Here’s what we've been up to at Blow Up in 2012... Blow Up Records releases included the critically acclaimed Baltic Fleet album ‘Towers’, ‘Lost In Sound’ from Fay Hallam & The Bongolian (their very first collaboration), meanwhile the year also saw the return of the mighty Alfa 9 who have been picking up some great early press for their second album 'Gone To Ground' which is out in March 2013. All three appearing in end of year polls for 2012. Sweden’s Mockingbird, Wish Me Luck returned with the single ‘Leaving For A Day’ and a last minute Christmas track ‘This Year’ and there were two new signings to the label for David Woodock and Daiquiri Fantomas, so stay tuned in 2013 for releases from these!
The Blow Up club headed back to the USA twice this year, with shows in LA, San Francisco and Sacramento. And in October Blow Up took part in the annual Oxjam series of shows in Leicester. Plus our London residency in West London carried on from 2011 with live guests including Sulk, The Fractures, Thee Faction, Fay Hallam, David Woodcock, B-Movie....
Read more below....
BALTIC FLEET 'TOWERS'...
"Immense. Fleming has upped the ante on an already stellar debut,"
Rough Trade Shops 'Album of the week' & 'Albums of the MONTH'
"Exceptional motorik beats" NME
"A sublimely cinematic blend of kosmische musik and dream pop" 9/10 Subba-Cultcha
"Something very special indeed" Crack Magazine
"One of the finest records from Liverpool in years" Liverpool echo
"A wonderfully well rounded and complete album"
Louder Than War 'Album Of The Week' & an Album Of The Year
AN ALBUM OF THE YEAR: LOUDER THAN WAR, VIVE LE ROCK, CRACK MAGAZINE, LIVERPOOL ECHO, RESIDENT RECORDS & MORE...
More about Baltic Fleet here...
FAY HALLAM & THE BONGOLIAN 'LOST IN SOUND'...
"A match made in heaven. It's timeless and that's the secret ...addictive stuff" ★★★★ Blues & Soul
"An immediate pleasure, and wonderfully seductive" Shindig!
AN ALBUM OF THE YEAR: VIVE LE ROCK & 'DANCING' Podrophenia Single Of The Year
More about Fay Hallam & The Bongolian here...
ALFA 9 'GONE TO GROUND'...
"The Stoke songsmiths are back, and it's been well worth the wait" CLASSIC ROCK
"A beautiful record" SHINDIG!
EARLY ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: VIVE LE ROCK, PODROPHENIA, ACTIVE LISTENER, POP JUNKIE...
Read more about Alfa 9 here... 