Niche records / Mail order CDs

[p-m agapow]

In a never-ending effort to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the
net ...

I came across a nifty local mail-order outfit the other day that
denizens of aus.music may be interested in. (And to forestall
possible accusations of conflict of interest - no, I don't have any
relationship with them except as a satisfied customer. So there.)

They're called Niche Records and from the looks of things they press
CDs for independent bands and small labels and are now moving into
direct sales. You might find a Niche Guide around in cafes in your
area which lists what they have this month. (Otherwise you can get
one sent to you gratis by ringing 1 300 655 966.) Also they have an
audio preview service on 1 902 240 177 that allows you to listen to
record samples. (35 cents a minute, not cheap but not usurious
either.) Records can be ordered via the 1300 number, mail or fax with
credit cards or cheque.

The price is right - basically $19.95 each with every fourth CD being
free, postage free. (Note that the length of indie CDs does tend to
be shorter but at effectively $15 each, this is still a good deal.)
Obviously you are not going to get the Top 10 here but there is a lot
of interesting stuff, from pop, country, indie rock and world music.
A random walk through the catalogue:

Bernadette Robinson, Jane McCracken, The Melniks, Penny Flanagan,
Matt Walker, The Oxo Cubans, Pete Lawler, Shane Howard, Things of
Stone and Wood, Tlot Tlot, Weddings Parties Anything, Dianna Kiss,
Ian Moss, Manic Suede, Overnight Jones, The Blue Grassy Knoll, Joe
Dolce, Jen Anderson, The Feeling Groovies, Movin & Groovin
Orchestra, Tess McKenna, Mark Halstead, Zydeco Jump, Ross Hannaford
Trio, Lothlorien, Valanga Khoza, a bunch of soundtracks to
Australian films, etc.

I ordered over the phone and got my four CDs the next working day.
Prompt delivery and my only complaint is that one of the CD covers was
slightly cracked. A quick set of pico-reviews:

* Edain "Closer": imagine the Corrs if they were ambient (and
consequently were a lot more interesting). Cool.

* Mighty Servant "There's Life": a tight three piece outfit that
pumps out fat, bluesy, rockabilly pop <warning - genre stack
overflow>. Very cool.

* Texicali Rose: border Tex-Mex music. Not as good as their live
music but still nice.

* Pastel Vespa "Several Shades of Pastel": Alanis Morisette goes
lounge, Sex Pistols via Serge Gainsbourg. Very silly, but a lot of
fun.

So, all in all, highly recommended.

--
Paul-Michael Agapow (aga...@latcs1.oz.au), La Trobe Uni
"Where do you stand in the eternal battle of style versus substance?"
"I think our side is winning."