There's a brand new calendar on the wall of Vertical Form's London HQ - and
its pages are already being blackened with a host of exciting releases due
in 2004. But before we let you in on the imminent gems, let's take a glance
back at 2003 - a year that proved to be the label's most successful to date.
Canadian alt.hip hop maestro Sixtoo wowed critics and punters alike with his
spectacular, genre-exploding Antagonist Survival Kit long player, and then
followed it up with an equally well-received instrumental version, based on
the same material. Sixtoo is a real crossover contender for 2004.
Ploughing a playful but seriously funky vein, southern California's Rip-Off
Artist was also busy, first treating hip ears (and feet) from Hollywood to
Hoxton with his mighty Little Tiny 1/8" Jack 12" floor-filler, then
unloading Pet Sounds, it's droll mothership album. Matt Haines (who is the
ROA) is another figure seemingly poised to break into the big leagues.
In more discrete but no less awesome vein, there were memorable releases
from Iceland's inscrutable Einoma, whose Milli Tonverka album had
electronica connoisseurs enthralled and Henrik Johanssen's Smyglyssna, whose
remix album We Can Fix It proved what groovy friends/fans he has. It was
also testament to the malleable musicality that underpins his refined
digital soundscaping.
It was another frenetic year for Adrian Corker and Paul Conboy. While their
2002 debut album continued to carry favour with the cognoscenti, the dynamic
duo were also busy in the studio - working with old confrere Tim 'Bomb The
Bass' Simenon, remixing Iso68 and scoring Antonio Bird's Rehab for the BBC.
Part of that studio tenure was devoted to the recording of a brand new
Corker/Conboy album - which brings us securely back to 2004.
Due on the street on March 8th, Radiant Idiot is Corker/Conboy's finest work
to date. A seamless, post-everything groove-fest, filled with light and
colour, it more than makes good the promise they've long shown - and they're
even threatening to play it live!
Sixtoo is also back in early '04 - this time offering up The Psyche Years -
a cracked but charming trawl through his extensive juvenilia, proving that
his latter-day leftfield rhyme schemes and Tom Waits-meets-Joe Meek sonic
adventuring has been in place - albeit in the rough - since the word go.
It's hip hop archeology that proffers countless dusty treasures and is
earmarked for Feb 9th release.
Recent Vertical Form signings State River Widening are currently recording
their debut for the label. Reports from their London riverside bolthole
suggest strings, massed dulcimers and all sorts of other exotica being
welded to their patent guitar lattices and potent rhythmic outpourings. The
album is due in July. Watch out for a feature on head widener David Sheppard
in the upcoming issue of Comes With A Smile magazine.
Fans of Will Oldham may be familiar with the name Mike Fellows. Mike has
been making the alt.country scene for a few years now, most recently under
the Mighty Flashlight alias. Recently, however, Mr Fellows has been
recording tracks under his own name and the resulting album - a seductive
blend of acoustic guitar, wonderfully of-kilter arrangements and his own
droller-than-thou songwriting - is due for release by Vertical Form in the
summer. Heads, let us assure you, should prepare to turn...
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