NEWS FROM THE RHOMBUS ROOMS, 2010 ========================================== 27/01/10 SHAPE RECORDS FEATURE//INTERVIEW ========================================== Neil from Los Campesinos! has written about Shape Records for the Drowned in Sound website. It can be found HERE, YES, HERE. ========================================== 13/01/10 HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM SHAPE RECORDS ========================================== Yes, happy new year to one and all. Recently we have been wondering at the Rhombus Rooms what the etiquette for saying 'Happy New Year' is? When is its expiry date? It seems that people say it to each other if they are yet to see each other in the new year, though if we all went along with that then we'd be screwed. Anyway, this is all one big crow bar made of words so we can shoe in a mention of the Happy Huw Year Tour (CAN YOU SEE WHAT HE DID THERE?!?!??!?! ALSO SEE THE MUSIC SOUNDS BETTER WITH HUW COMPILATION CD) ========================================== 09/12/09 Islet ========================================== We are very pleased to announce we will be releasing a record in 2010 by Welsh group Islet. Islet contains many Shape Records affiliates: myself (Mark) fellow Shape operator/founder, John (also a member of A+D and Them Squirrels), Emma (responsible for much Shape artwork over the last 12 months) and Alex (from Fredrick Stanley Star and a Them Squirrels live member). I.e it's S H A P E T A S T I C O ! Excitingly, the upcoming release involves Shape working alongside Turnstile Music. Islet will be playing on the 'Happy Huw Year' tour on the following dates in 2010: 22 Jan Bournemouth, 60 Million Postcards 23 Jan Bristol, Start The Bus 24 Jan London, Lock Tavern Then with Los Campesinos and Swanton Bombs on the following dates: 11 Feb Wrexham, Central Station 12 Feb Liverpool, EVOL@O2 13 Feb York, Fibbers 15 Feb Aberdeen, Tunnels 16 Feb Dundee, Dog House 17 Feb Edinburgh, Bongo 18 Feb Derby, The Venue 19 Feb Leicester, The Musician 21 Feb Cambridge, Junction 22 Feb Norwich, Arts Centre 23 Feb Brighton, Audio New Slang Night 24 Feb Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms 25 Feb London, KOKO 26 Feb Falmouth, Princess Pavillion 27 Feb Bristol, Thekla 01 Mar Birmingham, The Rainbow 02 Mar Northampton, Roadmender 03 Mar Reading, Plug & Play 04 Mar Kingston, Banquet New Slang ========================================== 02/12/09 Evils live in Cardiff ========================================== Evils will be playing live in Cardiff tomorrow evening - Thursday 3rd December 2009 at the new Cardiff Arts Institute. To read more and an interview with Mr James Evils himself please click ON THIS TEXT. One thing worth noting is that the gig is FREE ENTRY. I really like the logo for Cardiff Arts Institute and mentioning it gives me an excuse to add some colour to this post: ========================================== 26/11/09 Islet in London ========================================== Islet are playing in London on Saturday and the name of the evening is 'Fuck the Whiteboard' - yes you've guessed it... It's in Shoreditch. ========================================== 26/11/09 eViLs in Bristol ========================================== Evils are playing in Bristol tonight. dialogue@the attic/half moon. real ===================================================== 16/11/09 SHAPE IN ABERYSTWYTH ===================================================== EVILS and ISLET are playing in aberystwyth at the top of a hill on Fri 20th November. You can only get there via the aberystwyth cliff railway - we canna wait. ===================================================== 13/11/09 Islet perform ===================================================== Islet, a band who may or may not contain any Shape Records representatives will be playing a few live dates in the upandcoming weeks: 13/11/09 - Cardiff, Arts Institute 20/11/09 - Aberystwyth, Constitution Hill (with Evils) 28/11/09 - London, Old Blue Last ===================================================== 28/10/09 SWN + DIY record label of the week ===================================================== The Shape stage at Swn was a total blast! Respect is due to the organisers; Huw Stephens, John Rostron and Fionna Allan - all 3 days were fantastic. Here is a picture of Evils live - the photo credit is on the picture: On the subject of Huw S, we are his DIY label of the week this week. The show goes out live tonight at all the o's (00.00). If that sounds too late for you, or you didn't get this message in time seeing as it's only being put up with 51 minutes to go then there is a listen again feature that will be on THIS page. ===================================================== 09/10/09 Evils-Swn-NME-mp3-club ===================================================== ==HERE== ===================================================== 05/10/09 SHAPE STAGE AT SWN FESTIVAL - POSTER ===================================================== ===================================================== 23/09/09 SHAPE STAGE AT SWN FESTIVAL ===================================================== NOW LOOK HERE COS WHAT FOLLOWS IS THE SHAPE STAGE LINE UP FOR SWN FESTIVAL IN CARDIFF SWN Festival 2009 and SHAPE present ZUN ZUN EGUI EVILS ISLET FREDRICK STANLEY STAR THEM SQUIRRELS + Shape DJs Dempseys THURS 22nd OCT 6.30PM-2AM Free priority entry with a SWN Festival wristband / otherwise cash on the door A SWN Festival wristband grants free priority entry to all SWN Festival shows subject to individual venue capacities 3-DAY WRISTBANDS �45 and 1-DAY WRISTBANDS �17 are on sale now Cardiff University Students Union (029) 20781458 Catapult Records, Cardiff (029) 2022 8990 Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff (029) 20311050 Diverse Records, Newport (01633) 259661 D'vinyl Records, Cardiff The Gate, Cardiff (029) 20483344 Kooki Two Bit, Splott, Cardiff (029) 2020489352 Spillers Records, Cardiff (029) 20224905 Ticketline (029) 20230130 WeGotTickets http://www.wegottickets.com/f/901 ===================================================== 19/08/09 EVILS AT A SHAPE FUNCTION ===================================================== YES, THE RUMOURS ARE TRUE, THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG.... WE'VE TIED EVILS DOWN TO PLAY A FUNCTION - NOT ONLY THAT - HE'S BRINGING A SYNTH SUPER BAND WITH HIM, IDEAL: EVILS MUSIC IS HERE. ===================================================== 14/08/09 THE SQUIRREL DANCE ===================================================== youtube user 'jenlong3' has uploaded a 2.14 video of a man dancing to brand new, unreleased Them Squirrels track 'Lanterns Of Engore'. The youtube user has suggested in her upload that the gentlemen in question is a 'knob'. Well, here at The Rhombus Rooms we're rather enjoying this festival goer at Truck. Long may his wacky exploits prevail and if anyone knows him tell him he can do his JK shit at any of our Functions and get in for free. ===================================================== 03/08/09 EVILS RADIO MIXING ===================================================== Evils has done a special radio mix for BBC Radio Wales' Adam Walton. It's 30 minutes of all Evils' own music: new tracks, old tracks, tracks from the new album and a remix of a classic. Listen to it again HERE it's a monster. A Them Squirrels track recorded live at Truck is also played on the show. Below for no particular reason is the latest BBC press shot of Mr Adam Walton from the Magical Mystery Tour himself: ===================================================== 01/08/09 SHAPE ACTS RECORDED LIVE AT TRUCK ===================================================== Last weekend no less than two (2) Shape acts played at Truck Festival. Yes, Bethan Elfyn from Wales curated the stage and picked Fredrick Stanley Star and Them Squirrels to play. Both of these acts star this man: That's right, Alex Williams (above) played in Fredrick Stanley Star and Them Squirrels. This sounds like a lot of work, but this man was not finished there. Hell fire NO. He also played with Sweet Baboo (brand new and fantastic album out now- buy it HERE from Businessman Records). Here's to Alex and to all of the acts, they all had some tracks recorded which can be listened to on Radio 1's listen again thingy HERE. I just found out the exact same show was played on the Huw Stephens show which broadcasts in England. If you want to listen to it again but with slightly different Radio 1 graphics you can do so HERE. ===================================================== 25/07/09 Shape itunes linkage ===================================================== Here are links to Shape releases on iTunes (other software-based online digital media stores are available). Evils - Hello Children Everywhere: Fredrick Stanley Star - Heaviside Layer: Attack + Defend - Theme: Attack + Defend - Make: The reason I have posted these links is because then you can then up/download them tracks to your MP3 player, like this dude. Or this following man, who has an underwater MP3 player. ! ! Personally, I feel there are times when music is unnecessary, one of those times is when you are underwater. This lady has built one into her sunglasses, I have no idea why: End of me banging on about MP3 players. Them Squirrels EP is not yet available as a download, but it will be. In better Them Squirrels news: there is a page about the Them Scribbles EP release HERE ===================================================== 12/07/09 Shape Distribution ===================================================== Evils 'Hello Children Everywhere' LP and Them Squirrels 'Them Scribbles' EP can now be purchased in the following record stores: Spillers Records - Cardiff Andy's Records - Aberystwyth Diverse Records - Newport (If you look very closely you can see Make by Attack+Defend gracing the window space in this shot) Evils 'Hello Children Everywhere' LP can also be purchased from Catapult Records in Cardiff. It is the first Shape record ever to feature in the shop. The others cannot as it has a strict music policy, which can be summed up by using the word 'dancey'. Catapult Records - Cardiff Rather excitingly, it was the shop in Human Traffic (a film). ===================================================== 04/07/09 SHAPE ACTS AT TRUCK ===================================================== (Good logo innit) Fredrick Stanley Star and Them Squirrels have been confirmed to play at this years Truck Festival, Truck 12. HERE is the full line up. It seems appropriate at this point to insert an image of a massive truck: ===================================================== 13/06/09 BLOGGING WORLD GOES LOOPY FOR EVILS ===================================================== We at Shape Records are always hoping that our releases somehow get hyped up on the mythical BLOGOSPHERE. Our dreams have come true as here is a blog all about EVILS LP courtesy of Shape friends, Culture Vulture (remember the tape?!). Look out for the Culture Vulture lads playing their Top 100 songs ever at the following event: ===================================================== 08/06/09 EVILS - HELLO CHILDREN EVERYWHERE IS OUT NOW ===================================================== That's right, as of now HELLO CHILDREN EVERYWHERE is officially OUT. This means if you order it HERE we will send it you. It also means you can pop to Spillers and purchase it or buy a digital version of it on a plethora of download sites - you know the sort, itunes, emusic, Amazon, etc etc. There will be a launch party for the release and more stockists announced soon. ============================================ 05/06/09 EVILS LIVE ============================================ EVILS is playing live with Kap Bambino at a Three Syllables gig in Cardiff in a couple of weeks. The new album WILL be available to purchase at the event. Also, Three Syllables are putting on Islet a new band which contains some Shape / Attack+Defend associates: ============================================ 09/05/09 Them Squirrels Live debut AHOY ============================================ THEM SQUIRRELS will be playing live in support of the soon to be released Them Scribbles EP. The dates are as follows: 18 May Freakshow :: Pagan Wanderer Lu Album Release Party :: Dempseys, Cardiff 26 May Kruger Presents :: w/ Micachu & The Shapes + Picture Books in Winter :: Buffalo Bar, Cardiff The EP can be pre-ordered now from the order section of this site and the release date for the EP is 18th May. ============================================ 20/04/09 EVILS - The End of the World is out ============================================ Evils new single 'The End of the World' is now available as a free digital download HERE The LP 'Hello Children Everywhere' is also available to pre-order ON THE SAME PAGE. ======================================= 09/04/09 EVILS MIX ======================================= As promised, in order to whet collective appetites for his forthcoming single and album EVILS has done a mean, super mix entitled 'The Axis Of Evils'. It can be listened to by here. Tracklisting: Intro Trans AM : I want it all DAF : Im dschungel der liebe Jean Jacques Perrey/Luke Vibert : White Knight (black in the day) Arpanet : Wireframe Images Paul Mccartney : Temporary Secretary Black Devil Disco Club : H-Friend Philip Pin : Chou Temps Manuel G�ttsching : E2-E4 John Baker : Time and Tune White Noise : Love Without Sound Edgar Winter : Martians Goblin : Tenebrae Mr Oizo : Skatesteak Mr Oizo/Sebastian Tellier : Plug It Yellow Magic Orchestra : Cosmic Surfin� Add (N) to X : Plug Me In John Baker : Festival Time DMX Krew : The Glass Room AFX : Batine Acid The Tuss : Alspacka ======================================= 05/04/09 Attack+Defend relaunch website ======================================= After repeated hacker attacks over the years the Attack+Defend website has been battered and bruised until the point it was destroyed in early 2009. It has been relaunched (again) and is now in it's fifth incarnation. We urge you to go and have a look as there is so much to see and do, you'll be there for days. ======================================= 01/04/09 EVILS News ======================================= We will be releasing 'The End of The World' as a single by Evils on Monday 20th April. It will be free to download in the order section of this site from that day onwards and is taken from his forthcoming debut album 'Hello Children Everywhere' due out in May. A mix called 'The Axis of Evils' is also forthcoming and will be streamed here the next few days. ======================================= 29/03/09 Fredrick Stanley Star News ======================================= Fredrick Stanley Star visited the Brecon Beacons today to record a music video. Here are some photographs: ======================================= 23/03/09 Old Fredrick Stanley Star News ======================================= On the subject of Kruger, whom I mentioned in the last posting I should of also mentioned the 'Ivy League Sessions'. Fredrick Stanley Star completed one a while back playing all new, never heard before tracks. I urge you to go and have a listen ==HERE== ===================================== 19/03/09 Them Squirrels Radio News ===================================== Bethan Elfyn played Them Squirrels last night on BBC Introducing. Listen again to the show http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bethanelfyn/ to hear it and then continue to listen to hear the voice of Shape's good friend Mike Williams from Kruger do some tipping. ===================================== 18/03/09 Shape Records News ===================================== We can confirm we will be releasing the debut album from EVILS. It'll be on 12" vinyl and available to pre-order in the next few weeks. Lot's more details and a free mixtape to download coming called 'The Axis of Evils'. www.myspace.com/evilsmusic ===================================== 16/03/09 Shape Numbers News ===================================== Shape Numbers is the name for Shape Records DJs. We have a weekly residency Djing every Wednesday 10pm- 12am at the Buffalo Bar in Cardiff. ===================================== 13/03/09 Fredrick Stanley Star News ===================================== Fredrick Stanley Star 'Heaviside Layer is now available to purchase as a digital download from all of the usual haunts such as itunes, emusic, Amazon, playmusic etc. The band have a series of dates announced for the next couple of months: 14 Apr BBC Introducing@The Social London 28 Apr Loose@Buffalo Bar w/ AU Cardiff 1 May Third Ear@The Cube w/ AU Bristol 5 May The Wheatsheaf, w/The Balky Mule Oxford 22-24 May Meadowlands Festival, Sussex- http://meadowlandsfestival.com We will be releasing a tape cassette EP by the band, containing 500 Years from Heaviside Layer and a bunch of previously unreleased material. More news on that to follow. =============================== 09/03/09 Attack+Defend - Theme =============================== The 2nd Attack+Defend Album 'Theme' is out now. The album was recorded at Signal Box Studios in Cardiff with Kris Jenkins. It comes in a handmade sleeve with a handmade booklet: To get a copy click here or go to Spillers Records in Cardiff. ============================================ 02/03/09 Them Squirrels - Them Scribbles EP ============================================ We will be releasing 100 Handmade CD copies of the above EP in April. It can be listened to at www.myspace.com/themsquirrels