Here we are on the first of January 2024, heading linearly towards an unknown future and the promise of meet ups with pals along the path. I always find this date difficult, like we have been dropped off the cliff of an old year into the lap of a sudden, uncomfortable and unexpected uncle. I'd much rather December boomeranged and we went back along a spring, via Autumn, Summer and, er Spring, to January in reverse instead of arriving splat into a new month and new year like this. I'm never ready.
Ex Gratia Recordings have also been lucky enough to get our hands on limited numbers of seven of Rita's CD releases on her Shy Girl Records and are distributing them via the website. Once they are gone, they're gone, so please support Rita - hopefully we will get her to play London this year.
So very excited to witness this gig, as I missed the October one whilst on a post festival holiday - a great gathering of bands playing tunes of Mark Astronaut and a few of their own. I can't stop playing Time to Roam from You're All Weird… it's SO GOOD! £10 ADV / more OTD / can get from Astronauts fb too
the first gig of 2024 for woodies in the smoke of North London, H&A has had some bad press recently - it's time to turn those frowns upside down! £10 ADV / more OTD
Klee Benally
I was greeted by the sad news from dear Christine on this first day of 2024 that Klee Benally was left behind on the last day of 2023.
Klee is and will always be a Diné (Navajo) musician, traditional dancer, artist, filmmaker, & Indigenous anarchist. We met Klee and Princess at The Cockpit Theatre at the “Respect Existence or Expect Resistance” show which left a lasting impression on our family members. RIP
Sine On, Mr Lovely
Sine On, Mr Lovely (2016) EXGR8LP8
It was my intention to get anotheranarchistwoodalbum up for distribution late this year. I started using streaming services in late 2022, the year we releasedChiasmata. This was followed by an upload ofThe Nasty Albumin March this year. World wide distribution has little financial return, but making connections across this intriguing globe is excellent fun.
Sine On, Mr Lovelywas dedicated to John Lalley in who's Shed Studios t'wood used to practice up in Colindale. Built by The Ruts and involving members of Hot Chocolate, it was a wonderful place to create. The album was also a memorial to Charlotte Bunbury and Khristian Oliver. It contains that smashing Destroy all Monsters cover and a lot of spoken word. Candiflp aka Paul referred to this album asthe second chapter of Sex and Death in Two Parts, the first being The Nasty Album. The fourth album released before the third album, was Campo's idea.
As a special treat for 2024, please find the album Sine On, Mr Lovely attached to this message. If you already have it, please pass the link on to a friend.
