an old article in my old room at home from 1995. It was aboutRadiohead, 'Britain's Best Kept Secret' the headline read. The press should have been ashamed. They attracted little and dismissive attention in the early days and that headline summed it up..then the UK press realised how good they were but were too late. They covered themselves by proclaiming Radiohead to be 'the best band in the world' after OK Computer, this was obviously dertrimental to the band's state of mind at the time. I digress.
Are you for or against the use of file-sharing networks such as Soulseek and Limewire?
I prefer having the records physically, the album sleeves, lyrics and notes etc and a good quality recording over anything else.
There are some pictures on the web of Keser partying with Mogwai. Are the mighty 'Gwai fans of your or are they more like a big brother?
I don't know if they are fans but Barry has the album at least! I have met them at various gigs and know them a bit from that. The picture is from the ICA in London, they had just finished the last day of a 5 day residency. It was a great show and was attended by the likes of Alan McGee and legend Martin O' Neill. Martin gave them a pep talk in the dressing room before the show, I guess after that you have to play well!.
What records could you not live without?
There are far too many to list!
OK, Have you any thoughts on an album of the year yet or is it too early?
"Hmmm. Everyone else is pretty much screwed when Mogwai have a release! It has to be "Mr Beast"!
What is the best gig you have ever attended?
Cecil at The Works, Aberdeen in 1997. They became Voy, then disappeared!They were amazing so it's a shame.
The record is out now. So what is next for Keser?
Touring is next up, the focus will be abroad as well as the UK. The release date is still delayed for the shops, there will be launch gigs when it is announced as well. Then it's back to the studio for the next album.
