Matador Records | News August 2002

New York's Matador Records and the UK's Beggars Group have entered into an agreement wherein Beggars is purchasing a 50% share in Matador Records, and all Matador releases will be marketed through the Beggars Group worldwide.

The Beggars Group is currently home to the labels 4AD, XL Recordings, Mantra, Too Pure, Wiiija and Mo'Wax as well as Beggars Banquet, and one of the country's largest indie groups. Almost 25 years since the release of the first Beggars Banquet single, the London label has consistently released ground breaking records while establishing a group of equally ground breaking labels.

Matador Records, formed in 1989, immediately established itself at the forefront of the international independent music scene with important records by such artists as Liz Phair and Pavement. Over the years, the label has grown considerably with such flagship artists as Cornelius, Belle and Sebastian, Cat Power and Yo La Tengo, while maintaining its unflagging commitment to artistic freedom and diversity.

As part of the agreement, Beggars in New York will move from its Soho offices, which it has now outgrown, across the road into Matador's larger Noho offices, and the Beggars Group will be substantially enlarged through the transfer of a number of Matador staff and functions from the label into the group. The enhanced Beggars Group in North America will continue to be run by Beggars CEO Lesley Bleakley and represent existing Beggars labels as well as Matador; the Matador label will continue to be run by founder Chris Lombardi together with Gerard Cosloy, Patrick Amory and those Matador staff not switching over to central roles.

Matador and Beggars are both distributed by ADA. In addition, Matador will continue to operate its direct distribution arm, with the intention of Beggars Group releases being made available through it.

Outside America, Matador will be represented by Beggars via its UK headquarters and local offices in other territories, as well as through Matador's London office, helmed by Gerard Cosloy and Mike Holdsworth.

Martin Mills, Chairman and founder of Beggars, commented;

"It is very natural that Beggars should become partners in Matador in both a musical and a business sense - what we have represented to English alternative music in the last twenty years is mirrored by Matador's position in the American alternative spectrum."

"We have very compatible cultures and values, and work with artists of similar outlook.... the beauty of the synergies of this liaison is that Beggars' home base is in the UK whilst Matador's is in the US - we can represent them in the best possible way for their artists in the UK and overseas whilst the combination of their currently greater size in the US with our growing operation there will produce an entity which will be the best in the alternative marketplace, as well as being greater than the sum of its parts."

Gerard Cosloy commented;

"For the first time in Matador's history, we have entered into a pact with a partner whose musical and business ethos matches our own. We're pleased that this can happen while maintaining our artists' ability to make the sort of recordings they want to make."

"This arrangement represents a tremendous opportunity for both of our companies. The combined expertise of the Beggars Group and Matador staffs should make for an unbeatable team."

Lesley Bleakley commented;

"It is going to be a great opportunity to be working with both the artists and the staff at Matador. I am looking forward to the upcoming challenge. The heart and soul of Matador parallels the core philosophy held at the Beggars Group, fiercely independent and artist friendly. I anticipate that the new company will be one of the strongest leading forces in the modern independent sector."

Chris Lombardi commented;

"We are thrilled to be working within such a terrific company, all of us are looking forward to work side by side with Martin, Lesley, and the rest of the Beggars staff. Our ability to expand the scope of our distribution in Europe as well as to supplement our US catalogue through our Matador Direct retail department is truly exciting. It should be a very impressive line, making Matador Direct and the enhanced Beggars Group a force to reckon with."

Current projects include XL's Super Furry Animals, who have just completed a breakthrough American tour and are about to embark on a second one in September, Layo & Bushwacka!, and Badly Drawn Boy, out with the soundtrack to the UK number one film About A Boy, Wiiija's Cornershop, 4AD's Neil Halstead and the return of the Breeders, together with Matador's Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Guided By Voices and the upcoming debut album by the exciting NYC band Interpol.

The combined group will be home to current and catalogue artists including Natacha Atlas, The Avalanches, Badly Drawn Boy, Basement Jaxx, Belle and Sebastian, Black Lodge, Breeders, Capitol K, Cat Power, The Charlatans, Biffy Clyro, The Cocteau Twins, Cornelius, Cornershop, The Cult, Dead Can Dance, The Delgados, Tanya Donelly, The Fall, The Go Betweens, Tommy Guerrero, Guided By Voices, PJ Harvey, Kristin Hersh, Interpol, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Mark Lanegan, Large Professor, Lemon Jelly, Mclusky, Stephen Malkmus, Matmos, Mogwai, Gary Numan, Pavement, Pixies, Prodigy, Six By Seven, Stereolab, St. Etienne, Mary Timony, Tindersticks, White Stripes, and Yo La Tengo.

For more information please contact:

Lisa Gottheil at Beggars Group Nils Bernstein at Matador
Tel. 212 343 7010 Tel. 212 995 5882 ext. 1125
Email: lisa@beggars.com Email: nils@matadorrecords.com

August 1, 2002

Pavement - archived and committed to video
as rumoured elsewhere (well, fuck, here actually), we'll be reissuing Pavement's groundbreaking 'Slanted & Enchanted' album on October 22, completely remastered with scads of extra tracks (at least 3 outtakes, the "Summer Babe" b-sides, b-sides from the "Trigger Cut" single, the en

tire "Watery, Domestic" EP, plus more), liner notes from SM, Spiral, Chris Lombardi, Dan Koretzky, Gerard Cosloy, Boche Billions and other hangers-on.

On the same day, we'll also be releasing the long-awaited Pavement 2-DVD collection, 'Slow Century'. Compiling all of Pavement's videos, two live gigs with multiple camera angles, plus a 90 minute documentary by director Lance Bangs. And no exhaustive DVD set would be complete without self-serving commentary from the musicians and video directors. If only we could've hired Elvis Mitchell to lob the softball questions up there the way he did on that "Memento" DVD....well, that would've taken us another year to get together, so be thankful we didn't bother.

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Plastic Fang + bonus DVD
as part of our continued attempts to show everyone who doesn't already love the Blues Explosion to death that they are totally missing the boat, we're re-releasing the 'Plastic Fang' CD on September 10 with a free DVD shrinkwrapped to it as a free bonus. The disc includes the promotional videos for "She Said" and "Sweet and Sour", along with performance and interview footage from places far and wide --- some seriously crazy stuff, after watching this DVD you might wonder why certain TV programs have neglected to book this band (possibly for fear of making all subsequent musical guests look lame by comparison). 'Fang Visual' has its own slipcase sleeve.

If you already own Plastic Fang, you can get it for free by ordering the separate version from the Matador website store along with ANY OTHER ITEM from the store. These will ship mid-to-late August, so that people are assured of getting it before it's in stores (the shrinkwrapped version will still only ship on September 10 if people order it from the website).

We've already heard the odd complaint here and there that Matador is somehow rewarding people who are johnnie-cum-latelys and dissing serious JSBX fans who bought the album right when it came out. And while we're sorry anyone feels that way, we hope everyone understands that this is a particularly ambitious plan on our part to try and get more people to check the band out. Anyone who already owns 'Plastic Fang' doesn't need a cheap trinket from us to make them feel special --- if you already know that the Blues Explosion rule, spare a thought for all the persons less enlightened than yourself that we're trying to reach. Pray for them. If you're not into prayer, at least you can console yourself with the knowledge that "one nation under god" is no longer permissible as part of the pledge of allegiance in public schools.

ok, other than that, check the tour dates section for details about the Blues Explosions's autumn trip with support from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Liars.

Belle & Sebastian -nice knowing you.
As you might've read elsewhere, our friends Belle & Sebastian have decided to sign to another record label, Rough Trade, for their forthcoming new album. We're obviously disappointed about this, but it in no way lessens our respect and admiration for this tremendous bunch of musicians. We're hoping (praying you might say) that their next album manages to break the very unlucky (and entirely coincidental) streak of artists who have left Matador voluntarily only to see their sales and profile slip into oblivion.

Just kidding. We'd never suggest something so rotten if we didn't really love Belle & Sebastian and feel completely shitty about their choosing another organisation instead of ours. But don't worry about us, we'll be ok. A long walk around the block, a long soak in the tub, a trip to the pharmacy, and everything feels better and we'll not spend the rest of the year moaning and groaning about Belle & Sebastian and why oh why did they have to leave us like that. There's a lot of genuine tragedy happening all over the world --- you could be stuck in a foxhole or a burning village or an economy class seat on United with an endless loop of "Big Fat Liar" as the only entertainment. Things are tough all over. We'll get over it!

Che Ryback has shaved his head.
So did Kurt Angle, and you don't see anyone writing a news update about that, do you?

Mary Timony - new video, new mp3
as Mary and her ensemble begin their US tour withSonic Youth (http://www.sonicyouth.com) this week, we're pleased to present a quicktime video for "Dr. Cat", one of the standout tracks from 'The Golden Dove'. Directed by longtime collaborator Brett Vapnek (Helium, Sleater-Kinney, Spoon), the clip is available here.

We also have an MP3 of "Musik and Charming Melodee" from the same album now available for download at the link just above.

Mary's version of recent events :
"the mary timony band is playing shows through the south opening for sonic youth aug 1-8. we also will be playing th 9th at ladyfest DC, and 10th in NY. later in August Mary will be doing shows with le tigre..... and going to Europe sept. 23- oct 13. the official mary timony web page (marytimony.com) will be up in a few weeks. there is a mary song on the new KRS (http://www.killrockstars.com) compilation CD 'fields and streams'.

"Katya Gorker who projects movies behind the MT band, filmed us being randomly pulled over by the Texas narcotics police and will be projecting this along with other classics on the next tour. heres the story: it felt like it was around 105 degrees outside, we were on the border of mexico and texas. when we were pulled over, the police men were quite rude, asking questions about why my hair color is different on my license, and if we played Christian music. when they asked me who was in the van, and I told them the members of the band, and the "film crew" suddenly they looked slightly embarrassed, and proceeded to be much more polite. we still had to allow them to search the entire van, and while they did, we all did a choreographed line dance behind the van for the next 20 minutes, jumping around in unison. they didn't bat an eye. we gave them t-shirts, XL, of course.... we filmed them holding the t shirts and smiling. good thing, because no one else would take our XL shirts on this tour. we were considering all wearing them on stage, they come down to my knees, but thats a different story. anyway. somewhere there are two cops in texas with mary timony t shirts in their dressers, with memories of finding nothing but echinacea and pepto bismol in a van they wanted to score some excitement from."

Interpol
as press accolades for the sharply dressed NY foursome continue to pile up to our ceilings, Interpol completed a promotional trip to the UK which featured some headlining club dates along with a big show at London's Shepard's Bush Empire supporting Cornelius.

A mysterious cameraman has donated footage of a performance at the Camden Monarch, and we have quicktime clips of "Untitled" and "PDA". Sorry about the audio quality, but the cameraman tells us he's not being paid enough to hold a microphone and a camera at the same time, something about a sore shoulder. He ought to get that looked at.

Interpol were just in Los Angeles working on videos for "NYC" and "PDA", the latter with director Doug Aitken. 'Turn On The Bright Lights' (CD/LP) is coming August 20.

Guided By Voices - brewery tour rescheduled ... ...to august 9.
Shout Magazine's "Guided By Bob" tour of the Brooklyn Brewery, that is. A UK single of "Back To The Lake" is out later this month to coincide with GBV's UK tour which also features dates at the Reading and Leeds Festivals. The new Strokes video for "Someday" (note to those with good taste: this is a Strokes song, apparently) prominently features the members of GBV in some sort of "Family Feud" type face-off with the members of the Strokes. At least that's what it says here. None of this ever would've happened if Richard Dawson was still alive.

Khan writes:
"I'm living currently in Berlin and having a great time here. This is the last raving town left on earth. Meaning you can go out on a friday night and come home monday morning. I'll be crawling out of Berlin if I ever leave. I've been finishing an album for Captain Comatose with my music partner Snax formerly of Bedroom Productions. The album will be containing our first two 12" on Playhouse and new material. Afer some quite outrageous shows for the pretty much last Love Parade we are creating quite a hype here. Hanin of Atari Teenage Riot is finishing an album that I wrote 2 songs for. Next is PopKomm in August with 2 Captain Comatose playing shows and an Australian tour in Spring 2003. The Kid & Khan album called "Bad English" should be out fall this year out of London.

"Have a nice summer!!"

Mark Eitzel sent us the following communiqu�:
"Mark Eitzel is very excited about his new power trio (tentative name: "American Monobrow") which features thrashed out punk rock versions of AMC classics such as 'Western Sky' and 'Jesus' Hands' but some of his raw new heavier material featuring 'Patriots Heart' - a song that poses a very important question: 'Why indeed are not gay male strippers also hero's in the War On Terrorism?!?!?'"

Mark also says: "Check out my RECENTLY UPDATED AND IMPROVED web site:

http://www.markeitzel.com

TOURS --- LOOK OUT (ABOVE &) BELOW:
Aereogramme, just finished crossing through the midwest in support of their epic 'A Story In White' CD.

Cornelius, hitting major US markets (with South supporting) to call attention to the technicolor whirlwind that is 'Point'.

Preston School Of Industry, reminding fans old and new of the pleasures found on last year's 'All This Sounds Gas', in support of Wilco.

Bardo Pond, upcoming dates in Boston, Philly and Montreal. Cliff Floyd had a short stay this time, but Bardo Pond's will be even shorter, don't miss them.

D-Stroy, hitting various arenas and amphitheatres as part of the Anger Management tour with X-ecutioners, Ludacris, Papa Roach and Eminem. Let's not diminish the plight of those who really need anger management. Like Ryan O'Neil, for instance.

All this and more at:
http://www.matadorrecords.com/tours

Did any of you catch the Gilmore Girls
episode with the Belle and Sebastian
subplot?

It aired again this week. Lyle Hysen had an interesting conversation with Rory on the Gilmore Girls website chatroom. Here it is!

LyleH: Hi Rory, did you and Lane go see Belle and Sebastian when they played in Boston?
RoryGilmore1008: Hi LyleH! I'm Just finishing an IM with Mom. In the meantime, what would you like to talk about?
RoryGilmore1008: What I learned this week, What I think about some books, Things I pretend to like because Dean likes them, Favorite childhood memories, Skeletons in Lorelai's Closet
LyleH: Why do you like Dean? Just because he built you that car?
RoryGilmore1008: I like watching old "Saturday Night Live" sketches with Dean.
There's more I could tell you, but I'm cool with chatting about something else too.
LyleH: What music do you like?
RoryGilmore1008: De La Soul - "Three Feet High and Rising" - This album always makes me dance, which is embarrassing when listening on a Walkman and I'm standingin a bank.
Want me to tell you more about this or do you want to try something else?
LyleH: tell me more!
RoryGilmore1008: De La Soul - "Three Feet High and Rising" - This album always makes me dance, which is embarrassing when listening on a Walkman and I'm standingin a bank.
I could tell you more, or you can check out www.gilmoregirls.com.
LyleH: what is your favorite coffee?
RoryGilmore1008: Taking a bus to New York with my mom to see the tree at Rockefeller Center. Then we came back and I got to flip the switch for the Christmas tree lights at the Inn... which was even better.
I could tell you more, or you can check out www.gilmoregirls.com.
LyleH: What did you have for lunch?
RoryGilmore1008: run that by me again.
LyleH: What did you have for lunch?
RoryGilmore1008: Okay, I'm confused
LyleH: food, did you eat food recently?
RoryGilmore1008: run that by me again.
LyleH: eating?
RoryGilmore1008: She once passed out after eating too much ice cream.
There's more I could tell you, but I'm cool with chatting about something else too.

More info.

listening habits of the indicted (but not convicted):

Patrick Amory, Matador Records
Spoon -- Kill The Moonlight (12XU advance CD)
Hermano -- ...Only A Suggestion (Tee Pee CD)
Bach -- Cantatas Nos. 22-23 (Bach-Ensemble Helmuth Rilling) (Claudius LP)
Creedence Clearwater Revival -- Bayou Country (Fantasy LP)
The Present Tense -- Songs of Sydney Carter (Reflection LP)
Various Artists -- Swing Under The Nazis: The Clandestine Recordings of the Frankfurt Hot Club, 1941-1944 (Harlequin LP)
Loretta Lynn -- Back To The Country (Featuring The Pill) (MCA LP)
Chris Farlowe -- Out of Time - Paint It Black (Charly LP)
Gay & Terry Woods -- The Time Is Right (Polydor LP)
XTC -- English Settlement (Virgin double LP)

Khan's "little electronic band top 9 in no particular order"
1. boy from brazil
2. electrocute
3. stereo total
4. cobra killer
5. mondo fumatore
6. mignon
7. peaches
8. kotai
and of course 9. captain comatose

Gerard Cosloy, Matador Records
Queens Of The Stoneage - Songs For The Deaf (Interscope)
"Tim Butler, An Old Flatmate of David J's"- (from 'Just Farr A Laugh', Failed Pilot)
Psychedelic Furs - "Mr. Jones" (from 'Talk Talk Talk', Columbia)
Metal Urbain - "Lady Coca Cola" (Fan Club) Kohn - Wllen = Kohhen (K-RAA-K)
Tom Watson - Country & Watson (Theologian)
Ellis Island Sound - Ellis Island Sound (Heavenly)
Rhys Chatham - A Rhys Chatham Compendium (Table Of The Elements)
Opiate - While You Were Sleeping (April)
Neko Case - Blacklisted (Mint)