Sunday 14 May 2017

Real Numbers - Frank Infatuation b/w Leave It Behind MSR-18

DUE TO ISSUES AT PRESSING PLANT, THIS 45 WILL BE RELEASED AT THE END OF JULY - likely 24th JULY 


Minneapolis' Real Numbers have been a mainstay amongst the DIY indie scene for a number of years now, with each of their releases getting better and better as they go on.

Market Square are incredibly proud to be releasing a 7" by Real Numbers, whom I regard as one of the current generation's best bands.

Centred around the song-writing of the band's leader Eli Hansen, Real Numbers have for a succession of releases forged out a discography full of great shambolic lo-fi pop brilliance right from their early beginning. In recent years Real Numbers popularity has grown and they are now highly regarded by fans and other musicians the world-over.

Market Square are pleased to release Real Numbers' double-sider of amazing pastoral indie-pop.

This new 7" see's the band release a newly mixed version of Frank Infatuation from their 2016 debut LP Wordless Wonder (available on Slumberland Records). The song is a gem and highlight of Eli Hansen's great songwriting ability, I'd like to say this will one day be considered an indie classic in years too come (only time will tell).

The b-side Leave It Behind is a track written by Eli's father & a close family friend, the song is one of the most tenderest songs I think Market Square has released to date and is an absolutely beautiful track, laid back chorus laden guitar and reverbed vocal highlight the track but the overall vibe of melancholia is what makes the song so great, its a really great piece of song-writing.

I consider this single to be one of the best indie releases in recent years and fans of C86, groups like New Order & The Wake as well as 60s influenced mods cannot fail with this release, Real Numbers seem to merge  many cool genres in to one to come across as a totally original and completely unique band of the modern era.



Real Numbers are...

Eli - Vocals and Guitar
Ian - Guitar
Johnny - Bass
James - Drums

The 45 will be limited to 300 copies only and housed in a riso-graph fold-over sleeve designed by Eli from the band, all copies will contain an insert in either "yellow" or "blue" paper.

Go give the band a follow on their Facebook page here... REAL NUMBERS' FACEBOOK

The Record will be released at the end of June (likely the 29th June) and available from Market Square direct from the labels Bandcamp Page... HERE!!!

Records will also likely be available from...

The Bands themselves
Rough Trade (UK)
Normans (UK)
Clearspot Distribution (throughout Europe)
Florida's Dying (US)
13 O Clock (US)
Sorry State (US)
Strange World Records (Australia)
Japanese distros.
plus a few others too possibly.

The Shifters - A Believer b/w Contrast Of Form MSR-17

DUE TO ISSUES AT PRESSING PLANT, THIS 45 WILL BE RELEASED AT THE END OF JULY - likely 24th JULY 


Melbourne Australia's The Shifters have been making a really impressive noise over the last couple of years, still in their infancy but growing stronger with each gig they do, the band have grown to become one of more interesting new groups to emerge from Melbourne's Underground in recent years.

The group's debut 7" Creggan Shops impressed me with its monotone sleeve and scratchy guitar punk genius.

Market Square are proud to be releasing the band's second 7"  A Believer b/w Contrast of Form.

Both sides combine great DIY art punk of the highest calibre.

A Believer starts proceedings with rhythmic drum work very reminiscent to Television Personalities 1988 single "How I Learned To Love The Bomb" a steady tribal beat opening way to a mesmerising chord and fender jaguar laden hook. The track also has a very Fall-esque vibe about it, with the way the organ flows through the track.... but ultimately this is The Shifters in their most snotty art-punk best, the song is poppy, its catchy and its the sound of a great new talent.

The b-side Contrast of Form is basically a trademark sound for this band, this in my opinion is some of the most perfect outsider pop happening in the world right now, the song takes us on a journey explaining the story of a weirdo artist and his ambitions to be a "real" artist and also to possibly "take flight" the song is open to interpretation, thats what's so cool about this song.

Musically The Shifters follow in a similar course forged by their Antipodian brothers from the early 80s NZ underground scene, groups of which came out of the embryonic Flying Nun Records catalogue, bands like the Stones, The Clean and The Bats... in-fact Contrast of Form is the closest I've heard a recent band capture the Dunedin sound without even trying.... there must be something cool in the water down-under??




The Shifters are...

Miles Jansen - Words and Rhythm Guitar
Ryan Coffee - Drums
Violetta DCR - Lead Guitar
Tristan Davies - Bass

They are currently working on a new LP and actually have a completed bulk of work ready for release... so check them out on Facebook SHIFTERS FACEBOOK

The Record is limited to 300 copies and will each be hand-numbered, the record comes housed in a riso-graph sleeved designed by Tristan from the band.

The Record will be released at the end of June (likely 29th June) and available from Market Square direct at our Bandcamp  HERE!!!!

Records will also likely be available from...

The Bands themselves
Rough Trade (UK)
Normans (UK)
Clearspot Distribution (throughout Europe)
Florida's Dying (US)
13 O Clock (US)
Sorry State (US)
Strange World Records (Australia)
Japanese distros.
plus a few others too possibly.