Originally written by Sean Adams · 24 September 2014
Record labels get a lot of flack. People talk of them ruining artists careers. Some bands seem to believe that they're better off without a label in the internet age. But frankly, most of the people who talk like that aren't referring to the wonderful things that independent labels do, and are a bit jealous of those acts who have a label behind them.
As our friends at Transgressive Records turn ten next week, we thought we'd compile a playlist (it may be the start of a series of playlists...) of some of our favourite tracks that they've unleashed into the world, as a way of introduction to the label. They have a great track record. They've released records by The Shins and Antlers, jumpstarted the career of Regina Spektor and even re-issued At the Drive-in records... In fact, the quality of these songs speak for themselves, so we'll shut up now and let you begin delving through their catalogue via this Spotify playlist...
Regina Spektor – Us The Antlers – I Don't Want Love Foals – Spanish Sahara Pulled Apart By Horses – High Five, Swan Dive, Nose Dive At the Drive-In – Arcarsenal Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man – The Drowned & The Saved Neon Indian – Hex Girlfriend Ghostpoet – Season Change Theme Park – Tonight - Edit Jeremy Warmsley – 5 Verses Battle – Isabelle Mystery Jets – Someone Purer (Live) Young Knives – Up All Night The Pipettes – ABC Gaggle – Army Of Birds Alvvays – Archie, Marry Me Johnny Flynn – The Water Blaenavon – Wunderkind Famy – Friend's Home Graham Coxon – Caspian Sea Liam Finn – Cold Feet Jeremy Warmsley – Girl Inform Me Mechanical Bride – Magpie Iron & Wine – Such Great Heights
Related listening: Tim and Toby from Transgressive compiled a mixtape of some of their label's lesser known tracks and on side two told us who they wish they had signed.