southern records

Hello, and welcome to another Southern Records webshop newsletter, and we are pleased to announce that October's label of the month is... Aurora Borealis.

October is a big month for Aurora Borealis, with a double LP from Blood Of The Black Owl, Rye Wolves' Oceans Of Delicate Rain and then towards the end of the month Journey To Ixtlan's eponymous debut and a vinyl version of Rose Kemp's highly praised Unholy Majesty previously only available on CD on One Little Indian. As usual we have discounts on all vinyl and all CD's in the AB back catalogue, and also you can preorder upcoming releases at these special prices. Make sure you have a good look at the whole back catalogue as there are some items lurking there that you probably thought had sold out by now. As always, below are a few personal selections to get you started.

Label of the Month for October: Aurora Borealis

Aurora Borealis was formed in 2004 in London and has carved its singular path through the record industry since then. Taking an almost unhealthy and at times bank account straining interest in original and luxurious packaging and artwork, the whole package of a release is of the utmost importance, artist and label collaborating to create beautiful artifacts. Describing themselves as 'purveryors of fine esoterica', there is no easy way to describe the range of music on Aurora Borealis. Doom, black metal, Flemish funeral folk, drone, raga, minimalist electronica. You name it they've got it, and with artists ranging from established guiding lights (Jesu, Stephen O'Malley) to the obscure and up and coming (Ben Nash) a trawl through the label back catalogue will surprise and delight.

Jesu - Sundown/Sunrise LP only £9.75

When this was released in May 2007, we had to go into overdrive to cope with the avalanche of orders. Now we are down to the last few copies, some of the second pressing on clear vinyl, and some of the first pressing on clear with a red splodge. I am sure that Jesu need no introduction, and I certainly can't describe them better than the Southern website does, so I will borrow that and get your attention with the phrases 'bass-heavy drone', 'Phil Spector-ish pop sensibility', 'bitter sweet anthems of melancholic euphoria' and to sum it all up 'otherworldly ghost pop, as beautiful as it is unsettling.' Say no more.

Burial Hex - Initiations double LP £10.75/CD £8.50

When I saw Burial Hex live I thought that the whole experience was much scarier than a man with a suitcase should be. However, his suitcase is full of electronic nastiness. Burial Hex is "horror electronics to prepare for the final mystery in the twilight of the Kali Yuga". I am not really sure what this means, but it sounds nasty. Initiations is four tracks which seesaw between Stars Of The Lid do Eastern European art horror movie style lush yet unsettling string drone and face-grating white noise/end of the world low end explosion rumble, all punctuated by screams and guttural death growls. This record lets you experience what it feels like to be chased through a ruined church at night by a multitude of over-amplified werewolves, and all without leaving the comfort of your home.

Knives Ov Resistance - Priscia Sapientia CD only £8.50

This is what you get when you cross turntablism and electronica with folk/noir and mix in a bit of drone and then get rid of all the beats. What you call this hybrid after you have mixed it all together, I have no idea, but it makes for excellent listening. Pulsing reverb and finger-picked guitar swells tussle for the limelight but then give in and just get on fine together, whilst layers of samples and electronic fuckery do their own thing in the background.

Silvester Anfang - Kosmies Slachtafval CD only £8.50

I have saved my favourite till last. As a long standing lover of Belgium, I was extremely excited to hear of an Aurora Borealis by a Belgian band. This excitement was then intensified when i heard the genre was 'funeral folk' and the album name Kosmies Slachtafval (kosmic slaughterhouse sweepings/debris). The album was everything I could have hoped for, and more so, being two monstrous Flandrian jams replete with pounding drums, psych guitar solos, mournful ritualistic vocals and a whole maelstrom of other stuff flying around in the background. This release lead me to dive deep into a world of extremely limited edition tapes and CDRs and a nice limited edition of two t-shirt of the album artwork with a huge pink splodge on it. Silvester Anfang will psych-rock your socks off if you give them even half a chance.

So, there's a start, time to explore further and delve into the whole catalogue, and uncover the delights of the likes of Wolfmangler, Moss, Wraiths, Ben Nash and many more. There has never been a better time to buy AB. There will be a new release update coming your way soon with plenty more goodies for you. As ever don't forget that shipping is free in the UK for orders over £30, and any comments or suggestions, please get in touch.

Cheers,

Neil

To discuss this article or if you have any questions, please head on over to our forum and have your say!