LISTEN: Art Is Hard Records Releases Split 7" with New Years Evil & The Black Tambourines

I think the most exciting thing about running your own record label would have to be the joy in discovering bands before anyone else does -- that is, of course, in addition to having some power to help this music reach a wider audience. You can use your label as a treasure chest, mining all sorts of new bands out of relative or absolute obscurity; bands that the world is unaware of or, God forbid, bands that the world has overlooked altogether.

Art Is Hard Records, a small independent label run by two friends based in Plymouth and Portsmouth, is one of those personal labels built on creativity and true passion for music. Proof of this is best exhibited in the label's first release, a compilation entitled Brink of the Clouds. It featured the label's favorite alternative/indie/lo-fi bands from their area and was released via t-shirt (no really). Yes, a wearable comp! It was a limited run of 50 and came with a unique download code and a zine put together by the nine featured bands. Of the release, the label says,

We're trying to give people something they couldn't get just from downloading whilst also reflecting the fact people buy cassettes, cd's and vinyl without even listening to them so is there any real need to release music on a musical format?

The label just released a split 7" featuring New Years Evil and The Black Tambourines. Check it out after the hop.

Tracklisting

1) New Years Evil - "Shame"

2) The Black Tambourines - "Tommy"

3) The Black Tambourines - "Youth"

4) New Years Evil - "Echo Canyon" (home demo)

5) The Black Tambourines - "Let You Down" (reworked)

Tracks 3-5 not on record, digital download only

New Years Evil - "Shame"


Running on the propulsive kick of Hüsker Dü, "Shame" recalls elements of early '90s powerpop/rock bands like The Doughboys and The Nils as well as the indie/post-hardcore emotional rawness of Braid. Determined and explosive.

The Black Tambourines - "Tommy"


Lo-fi surf rock glory that has the charm of sounding like it was recorded at full volume in a small garage in some unsuspecting town. Fuzzy and exciting.

BUY: If you dig these two tracks, you can pick up the split 7" here. Each one comes with an original print from one of the label's favorite local photographers as well as a full 5 track digital EP and a limited edition zine.

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