Constellation Records are without a doubt one of the most influential and respected independent Canadian record labels, and deservedly so. Since their founding in 1997, the Montreal-based organization has made their label a serious part of the Canadian independent music scene and produced influential releases from some of our northern neighbor’s best musicians. Initially founded by Ian Ilavsky and Don Wilke out of a loft in Montreal, Constellation was intended to be a live performance space for local musicians with hopes of eventually releasing records; however the label end of things ended up forming first and stuck. Today they operate in more spacious digs in Montreal’s Mile End district. In hardcore independent fashion, Constellation is anti-corporate, anti-capitalist, anti-globalist, and anti-chainstore; they go out of their way to make sure their music is truly valued for its artistry rather than commodity. They avoid selling their records through music megastores physically, hand-design their album packaging on recycled cardboard with the help of local artists, and spend their funds on creating meaningful music rather than marketing. Items ordered through their mail order service are sent with a handwritten note thanking you for your purchase; this is a real-deal indie label.
Posts Tagged ‘Vic Chesnutt’
Featured Label: Constellation Records
Monday, February 7th, 2011RIP Vic Chesnutt
Monday, December 28th, 2009
Last Friday, December 25th, Singer-Songwriter Vic Chesnutt passed away after a two day coma induced by an overdose of muscle relaxers. Just 2 weeks prior, Chesnutt concluded a long tour with Guy Picciotto and members of Thee Silver Mt. Zion to support his fall release, At the Cut.
“In the few short years that we knew him personally, Vic transformed our sense of what true character, grace and determination are all about,” said the founders of Constellation Records, the label that put out Chesnutt’s albums. “Our grief is inexpressible and Vic’s absence unfathomable.”
He will be greatly missed.
Vic Chesnutt
“Chain” (mp3)
from “At the Cut”
(Constellation)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album
Update:
A tribute/donation page has been set up by Vic’s close friend, Kristen Hersh. 100% of all donations will go to Vic’s family. Contribute here.
IODA Marketing’s Best of 2009 lists
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009As 2009 draws to a close it’s that glorious time for Best Of lists. Each member of the marketing team, both domestic and international, narrowed their favorite albums to a top 5 list plus one outstanding reissue. From Hyperdub’s 5th Anniversary compilation, Deer Tick’s alt-country sophomore release, We Were Promised Jetpacks’ rousing debut to The Monks’ lovingly researched reissue of Black Monk Time, these releases are all over the place and showcase a really eclectic year of releases.
Don’t miss the downloadable tracks at the bottom and stay tuned for the latest IODAcast featuring many of the artists included below!
Thanks and Enjoy!
Adam Rabinovitz- VP Marketing1. We Were Promised Jetpacks- These Four Walls [Fat Cat Records]
2. A Sunny Day In Glasgow- Ashes Grammar [Mis Ojos Discos]
3. Deer Tick- Born On Flag Day [Partisan Records]
4. Bela Fleck- Throw Down Your Heart… [Rounder Records
5. Ultre- The Nest And Skull [Audiobulb Records]
Re-issue: The Monks- Black Monk Time [Light In The Attic]
Bethany Clayton- Marketing, UK
1. Various Artists- 5: Five Years Of Hyperdub [Hyperdub Records]
2. Brother Ali- Us [Rhymesayers Entertainment]
3. Bass Clef- May The Bridges I Burn Light The Way [Blank Tapes]
4. Felt- Felt 3: A Tribute To Rosie Perez [Rhymesayers Entertainment]
5. The Orb- Baghdad Batteries [Malicious Damage]
Re-issue: The Gun Club – Death Party [Cooking Vinyl]
Christophe LeBreton- Marketing, France
1. Imaad Wasif- The Voidist [Tee Pee Records]
2. Oumou Sangare- Seya [World Circuit]
3. Liquid Stranger- The Intergalatic Slapstick [Interchill Records]
4. Deer Tick- Born On Flag Day [Partisan Records]
5. Boo Boo Davis- Ain’t Gotta Dime [Black and Tan Records]
Re-Issue: not specified
Craig O’Neill- Marketing Account Manager
1. BadboE- Break The Funk [Auditorydesigns]
2. Black Moth Super Rainbow- Eating Us [Graveface Records]
3. The Prodigy- Invaders Must Die [Take Me To The Hospital]
4. The Phenomenal Handclap Band- The Phenomenal Handclap Band [Friendly Fire]
5. Big Boss Man- Full English Beat Breakfast [Blow Up]
Re-issue: Various Artists- Disco Loco, Vol. 1 [LocoBop]
Elijah Carroll- Marketing Coordinator
1. We Were Promised Jetpacks – These Four Walls [Fat Cat Records]
2. Mantis – Still Life [Brick Records]
3. Megafaun – Gather, Form & Fly [Hometapes]
4. Souls of Mischief – Montezuma’s Revenge [Hieroglyphics Imperium]
5. Tommy T – The Prester John Sessions [Easy Star]
Reissue: The Roots – Organix [Groove Distribution]
Greg Beshers – Director of Marketing
1. Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel – Willy and the Wheel [Bismeaux Records]
2. John Doe And The Sadies – Country Club [Outside Music]
3. The Phenomenal Handclap Band – The Phenomenal Handclap Band [Friendly Fire Recordings]
4. General Elektriks – Good City For Dreamers [Quannum Projects]
5. Tinariwen – Imidiwan: Companions [World Village]
Reissue: Rail Band – Belle Epoque Vol. 3: Dioba [Sterns]
Jillian Putnam-Smith- Programming Manager
1. Here We Go Magic – Here We Go Magic [Western Vinyl]
2. Choir of Young Believers – This is For the White in Your Eyes [Ghostly International]
3. Ultre – The Nest and the Skull [Audiobulb Records]
4. Sleepy Sun – Sleepy Son [ATP Recordings]
5. Bear in Heaven – Beast Rest Forth Mouth [Hometapes]
Reissue: Milton Nascimento – Travessia [Dubas Musica]
1. Céu – Vagarosa [Six Degrees]
2. Madeleine Peyroux – Bare Bones [Rounder Records]
3. General Elektriks – Good City for Dreamers [Quannum Projects]
4. Abigail Washburn & The Shanghai Restoration Project – Afterquake [Undercover Culture Music]
5. Tinariwen – Imidiwan: Companions [World Village]
Reissue: Milton Nascimento – Travessia [Dubas Musica]
Matt Wright- Marketing Account Manager
1. Here We Go Magic – Here We Go Magic [Western Vinyl]
2. Ecstasy & Friends – Lone [Werk Discs]
3. Various Artists – 5: Five Years of Hyperdub [Hyperdub]
4. Yura Yura Teikoku – Hollow Me / Beautiful [Death From Abroad
5. Jega - Variance (Volumes 1 & 2) [Planet Mu]
Reissue: The Monks – Black Monk Time [Light in the Attic]
Ozgur Okter- Senior Manager, Marketing
1. Ancestors – Of Sound Mind [Tee Pee Records]
2. Astra – The Weirding [Rise Above Records]
3. Baroness – Blue Record [Relapse Records]
4. Cave – Psychic Psummer [Important]
5. Shrinebuilder – Shrinebuilder [Neurot]
Reissue: Ofege – Try And Love [Academy LPs]
Robert Litsen- Marketing, Scandinavia
1. Miss Li – Dancing the Whole Way Home [National]
2. The Prodigy – Invaders Must Die [Cooking Vinyl]
3. Ane Brun – Changing of the Seasons [Determine Records AB]
4. Florence Valentin – Spring Ricco [Startracks]
5. Pauline – Never Said I Was An Angel [Tri-Sound]
Reissue: The Hellacopters – Supershitty to the Max [MNW]
Tara Cuesta- Marketing, Spain
1. Matt & Kim – Grand [Artwerk Music]
2. Vic Chesnutt – At the Cut [Constellation]
3. Wojtek Godzisz – Wodjtek Godzisz [Tigertrap Records]
4. Bettina Koester – Queen of Noise [Asinella Records]
5. Apse – Climp Up [ATP/Recordings]
Reissue: Blue – Another Night Time Flight [Demon]
We Were Promised Jetpacks
“Ships With Holes Will Sink” (mp3)
from “These Four Walls”
(Fat Cat Records)
Brother Ali
“Us” (mp3)
from “Us”
(Rhymesayers Entertainment)
Liquid Stranger
“Soundboy Killa” (mp3)
from “The Intergalactic Slapstick”
(Interchill Records)
Black Moth Super Rainbow
“Born On A Day The Sun Didn’t Rise” (mp3)
from “Eating Us”
(Graveface Records)
Tommy T
“The Response (featuring Gigi)” (mp3)
from “The Prester John Sessions”
(Easy Star Records)
Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel
“Hesitation Blues” (mp3)
from “Willie And The Wheel”
(Bismeaux Records)
Here We Go Magic
“Fangela” (mp3)
from “Here We Go Magic”
(Western Vinyl)
Milton Nascimento
“Canção do Sal” (mp3)
from “Travessia”
(Dubas Musica)
The Monks
“Monk Time” (mp3)
from “Black Monk Time”
(Light In The Attic)
Vic Chesnutt
“Chain” (mp3)
from “At the Cut”
(Constellation)
Abigail Washburn & The Shanghai Restoration Project
“Sala” (mp3)
from “Afterquake”
(Undercover Culture Music)
IODAcast 063: Circulatory System, Vic Chesnutt, Betty Davis, More.
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009Featuring Circulatory System, Vic Chesnutt, Betty Davis, The Twilight Sad, WHY? and Wallpaper.
Listen at IODAcast.com or at iTunes.
Circulatory System
“Round Again” (mp3)
from “Signal Morning”
(Cloud Recordings)
The Twilight Sad
“Reflection of the Television” (mp3)
from “Forget the Night Ahead”
(Fat Cat Records)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album
WHY?
“This Blackest Purse” (mp3)
from “Eskimo Snow”
(anticon)
Buy at Rhapsody
More On This Album
Vic Chesnutt
“Chain” (mp3)
from “At the Cut”
(Constellation)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album
Betty Davis
“Is It Love Or Desire” (mp3)
from “Is It Love or Desire”
(Light In The Attic)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album
Wallpaper.
“ddd” (mp3)
from “Doodoo Face”
(Eenie Meenie Records)
Buy at Rhapsody
More On This Album
Review: Vic Chesnutt
Thursday, September 17th, 2009
Artist: Vic Chesnutt
Title: At the Cut
Label: Constellation
Genre: Folk-Rock
Release Date: 9/22/09
UPC: 666561006020
Territory: World
The master of dark, brooding confessional music, Vic Chesnutt, has prepped his new album At The Cut for release on Constellation records. Hailing from the fruitful musical ground of Athens, Georgia (all of the Elephant 6 collective hails from there), Vic has been singing and writing songs since he was but a young lad of five years old. He is a prodigy of R. E. M.’s Michael Stipe who spotted Chesnutt at Athen’s great venue the 40 Watt Club and subsequently produced Chesnutt’s first two albums.
Stipe isn’t the only notable musician in Chesnutt’s wake; he has a long list of noteworthy collaborators from his 21+ years in music including members of Thee Silver Mt. Zion and the legendary Guy Picciotto of Fugazi. His debut record on Constellation records, North Star Deserter, was reviewed by Paste magazine as the outstanding album in the long list of his appearances in various projects. These efforts have fruited a core group of players that accompanied him on two European tours in support of the album: Thierry Amar (bass), Efrim Menuck (guitar), Jessica Moss (violin) and David Payant (drums) all of Thee Silver Mt. Zion, along with Guy Picciotto (guitar).
At The Cut presents a more naked Chesnutt, exposed and raw emotionally for the listener to dissect without restrain. The album’s powerful opener, “Coward” clearly depicts this as he shamelessly proclaims, “I am a coward” with an accompanying swell from the backing band. His voice sounds far from a gentle indie songsmith; this is a musician who focuses on charging each track on his album with real, passionate emotion of various kinds. Often a shrill, distorted and enraged guitar line will cut through a tense quiet moment of Chesnutt alone with the listener, whispering his inner thoughts and delivering appropriate responses to these confessions through instrumentation. Some of the songs like “We Hovered With Short Wings” are designed for smokey, dimly lit bars on weeknights where the crowd is estrange and tiered. Others like “Chinaberry Tree” are slow-motion car rides through surreal, dark scenery; branches bending over the windows like jagged teeth and mysterious fauna darting through their crooked roots. Overall, there’s a dark, brooding, raw feeling to the whole album; it really does play unlike other contemporary indie artists. It’s not quite sad, it’s not quite malicious, it’s not quite hopeless. Instead Chesnutt gives his listener a front row ticket to his confessional and agrees with their reactions; he is aware of his sins.
This is definitely a new take on cold-weather music. If the usual acoustic guitar and soft, melancholy vocals isn’t doing it for you anymore, take a walk on the dark side and hear what Vic Chesnutt has to whisper to you in the darkest of corners. Very haunting.
