Alcopop!

You may have heard his name splashed across Jo Whiley’s hungry lips earlier today on Radio 1 once more today, but far more exciting news has reached Alcopop! HQ all wrapped in a nice shiny DVD shaped-parcel. Yes, it’s Sam Isaac’s promotional video for forthcoming single on Alcopop!/BSM - released on the 10th December.

You remember those ladies who built a Skoda out of cake - well it’s those girls again, and this time they’ve made loads of fondant related snacks (and none in the shape of a car). I shall say no more, but be prepared to be very hungry for sweet treats, almost immediately after watching it…..

Oh - and the single is available to preorder here, and I should warn you that the 7″ singles are going very fast (and limited to but 500)…

Who said that the music industry is all about snarling, egotistical rockstars or fat overpaid directors? Well proof that some bands still have a heart emerged today as our good pals The Family Machine, literally launched the promotional copies of their forthcoming EP on Alcopop! Records (Free for two weeks on this site from Dec 3rd) into the skies on a host of helium balloons.

These sky-touching cd’s are part of a batch of only 8 hard copies in existence. So, if you happen to like Family Machine enough, look to the skies (or, more likely, in a treetop!) and you might find one of these rarities. They were last seen heading northwards from Radcliffe camera at about 8am this morning!!!

Alternatively, for those with links to Oxford Town, there is a treasure hunt undergo for those of you with a crick in your neck!! Just pop over to the Family Machine MySpace page to find the clues that reveal the location of 4 CDs hidden in the centre of town…..

Good luck!

It’s been a brutal evening – and now, sitting with a hangover caused by a bottle of cheap cava, much beer and straight vodka supped from a supermarket’s own brand jumbo bottle of paint stripper, I look back on what was a historic night in alternative music.

The bill – extraordinary! And amongst the haunting acoustic ballads of Sam Isaac and the frenzied guitar bashing squalls of MMISL (playing with their erstwhile singer Toby for the very last time), Tubelord and The New 1920 resided admirably. Reliably informed that the night could have sold out at least 3 times over, massive queues of people up and down the stairs were testament to this, the great and the good of the British alternative music scene came to witness the end of an era.

And what a show – I personally enjoyed busting out tune after bloody brilliant tune (until I busted so hard I broke the decks during ‘She’s an Eyeful’ by ) – and chatting drunkenly long into the night with a host of geniuses (who probably didn’t like it so much) – came back with a stack of CDs in return for furnishing joyous hands with Sam Isaac’s Sideways on 7” single….

In other news though, randomly met Jools Holland in a hotel who seemed interested in the good ship Isaac, just seen the new video for Sideways and it’s great… The new Family Machine EP ‘Got it Made’ will be being digitally released free Free FREE to all Alcopoppers on the 3^rd December – and details of the first MUST HAVE release of 2008 will be on their way soon…

Word! Love

Just a heads up - and my many apologies that there has a delay in Sam’s video - it will be with us soon! Hopefully see you Monday at this bad bad boy - ill be spinning tunes of gold - any requests, drop us a line!

Ooh look - a picture from the Sam Isaac video shoot for Alcopop’s forthcoming release for ‘Sideways’ - lots of balloons, cake and merry people! Sounds fun eh - well, look out for the full video appearing here on the Alcopop blog next week…. Yup!

Ace

Great news last night again on Radio 1 as Steve Lamacq picked 4 or 5 Magicians, the latest and last release of our ’singles club 06/07′ as ‘demo of the week’ on last nights show.

Describing the Brighton based 4 piece as “Clattering pop noise” - he fair raved about the tracks, no doubt impressed by the off kilter indie-pop lovliness which harks in the direction of Pavement, Guided by Voices and Dinosaur Jr, yet managed to sound altogether different.

In my humble opinion, Forever on the Edge could be a modern-day British indie-pop anthem! Need convincing? Then listen to it here, then buy it here for but 3 quid. Quickly though, as the CD is limited to 500 copies, hand made, numbered and 3″. Plus you’ll get another of our releases free as part of our christmas promotion.

Not bad eh…

You know those days where everything’s coming right, you’re enjoying a happy evening after a great weekend, and then the perfect email pops into your inbox. Maybe it’s from a pal you haven’t heard from for a while who’s got guestlist for a great gig/party, a girl you really like suggesting you get a little fruity that evening - or just maybe it’s from the inspirational Andrew WK (i swear this is true) himself - telling you that your label name is great and asking to hear more about what you’re upto.

Via BSM records, these are Andrew’s exact words - presumably typed in a brief few seconds between partying ever so damn hard!

From: “Andrew W.K.”
To: “Kevin Douch (founder of Big Scary Monsters Records - co founder of Alcopop!)”

Also, will you tell me more about Alcopop? I really like that name a lot. Is that another one of your label imprints?

Much love,
Andrew

Mr WK - Alcopop Records salute you sir….

OK - so you’ve met the Family Machine - and I hope you got on well, for their will be many FM shenanigans to come - starting with this inspired video shot to promote the A-side of their upcoming free download single - released by Alcopop! Records on the 3rd December (more info to follow over the next couple of weeks). Take a look at this bad boy for a chicken, rabbit and bear chasing a hapless lead singer about Oxford town… Bloody Brilliant.

Got it Made….

Monday: Lamacq. Tuesday: Colin Murray. Wednesday: Jo Whiley AND Zane Lowe (plus added to Virgin Radio and Xfm Manchester playlists). Who’s gonna sort us out with a Sam Isaac airplay tonight? Maybe we should start a sweepstake?

Handsome Alcopoppers, meet Jamie, Jason, Darren and Neil from Oxford town – collectively known as the Family Machine. Mixing blissed-out melodic pop hits with indie-folk sensibilities, their particular brand of acoustic loveliness has been reported to have ‘made love to my ears in a sample infused urban folk dream’ by one enthused onlooker.

What’s more, Alcopop Record’s most recent signing will be releasing their forthcoming Got it Made EP on December 3^rd, via digital download (on iTunes and all the regular sites), but even better, the whole EP will be FREE for download on the official Alcopop Records and Beard Museum websites with full artwork – for just one week. And if you like it, look out for the album coming in early 2008.

The EP and album have been recorded with producer Ian Davenport (of The Away Team, credits include Badly Drawn Boy, Supergrass and Athlete) at Radiohead’s Courtyard Studio. And if the name already sounds familiar, there is a distinct possibility you may have shared a wide-eyed moment of wonderment in the past with these boys. Family Machine have played with Midlake, Young Knives, The Leaves, Mojave 3, Blondie, Cherry Ghost, Jim Reid and Glenn Tillbrook, and have recently appeared at Truck, Cornbury, Charlbury and Oxford Arts Festivals.

Here’s just a few collected quotes about them…
“Acoustic guitars, bass, drums, multi-part harmonies and a sampler stuffed full of goodies… Post hedonist, pro-community warped genius” - Channel4.com

“My new favourite band” Tim Bearder. The Download, BBC Radio Oxford.

“Exuberance that makes Supergrass sound like The Cure on a wet Tuesday night in Grimsby. Is there anyone left who doesn’t revere the Family Machine?”” Nightshift Aug ‘06

You are the Family Machine!