This is one of the most exciting things Fika Recordings have gotten involved in so far. We’ve been asked to put out a super limited edition (100 only) cassette version of Allo Darlin’s second album, Europe. I’m busy making them at the moment, and it’ll be quite some package. Every cassette will be handmade and hand numbered, and will come with a digital download code, a bag of Allo Darjeelin’ tea, a recipe for Elizabeth’s mum’s Sacher Torte, and a very small 16 page artwork and lyric booklet.

You can pre-order the album on cassette from us now – we’ll be shipping when the album is released in Europe at the start of May.

The ever reliable Fortuna Pop will be releasing Europe in Europe on CD, LP and digital; while the lovely Slumberland Records will be putting the album out on the other side of the Atlantic. Thanks to them both for asking us to get involved – it is a delight to be involved in releasing what is a mighty fine record.

The video is available here

Isle Of Dogs is out next Monday – it is available to pre-order from our shop now.

We’ll have a single available in June and then the LP and a digital download out in July for the album “Believe Me”. Exciting!

The single is out on Fika Recordings on the 2nd of April, and comes with two b-sides, both featuring Owl & Mouse. Nude With Dogs will be familiar to some of you from their live shows, while Everywhere is a stupendous cover of Fleetwood Mac’s classic. They’ll be available from the Fika Recordings shop and the usual digital retailers.

Ice & Snow, the lead single from Red Shoe Diaries’ 10″ EP, is out now! It is available as a free/pay what you can download from the Fika Recordings webshop.

Since before they knew how to talk to girls, guitarist Ashley and singer Thomas have been writing songs and playing music together, and now, years down the line, these teenage bedroom rumblings have matured into a sophisticated blend all of their own.
The missing links were added gradually, with long time college friend, Michael playing drums and adding musical direction. Singer Leanne came next, introducing herself at an early gig as “what you need”. They needed bass too, and Rob didn’t have one yet, but he had what they wanted, so, he got this guitar and he learned how to make it talk.
They were complete. So they started gigging more seriously, playing with the likes of The Wave Pictures, Ballboy, Allo Darlin, Nouvelle Vague, A Sunny Day in Glasgow, and playing at festivals such as Indietracks, Edinburgh Popfest and Summer Sundae.

“Nottingham favourites Red Shoe Diaries make sophisticated indie pop that joins the dots from Jacques Brel to Darren Hayman in epic, Morricone-esque broad strokes. Possibly the most exciting glittery-literary indie pop band to come from Nottingham since Tindersticks”.
- Fists

“Outside of The Melons Nottingham hasn’t really had a great pop band. But that might change with Red Shoe Diaries getting everyone’s hearts a flutter”
- A Layer of Chips

Red Shoe Diaries have a few gigs coming up. Catch them here:
Feb 27th – The Musician, Leicester, w/ Allo Darlin, & Tigercats
March 26th – The Chameleon, Nottingham, w/ The Wave Pictures
June 1st – Ireby Music Festival, Ireby, Cumbria

Excited for the release of Tigercats’ album Isle Of Dogs on April 9th? Looking forward to their appearance at London Popfest this weekend and their tour with Allo Darlin’ next week? Need a sneak preview of the lead single from the album to keep you going? Yeah? Well you’re in luck.

We’re letting you download Full Moon Reggae Party totally for free! It will be coming out properly on April the 2nd as a 3 track digital single (available from all the usual digital outlets to stream and to buy) with two brand new b-sides: one a Tigercats original featuring Owl & Mouse, the other a cover of their favourite Fleetwood Mac song. We’ll be unveiling the animated video for Full Moon Reggae Party shortly too…
“Full Moon Reggae Party” was written in one day after an enforced absence from the
studio, and recorded just a couple of days later. It’s about going on the run (“I
heard you stole a van, we’ve got some fake Gaugin’s, let’s go and get the cash,
dance to Two Sevens Clash”) but it’s also the most direct love song they’ve ever
done. A lot of Tigercats’ lyrics are constructed out of fleeting, disconnected
imagery, but “Full Moon Reggae Party” speaks straight to it’s subject. Unlike
earlier songs, it was written by Duncan with Laura’s voice in mind: the exuberant
verses that he sings solo contrast with the richness of the chorus.
To download Full Moon Reggae Party go here.

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

25 Feb London Popfest, 100 Club w/ Allo Darlin’, Comet Gain and others
26 Feb Leeds, Brudenell Social Club w/ Allo Darlin’
27 Feb Leicester, The Musician w/ Allo Darlin’
29 Feb Cardiff, Buffalo Bar w/ Allo Darlin’
02 Mar Norwich, Norwich Arts Centre w/ Allo Darlin’
16 Mar Ramsgate, Caboose Cafe (headline show)
21 Mar Manchester, The Castle Hotel w/ Shrag
22 Mar London, Kibo Kift at Somerset House (headline show)
29 Mar Brighton, Horse & Groom (headline show)
30 Mar London, Power Lunches – Isle of Dogs album launch, supported by Omi Palone,
Fever Dream & Robert Rotifer w/ Allo Darlin’ and Moustache of Insanity DJ’s

Tigercats – Isle Of Dogs
out 9th April 2012
12″ vinyl on Fika Recordings (fikarecordings.com)
CD on Acuarela Discos (acuareladiscos.com)

Moustache Of Insanity were one of the bands that made me want to start this label and I was overwhelming excited when Bill and Nik said yes to putting out a cassette on Fika this time last year. They’ve been an utter pleasure to have on the label and their Album Of Death was one of my favourite albums of last year, released here on sexy blood red vinyl and with our friends at Pull Yourself Together on CD.

All afternoon I’ve been thinking back over the gigs I’ve seen them play. Some have been truly shambolic; some have sounded rather professional; all been fantastically fun: they’ve never failed to make me grin, dance and giggle like an overexcited toddler. From the sticky, sweaty, bloody full band show in Brixton for the album launch, to the acoustic set in the workshop tent at last year’s Indietracks festival, playing a blinding set earlier this month at The Lexington, to a truly chaotic set in a basement in Hackney with The Wave Pictures…. I’ve loved every single minute. Nik, Bill, thank you both!

So before Bill gets time to get back to being a full time Dad and bass player with Allo Darlin, and Nik launches his solo gameboy project, there are a few chances to see them play live together.
26 Jan – The Book Club, London
3 Feb – The Others, London
4 Feb – The Victora, Birmingham
10 Feb – Silver Bullet, London
1 Mar – The Cellar, Oxford
16 Mar – Singapora Lounge, Rochester

You can still buy their LP from us here – every copy comes its own photograph of them fooling around somewhere, a personalised message, a tea bag of death and a cake recipe, all on a delicious smelling slab of blood red vinyl. Go buy it before they’re gone forever x

Ice & Snow is the lead single from their EP on Fika Recordings, “When I Find My Heart…“. It’ll be available to download from the Fika Recordings website on a pay what you like basis (and we’re happy for you to download it for free).
You can still buy their 5 track 10″ EP from us here.

Artwork for the single comes courtesy of Amy Blackwell.

Red Shoe Diaries
A1 Ice & Snow
B1 Driving Blind
B2 Saturday Love Rocket
Available to download from February 27th

… on April 9th, we’ll be releasing Isle Of Dogs, the debut album from Tigercats. Yeah! It’ll be coming out on Fika Recordings on 12″ vinyl, and there’ll be the usual Fika related treats included. More details once I figure them out. In the meantime, head over and download their Christmas song! Woo!