Search & Destroy: Flying Nun

Getting handed back the reins to an independent music company must be a bit of a poison chalice these days

yes and no. the brand still has value, despite all efforts to destroy it over the last fifteen years

Great Christmas present this news. Seems weird for this to be happening with Chris Knox still out of action.

Anyone seen the reformed 3d's? Playing a few gigs in Jan/Feb and have already played the Merge show in the U.S How were they?

Martin Phillipps has already expressed his hope that the Chills' back catalogue will now, finally, be properly reissued ...

and if it isn't at least he can add roger shepherd to his list of mythical bogeymen that have held him back although really, roger shepherd is probably already on that list. i don't think this means much unless he knows better rocks to look under in new zealand for new and interesting artists/groups. releasing mediocre/awful end of career records by once great bands like the clean and the chills and the verlaines doesn't find me inspired.

^that, basically

I've always wanted to see a collection that was a box of cd-5s of all the great FN 12" EPs. Bored Games, Scorched Earth Policy, Bats, Max Block, and so on. Perfect repros in 5" cardboard sleeves. Orange, Alpaca Brothers, Children's Hour. There were a lot, of course. Don't know if that could make any money, though. Maybe they'll do vinyl now.

@NT: I've also wanted to see a collection of the early EPs (and singles, too). Sadly, though, I think that it's just too late for physical media. The most that we can probably hope for is that every single FN release (inc. Roger Sings the Hits!) will be available digitally in all territories. I just don't think there are enough paying fans out there to support the CD release of the obscure stuff. (Or even of big albums like Bird-Dog, for that matter.) I mean, 2000 copies of the FN box were pressed and it's still in print three years later. Not a good sign.

FN box, as great as it is, is overpriced by about 50%. Nevertheless, your point is a valid one and I'm coming to terms with digital-only releases overtaking physical releases within the first few years of this decade for me.

i have no problem with the idea of digital-only reissues. 4AD did something similar with their first couple of years if 45s - these are only available digitally but sound great, very cool thing for them to do

flying nun was always pretty good at reissuing or compiling things anyhow, they didn't seem to have that 'you had to be there' attitude of say Sarah Records.

First thing out supposedly a 3D's Boxset. They play quite a few shows this month in NZ. Can't wait.

Wow wow wow!

anyone know a NZ track which goes "why can't i get you...out of my heaaad" (or possibly hair)? male vocal

More Nun videos up at NZ on Screen here: http://www.nzonscreen.com/watch/music-video/flying_nun

So, what's going on with FN? No website, just a Twitter feed that doesn't says a lot but it doesn't make much sense to me.

huh? web site was up the other day... they put out grayson gilmour and next is 3ds box ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUBu4meuO-g

i note that bird dog has finally been reissued

liked the verlaines track on stroke comp. is bird dog re-issue on fn? any extras?

don't know yet, looks like it hasn't made it to stores as yet...

not on smokecds either.. ah well. just re-reading this thread there are some pretty funny vintage posts from nz'ers... wish duane would come back instead of fucking round on facebook

anyone know a NZ track which goes "why can't i get you...out of my heaaad" (or possibly hair)? male vocal

― zvookster, Tuesday, January 26, 2010

from memory it goes something like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JHyNEcj1u0

except with different instruments, melody, lyrics & tempo

New compilation of 3Ds early recordings

It’s called Early Recordings 1989-90 because, well, that’s what it is. It’s a “selection of tracks from the Dunedin band’s formative years.” Along with two of the group’s early EPs, 1990′s Fish Tails and 1991′s Swarthy Songs for Swabs, the compilation includes demos and recently unearthed recordings.

The compilation comes with a 16-page booklet with liner notes written by Bruce Russell (the Dead C) detailing the history of the band.

http://cheeseontoast.co.nz/wp/?p=6366

Oh my God, I just heard Loves Ugly Children's "Space Suit" for the first time ever on Pandora.

Where the hell can I find more like this

that song is a bit unique in their catalogue (it's pretty special) but there are a few on their first FN lp that are in the ballpark

Another amazing track from them is "Suck".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ceh4ZK5m6P4

Yeah, i need more of this. Gotta have more of that sorta Husker/MBV/Dino Jr guitar swirl and noise. Japandroids' "Younger Us" gets is right, too.

Also, Flying Nun doesn't have their shit on iTunes yet, fer some reason.

FLYING NUN TO PARTNER WITH CAPTURED TRACKS ON REISSUE PROGRAM

"Stoked" is the word I believe best describes how we feel about working on the Flying Nun back catalogue this year. Captured Tracks and Flying Nun have partnered up to manufacture and distribute the prestigious New Zealand label's back-catalog. Flying Nun began in 1981 in Christchurch, NZ and quickly established a roster of artists and DiY ethic that would go on to influence indie rock musicians and labels to the present day. Featuring such vanguard artists as The Chills, The Clean, Tall Dwarfs, The Verlaines, The Bats and countless others, the label made a huge impression on US and European underground music despite its geographically isolated locale. Original founder Roger Shepherd bought back the rights to the label from WB in late 2009 which has ultimately led to Brooklyn label Captured Tracks' involvement.

The partnership will release a slew of currently out of print titles, including many of the label's most prominent and most obscure releases. These will range from from their earliest releases through to their early 1990's material. Starting with the 2xLP Toy Love (pre-Tall Dwarfs/Bats) compilation that was recently issued in NZ, future projects include boxed sets, expanded reissues of 12" EP's, 7"s, LP's on all formats as well as posters, shirts and various other items from Flying Nun's deep archives.

"We at Captured Tracks are beyond ecstatic to work with Flying Nun Records for this series of reissues. As a young record collector, I always saw the label as a recommendation of quality and a constant source of inspiration. I would comb the shelves of every record store imaginable to secure anything and everything I could find. When I first heard the news that they'd bought back the rights, this partnership was something that was lingering in the back of my mind. I'm more than pleased that we can have any sort of involvement in revitalizing this amazing back catalog and returning it to record shelves the world over." -Mike Sniper (Captured Tracks Founder)

"We at Flying Nun are super pleased to be setting up shop with Captured Tracks, who have recently been releasing some of the most exciting new music around. We think this brilliantly compliments Flying Nun's 30 years of releasing some of the most interesting bands to come out of the remote south pacific. I can't wait to get my teeth into helping people discover and rediscover some of these records." -Ben Howe (Flying Nun Label Manager)

So is everything getting on iTunes, hopefully, right?

Did anyone pick up the "Tally Ho" and "Time To Go" compilations? Some stuff I don't have, lots that's overly familiar. What would y'all put on a rarities comp? I mean not just rare for rare's sake but genuinely great, overlooked tracks.

I saw Time To Go at a shop the other weekend and now I'm kicking myself over not buying it.

time to go looks cool. i think i have most if not all of tally ho on various other releases. i don't know how much there really is in the way of "great, overlooked" tracks but i always felt jean-paul sartre experience should get more retrospective attention and the vast swathe of uncomped FN 45s needs more love (which the wendy broccoli comp attempted to chip away at a little bit of)

time to go is pretty great. this was my fav song on it would love to hear more of this band

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEc1awTPPyU

Time To Go is epic. I highly, highly recommend it. Mike Sniper posted about the tentative future plans for the FN reissues on Captured Tracks over at some other message board or something (he starts with referencing a Gordons 3x12" that is for RSD apparently:

Yeah, the RSD thing is just a one-off, it's not all going to be limited edition.
There'll be a Bats singles/unreleased multi-volume set. Snapper have no
extra material and we didn't want to pack out an LP with live cuts, so we thought
this was a good way of reissuing.

Toy Love: The NZ reissue was already doing $100 on eBay and was never properly
distro'ed in the 'States/UK/EU and it was ready, so it was a good first one for us to do.
It's still expensive because the booklet is crazy, it SHOULD be in stores for $25-$28 but
I can't control mark-ups above wholesale. Certain stores will obviously pay more in shipping and the cost will be reflected.

We are debating all kinds of ways to tackle the back-catalog.

It's true, certain bands have agreements with Flying Nun and some don't.
We're not really in the mix with those arrangements, but we're certainly encouraging.

To answer some of your questions, we are doing expanded reissues when the cost to the consumer
of three separate Look Blue Go Purple 12" EP's (an example, this isn't ready just yet, but it will happen) would run them $36 when we can do a 2xLP with extra
studio tracks and try to get it to them for $22-$25. The full art of each 12" will be included when that's the case.

We are definitely doing the "mainstream" acts like Verlaines, Bats, Chills, Clean but we're also doing stuff like Birds Nest Roys, Ballon D'Essai, etc.
It's a really long process and the reason why a lot of the stuff you'll see early on is "common" is because it's ready to release.

The revenue we draw in from those releases will really help do all the obscure stuff that I want to do as much as you.

We will be doing LP boxed sets, but no one will be "forced" to purchase the full boxed set. It'll be more "build your own" so you don't have to drop
$250 to get what you want on vinyl. This is the plan, at least. Especially when tackling the huge Tall Dwarfs/Chris Knox catalog. The man has tons of
tapes of his own recordings and recording other bands (and yes, The Enemy is definitely in the radar.)

Bored Games: Shayne is sitting on amazing unreleased songs he doesn't want to release, but we're planning on doing the 12" EP as is.

Time To Go : Crazy Good.

Time To Go is probably the most, uh, well-curated compilation Flying Nun have ever released at any point in their history, to be honest. Big fan of "Russian Rug" &c.

Any idea if those Captured Tracks releases will be available digitally?

Also, just ran across an article that said Ben Howe has taken over from Roger Shepard. Anyone know the scoop?

gotta get time to go!

Added it to my want list.

Aiieee, that tracklisting looks great

The Chills song is especially good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQmy1S-08kw

Ben Howe has taken over as 'General Manager' of Flying Nun - operations moved to AKL - sharing space or building with Arch Hill recordings - Roger Shephard still involved with label as 'consultant and shareholder' - whatever that means.

Info here: http://thecorner.co.nz/2012/09/19/changes-on-the-way-for-flying-nun-records/

Anyhow hopefully this means a smoother operation and more music. Sharpie Crows (on F Nun) and Street Chant (On Arch Hill) are pretty great. Popstrangers a bit of a rudux for my tastes but make pretty slick facsimilies of that 90's sound.

So.... they're not Flying Nun, but I thought this would be the best place to draw attention to the Popstrangers LP on Carpark. Plenty of NZers excited about this release.
Best NZ pop single since the Chills' Heavenly pop hit?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQs6rGE_1cc

Given that Popmatters (yeah...) shit themselves with excitement over this, I thought there'd at least be some discussion:

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/167655-popstrangers-antipodes/

I say: really really really good.

Looks like both the Clean's Vehicle and a Bird Nest Roys comp are out this week! Especially glad about the former cos I played my old copy a couple of months back and it skipped all over the place. Great album too!

Vehicle is one of the all-time great strummy guitar albums, up there with Wedding Present and Unrest.

I disagree! I strongly believe it pisses all over those guys

It's truly great...and forthcoming review somewhere soon.

good news - vehicle might be my fave clean release, even moreso than the early stuff. amazing guitar sound.

listening to it now, oh man, it is so good. best band.