Melodic Records

Melodic Records is a British independent record label founded by David Cooper in 1999. Based in Manchester, England, the label have recently released their 120th release as of January 2019,[1] and will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2019. The label also run a management arm, Melodic European Labels, which manages a number US & Australian labels in Europe, such as Carpark & Daptone.[2]

Melodic Records
Founded1999
GenreAlternative, Electronic, Indie
Country of originUnited Kingdom
LocationManchester
Official websitewww.melodic.co.uk

The current active Melodic roster includes artists such as W. H. Lung, Working Men's Club, Stephen Steinbrink, Cool Ghouls, Working for a Nuclear Free City, and L. Pierre.

Acts that have been represented by the label include Man Of Moon, The Drink, Febueder, Dark Dark Dark, K-X-P, Malcolm Middleton and David Shrigley, Paume, Archie Pelago & Grenier, Patterns, Howes, The Soundcarriers, Windmill, Michael A Grammar, The Longcut and Eddy Current Suppression Ring.

Melodic's first release was the debut EP from Pedro (aka James Rutledge) in 1999. Over the years the label has been active they have released records for the likes of Baikonour, Topo Gigio, Department of Eagles, The Isles, Outputmessage, Harrisons, ARMS, The Earlies, Micah P Hinson, the Nine Black Alps, Dungen, Minotaur Shock and Psapp.

The label's latest release, which came out on 5 April 2019,[3] was the debut album from Manchester trio W. H. Lung, a long-awaited psych-rock / post-punk release. The record is the 9th in the DINKED Edition limited vinyl series.[4] They recently announced the signing of two new acts, Strawberry Guy & The Cool Greenhouse, along with the upcoming debut EP of Strawberry Guy, which will be released 27 September.

History

Label manager & founder David Cooper started in the industry at Pomona, a music PR company then based in Hebden Bridge. Before deciding to set up his own label to release the debut EP of ambient electronic musician Pedro. In its early years, the label went on to release singles and albums for electronic artists Minotaur Shock, L.Pierre (A guise of Arab Strap's Aidan Moffat) and Baikonour.

The first release to move away from the electronic music that at that point defined the label was the debut 7", of Sheffield indie band The Harrisons. At that time a peer of The Arctic Monkeys, the band were a leading force in the so-called New Yorkshire scene. By the time The Harrisons had released their debut album in 2008, a large proportion of the Melodic roster were showcasing a more guitar-leaning side to the label. By signing Manchester bands Working For A Nuclear Free City & The Longcut, along with New Yorkers The Isles & Department Of Eagles, a new era of Melodic was born.

Working For a Nuclear Free City signed to Melodic Records in 2006, and released their self-titled debut album the same year, the first of four albums they would put out on Melodic. Spanning 10 years, their entire career was spent with Melodic, with the band gaining attention throughout, particularly for 2007 single 'Rocket'.[5]

Nottingham Kraut-Rock / Psych-Pop band The Soundcarriers were signed to the label in 2009, and released their first two albums on Melodic. In the following years, releases included more L. Pierre content, as well as new acts Dark Dark Dark and K-X-P, the former of which was to find critical and commercial success with their albums Wild Go and Who Needs Who, as well as with a 2014 soundtrack album for the film Flood Tide.[6]

More recently, Stephen Steinbrink has been the flagship artist for the label, releasing all three of his albums through Melodic, and his brand of well-crafted indie-folk has seen him earn critical acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork[7] and Loud & Quiet.[8] His debut 'Arranged Waves' was released in 2014, followed by 'Anagrams' in 2016 and last year's 'Utopia Teased'. During that period, there was also time for albums from US garage acts Cool Ghouls & Bonny Doon, two albums for London's The Drink, as well as the final L. Pierre album, '1948-'. Released only on vinyl with no sleeve, '1948-' was a concept album based around the first ever vinyl record, which is heavily sampled throughout the LP.

This year, Melodic has taken a heavy focus on local artists, signing West Yorkshire trio Working Men's Club, as well as releasing the debut LP from Manchester's W. H. Lung this April. Working Men's Club's debut single Bad Blood sold out of its initial pressing on pre-order, and spent a month and a half on the BBC 6 Music playlist. The young band take cues from Orange Juice and Talking Heads, and are currently touring the UK, impressing crowds with their high energy, instrument-swapping live sets. W. H. Lung's debut album Incidental Music was released on 5 April 2019, selling out both its limited clear vinyl and its DINKED edition. Coming out to critical acclaim, the album received glowing reviews from Loud & Quiet,[9] Q Magazine, Mojo, Uncut & The Guardian.[10] The band will tour the UK in May to support the album.  

The label have recently signed another north-west based young artist, the Dream-pop singer Strawberry Guy. The debut EP of Strawberry Guy will be released through Melodic on 27 September.

References
  1. "Working Men's Club Join The Melodic Family". Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  2. "Melodic European Labels". melodiclabels.eu. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  3. "Manchester's W. H. Lung pay a beautiful tribute to Krautrock on "Simpatico People"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  4. "W. H. Lung - Incidental Music". Dinked. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  5. Melodic Records (7 March 2007), Working For A Nuclear Free City 'Rocket', retrieved 23 April 2019
  6. "Flood Tide". Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  7. "Stephen Steinbrink: Utopia Teased". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  8. "Stephen Steinbrink - Anagrams - Album review". Loud And Quiet. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  9. "W.H. Lung - Incidental Music - Album review". Loud And Quiet. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  10. Hann, Michael (5 April 2019). "WH Lung: Incidental Music review – dynamic synth-pop hums with life". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
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