Finally getting settled in beautiful Arizona with Jen. And what better way to get settled than by releasing 3 new sparkly wonderful CDs, all of which I am very excited about, and you should be too, namely:

KANDA "It's A Good Name For You" 11 track CD (555CD42)

Everyone loves Kanda it seems. "Stew, when are you going to release more Kanda?" Well, here we are. After last year's fanatically received debut 7", the loveable and cuddly synth darlings KANDA come up trumps with their anticipated debut full length. Tradeoff boy/girl vocals mix with a glorious blend of old skool sounds and futuristic beatz. Unashamedly retro and irresistably pop. Just like the single. (But with more tracks, of course). Produced by Andrew and Bobby from Mahogany. Excellent classy sleeve, continuing the all round high standards set with their debut single.

LUCKY DRAGONS "Dark Falcon" 21 track CD (555CD51)

After 2 acclaimed 7" outings on the the excellent if not willfully obscurist English Muffin label, Philadelphia based loose knit acoustic/electro collective LUCKY DRAGONS venture out with their debut cohesive full length release. Comparisons to other artistes is difficult-How the heck can I describe these Lucky Dragons?... Hmmm, The "songs" maintain a cut and paste found sound formula, with heavy hints to a knowledge with regard to spatial awareness and sense of melody. The best I could think of was that Lucky Dragons make ORGANIC GLITCHCORE music. That’s a whole new genre methinks. With fireworks, random voices, and manipulated acoustic instruments meshing together to form a beautiful, enthralling flowing work spread over the 21 tracks.

ORIGAMI "Please Exit Quietly" 10 track CD (555CD53/RSQ22)

I have been wanting to release an Origami record since I first played a show with the girls in January 2000. Now I get my wish. Origami are from Melbourne, Australia and this is their 2nd full length release, (their first release available domestically outside Australia). After appearing on last years Mr.Lady comp "Calling All Kings And Queens," (with the lesbian surf hit "Nancy Drew"), Origami have been building up a steady reputation within the grrrl underground rock world, and are currently supporting Sleater-Kinney in Australia. Core members Rhonda, (ex-99), and Natalie are simply the coolest couple, and have accomplished a wonderful full length crammed with pop hooks, chiming guitars, driving bass and sparse multi layered instrumentation. Will appeal to Indiepop fans worldwide, (regardless of personal politics), as well as fans of Kill Rock Stars, Mr Lady and K Records. The CD features guest slots from Sarah Dougher, and the very wonderful STS (The Haggard/ Cadillaca/Shemo). Very talented ladies all round. Origami will be on tour in the USA in 2003, and I can't wait!

ABOUT TO HAPPEN, by the end of the year at least:

THE6955 - 555CD50
JEAN BACH - 555CD53
Still compiling - 555CD55

New Year:
Boyracer, Nanoloop, LoveLetter Band, Moblin, The How...

I was hoping to try and get some more 7"s made at some point. They are so frigging expensive though. And no-one really buys them anymore. You’ve heard that before I'm sure, and I'm not pointing fingers, (you lazy record buyers you!), but for real, no-one buys 7" singles. Would it surprise you to know less than 100 people bought the last Halkyn single? Which is criminal really. I was thinking of doing some mailorder only 7"s, but even that seems clichéd and not really fair on the bands. I do love 7"s though. Maybe if you think I should persevere with them, email me and convince me. Until then,

Just a few new bits:

NEW RELEASES OCT. 2002:

KANDA debut full length CD (555CD42)
LUCKY DRAGONS debut full length CD (555CD51)

Also, a few shows coming up:

10th September at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, BOYRACER's only UK date for at least the next couple of years with old Slumberland Records labelmates The Swirlies.

31st October at the Knitting Factory in New York City, BOYRACER / KANDA / THE BRIGHT LIGHTS / THE LOVE LETTER BAND and four other bands on the Animal World label. There will be free exclusive stuff on the door so get there early!

There have a lots of new releases in the past few months. Indeed, since January 2002 we have released sixteen new releases! The most freshest and hottest off the presses are:

FOG AND OCEAN Debut CD (555CD41/RSQ20)

Conceived February 2001 in Melbourne Australia, it's taken over a year to find a singer and finish and mix the songs. But boy, it's been well worth the wait, and already there's anticipated queries regarding its release. So what can I tell you? FOG AND OCEAN are a tri-continental super group and the first 555 supergroup, (well all the groups are super of course but what we mean is) FOG AND OCEAN feature a star studded cast including the talents behind The Cat's Miaow, HUON, BOYRACER, Architecture in Helsinki, Hydroplane, NEW WAVER and Jen Turrell. So what does it sound like? None of those bands in truth. It sounds more like Visage or OMD. Old school analogue keyboards, big fat raspy bass tones, 808 beats and to top it off amazing sweet melodic girl vocals from the very wonderful Kellie. It's already a hit!

Also:

LONG WEEKEND All Roads lead to Roam (555CD38)

After 2 previous 7inch EPs (on 555) the Melbourne based all girl trio are back with their debut full length release. The girls spent over a year locked in the studio perfecting the sounds and songs. And it's quite a departure from the aforementioned EPs. I'm not usually one to recommend ever using a "proper studio", but in this instance the "big" studio results complement the songs. For those unaware of LONG WEEKEND to date, they specialize in contridictory discordant yet melodic songs with scratchy guitars and shuffling rhythms. Singer/Guitarist Vanessa Ross has quite a unique and commanding vocal. Record Collector compared her to Robert Smith, which I didn't quite get. The band also features Ellen Turner on Bass, from Huon, (everyone in Huon has to be in at least 2 bands), and the amazing Mia Schoen, also of Huon and the sadly-recently-deceased-Sleepy Township.

We have started up our mailorder again now we are semi-static. These two new titles are available from us (see the new section), or as usual DARLA, CARGO, NORMAN, WESTBERLIN, LIMONADE and BOA. And while you are buying both these new CDs it would be a good opportunity for you all to catch up on any of the recent titles you are missing! Heh heh! We are also now accepting paypal. Check out our mailorder section.

So what else aside from new stuff?

Hmmm, I'm back in England which apart from the appalling summer, sucks even more as Jen is back in Arizona. I've got to wait for my visa application to be completed before I become a proper American boy and they let me back in. Argh! And if they don't, we are going to move to Canada and start a new band with Randall Lee and Carla of the just-recently-moved-from-Australia Ashtray Boy. We will be called Ashtrayboyracer. Perfect huh? But we have had an amazing year for sure, visa concerns aside. Whilst in Australia last month myself and Jen where busy as ever. We managed to record 10 new songs whilst in Australia and Japan that will eventuate as a new Boyracer full length at some point. For the last month in Australia I was touring as a drummer with the fantastic Rhonda and Natalie, who make up the Melbourne based grrrl-core pop band ORIGAMI. (Co-incidentaly, we were touring with Sarah Dougher, and THE AISLERS SET Amy Linton was drumming for Sarah. Which made travelling with S.D a little more bearable- thankyou Amy!). Hopefully 555 will manage to release an ORIGAMI release at some point. Meantime, you should track down their debut CD on BabyRoo records if you can.

In the pipeline: THE POWERFUL OWL. Now, I make no secret of the fact I consider David Nichols a very important musician who I respect tremendously, and who sincerely did affect the way I have made music over the years. So imagine my excitement when, 2 days before we flew back to blighty, myself and Jen managed to record almost an LP's worth of material. The tracks features mostly David in truth, and are quite late 70's new wave-art-punk sounding, (kinda Lilliput/Swell Maps-ish). THE POWERFUL OWL will be released as A BOOK of David's comic strips, with the accompanying CD. And it will be fucking great.

ALSO:

A new full length CD from THE6955 hot on the heels of the acclaimed debut vinyl release. This CD is going to have some very exciting features, which I can't tell you about just yet as if I do someone will pinch my brainwave before I get a chance to make it all happen. But when it happens, you will all be amazed. Trust me! When did 555 ever let you down? There are also plans for new releases by KID606, KANDA, and a forthcoming 555 compilation CD that will be 555CD55 and will feature 55 bands! So, if any of you are sending demos to 555 please include a short song,(1minute20 or less please!), and who knows. Maybe we'll use it. 55 bands is pretty ambitious. Hmmm, more soon. Much more of course!

Busy busy busy. Been trying to get everything together in time for the exciting Boyracer Australian and Japanese shows. That means countless late nights sleeving 10,000+ CDs over the past few weeks. Phew! We have LOTS of new exciting stuff. Available from Darla and Norman records NOW.

May I also take this opportunity to introduce a new distributor of 555 product in France: Limonade Distribution. So all our French friends should be able to pop down to your local FNAC record shoppe and purchase all these new goodies. Namely:

AVAILABLE NOW THROUGH DARLA, NORMAN RECORDS, CARGO UK, BOA MAILORDER, CLAIRECORDS MAILORDER

555CD33 LUNCHBOX summers over -7 track "miniLP"
Popular undergound purist pop from Oakland, California's finest. Fantastically swirly, mod and beat-y, with girl/boy vocals and tunes a-plenty. It also features an optigon on track 2! What more do you want? A taster for their new full length on Magic Marker records.

555CD34 SOFT LOVE - A TRIBUTE TO SOFT CELL
It's been a long time coming, but here it is. A diverse eclectic mix that highlights the appeal of '80s synthpop legends Soft Cell, and the appeal of the family 555.
With exclusive contributions from Figurine, Printed Circuit, Kyoko, Huon, Fingernail, Other Peoples Children, Disastronaut, New Waver, Lucky Dragons, Cathode, Happy Supply, Moblin, Costar and Kanda.
The profits from this CD 555 recordings are donated to the Terrence Higgins Trust.

555CD37 CATHODE - --the world and back EP
Holding up a blowdryer to the icycool chinscratching of contemporary electronica, CATHODE return with a four-sided bundle of tuneful tonality to brighten those frosty latewinter evenings. After Peel and Jockey Slut praise for the acclaimed debut 7" outing on Static Caravan, 555 step in and snap up the Newcastle/Glasgow based electro clickmiester for this lengthy EP. Melodic electronica, subtle and enthralling.

555CD39 EMPRESS 1996-1999
After much enthusiasm for 2001's Geographic full length release, and after pressure from the kids, 555 reluctantly issue a compilation that collects together all the unreleased material during Empress' brief existance. Also collected on the disc are a few previously released overseas compilation appearances. 18 tracks of low-fi beauty. Hand screened sleeve. Limited run of 500 copies.
NOTE: THIS CD IS ALREADY ALMOST SOLD OUT.

AVAILABLE DIRECT FROM US:

555CD45 BOYRACER b-sides and besides
A 28 track compilation of rarities featuring many requested lost gems, plus a bunch of badly recorded crappy old stuff featuring all the old Racer members (some of whom I would rather not think about anymore of course). Comes in super cool punkrock spraypainted sleeve.
This is ONLY available from us mailorder, or at Boyracer shows, and is limited to a one time only run of 500 copies. It is $10 in the USA, and 10 pounds in the UK. Paypal accepted at Stewart555recs@yahoo.com NOTE: This is a proper CD and not a CD-R.

555CD40 BOYRACER to get a better hold you've got to loosen yr grip
Australian/Japanese tour edition, with FREE limited 5" lathe cut single. Only a few left with the bonus disc. If you want a copy, they are $12 ppd, or 12 pounds UK. Please contact us first to see if we have any left first as they're flying out pretty quickly. This CD will be "officially" released shortly, (minus the 5" single) through all the usual outlets.

Nearly ready: Figurine (555CD46), The Bright Lights (555CD47), Printed Circuit (555CD48), The Loveletter Band (555CD49/RSQ015)

BOYRACER new CD and VERY limited 5-inch single offer!

To celebrate the forthcoming release of the new 22 track BOYRACER CD titled 'To Get A Better Hold You've Got To Loosen Your Grip' we have decided to include a FREE 5inch clear lathe (hand) cut single with the first 100 mailorder copies. The single features 2 exclusive new tracks, and will not be available in shops or from other distros. This offer is only available from us mailorder, or at Boyracer shows in Australia and Japan.

If you would like to reserve a copy of the new CD with the free 5-inch single please email either:
Stewart555recs@yahoo.com
Jenturrell@hotmail.com

The CD and 5-inch is 12 dollars postpaid in the USA or 12 pounds postpaid in the UK. When you email us, we will send you details, give you an order number, and tell you where/how to send payment. We will mail you your copy from Australia, (where we are on tour at the moment), and you will recieve your copy of the fantastic new full-length a month before the CD is officially released in the USA and UK! Be the envy of your friends!

This offer is only good until the end of March, or until we recieve 100 orders.

And while you are at it, why not order a copy of the BOYRACER rarities compilation CD, "Bsides and besides". This CD is again ONLY available from us mailorder, or at Boyracer shows. This CD is 10 dollars US, or 10 pounds UK. and is numbered to 500 copies. It features many requested rarities, demos, flexidisc tracks and live recordings. Please note, this is a "proper" CD and NOT A CD-R.

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News from 2001