The next release on Gold Robot Records will be the debut LP by LA-based Young Hunting.  Hazel will drop on June 11th as a limited edition 12”, there will be only 500 copies available.  You can pre-order the album now.  One person will be chosen at random from the first 100 pre-orders to receive an original test pressing as an added bonus.

Los Angeles quintet Young Hunting’s debut full-length album Hazel begins with gentle, lush dream pop and ends with stark, desolate gothic folk. The record, inspired mostly by failed affairs, a divorce, and life in the shadow of LA’s show-business culture, took the band two years to produce. Primary songwriters Hari and Ilya first met in 2007, quickly bonding over a shared appreciation for Nick Cave, Jason Molina, Can, and the classic California pop of the 60s and 70s. Tracks for “Hazel” were recorded in various locations around Southern California, including a former ranger’s station in the Angeles National Forest, Grandma’s Dojo studio in LA’s Koreatown, a rented one-bedroom desert house outside of Joshua Tree, and living rooms, garages & guest houses in Echo Park.

PRE-ORDER THE 12” HERE

I just wanted to thank everyone who came to the recent Gold Robot Records + Father/Daughter Records + Small Plates Records showcase during SXSW.  Special thanks go out to all the bands, who are obviously the reason we do these things. All of these folks are awesome: GEMS, Mutual Benefit, Body Parts, Night Panther, Monster Rally, Day Joy, Roman Ruins, Conveyor, Francisco The Man, and Levek.

Also, we couldn’t have done it without the support of our sponsors: DeliRadio, Ghost Town, Big Cartel, and Brooklyn Brewery.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone next year!

Gold Robot Records, Father/Daughter Records, and Small Plates Records Present their 1st annual SXSW Showcase!

Come hang at our FREE SXSW party on Friday, March 15th from noon-6pm on the outdoor stage at The Grackle (1700 E 6th St). 21+ and open to the public - badges/wristbands not required. Grab a Grackle-famous Bloody Mary or Brooklyn Lager special and a taco from the East Side Kings truck and soak up the rays & sweet tunes with us!

FIRST HEADS IN THE DOOR GET A FREE, LIMITED EDITION FLEXI 7” WITH UNRELEASED SONGS BY MONSTER RALLY, GRACIE & THE EVERYWHERES!!

Doors @ 11:30am
12:15 - GEMS
12:45 - Mutual Benefit
1:15 - Body Parts
2:00 - Night Panther
2:30 - Monster Rally
3:10 - Day Joy
3:45 - Roman Ruins
4:20 - Conveyor
4:55 - Francisco The Man
5:30 - Levek

RSVP Page
Facebook Invitation

We recently finished up a slight website modification (and clean up) in addition to finally launching our very own shopping cart using the fine folks at Big Cartel.  Check out our available releases, all of which are super limited vinyl runs.  We’ve even got some specials on there.  And to top things off, we’re offering 20% every order until February 15th, just use the code “GRR2013” at checkout.  Long live vinyl!

As 2012 comes to a close, we’re looking forward to some pretty awesome things set to happen in 2013.  It’s been an epic year, and we’re hoping that the next one is just as prolific and exciting.  We’ve got releases tentatively scheduled for artists already in the GRR famly and ones from way outside our little circle.  Maybe we’ll see the first appearance of Gold Robot at SXSW?  Maybe we’ll see our first 2xLP release? 

What would you like to see from Gold Robot (and our artists) in 2013?  We’re all ears, shoot an email to goldrobotrecords [at] gmail (dot) com and we’ll be sure to read it.

If you’re doing some last minute shopping, orders must be placed by the end of today (Wednesday 12/19) to make it to the post office before we officially break for the holidays.

Thanks again for everyone’s support.
The Folks @ Gold Robot

(photo credit: patrick houdek, awesome mystic records collection)

THE YEAR IN GOLD ROBOT VINYL RELEASES

One of the great things about a year ending is that it gives us a chance to sit back and reflect on all that has happened in our little world.  Here at Gold Robot, 2012 has been fairly epic, no matter how you measure it.  We released 9 vinyl records over the last 12 months (out of a total of 30 since the label was founded in 2007).  The growth of the label is a testament to the artists and their talent.  I’d like to think that GRR occupies a small spot of the music landscape where we support creative artists and projects that might not have been made otherwise.  So, thanks for everyone’s support thus far, and we hope to continue to bring you interesting and entertaining releases for many years to come.  Here’s a chronological snapshot of our year in vinyl, meant to introduce us to folks who might not have ever heard of Gold Robot or to remind the longtime fans of some releases that might have slipped past their radar.

[Feb 21, 2012] Yalls - Fantasy 7”
I have loved working with Dan Casey (aka Yalls) over the last 1+ years, the dude is amazingly talented and prolific.  In my eyes, this is the perfect 7” as it has three brilliant tracks that showcase the Yalls sound.  I’m really looking forward to his proper debut LP, tentatively scheduled for 2013. (buy the record)

[Feb 28, 2012] Roman Ruins - Homebuilding 12”
Seeing this record finally come into existence was one of the highlights of my year, as I’d been hearing drafts and glimpses for a long while.  While Graham Hill (aka Roman Ruins) might be better known as the drummer for Papercuts or former tour/session drummer for Beach House, he’s also the primary reason this label exists.  I can’t recommend this album enough. (buy the record)

[March 20, 2012] James & Evander - Let’s Go b/w Welcome to Planet Dance 7”
Another local act which was an amazing pleasure to work with this year was James & Evander.  I loved how they approached this 7” as a concept piece to explore new sounds, and the success of their recent LP makes it that much sweeter. (buy the record)

[May 15, 2012] Conveyor - Mane 7”
I was introduced to this amazing band early in the year and couldn’t be happier for these talented guys out of Brooklyn.  The two tracks on this beautiful 7”, combined with the artwork, are an example of why we’re in this business in the first place.  I’ve seen their debut LP on many year-end lists already, which is wholly deserved. (buy the record)

[June 19, 2012] Monster Rally - Beyond the Sea 12”
Over the last few years, no other artist has pushed the label harder than Monster Rally.  His design sensibility is perfectly matched for what we try to do, his output is unparalleled, and his aesthetic vision continues to inspire us.  His latest LP marked our first gatefold LP (and largest 12” run to date), and the sounds add to his growing and impressive portfolio. (sold out, download here)

[September 4, 2012] RUMTUM / Catamaran - New Goth Gypsies 7”
You’ve probably heard it before, but we love to make split 7” records.  Their place in the music culture has a special spot in my heart, and the ability to pair artists and perhaps expand their respective audiences is really intriguing.  The two tracks on this 7”, combined with some gorgeous packaging, make it an important part of our catalog. (buy the record)

[September 11, 2012] Seamonster - Baldessari 12”
This is exactly the type of record which Gold Robot aspires to release.  When Todd Webb (aka Seamonster) and I started working together 3 years ago, first corresponding with letters and packages and eventually resulting in the Two Birds 7”, I knew I had found an artist who really understood what GRR was trying to do.  This LP was dreamed up by the artist, and the principles and story behind how it was made couldn’t be cooler. (buy the record)

[December 4, 2012] Monster Rally & RUMTUM - Coasting 12”
This 12” featured our first full-sided etching along with a collection of sounds foraged by a couple of talented musicians with similar passions.  From this end, it’s really amazing to see how the tracks take shape and how each artist puts their stamp on the final sound. (sold out, download here)

[December 4, 2012] Seamonster - Neighbors 7”
Our only collaborative release of 2012 found us working with the amazing Turntable Kitchen on this limited edition record as part of their pairings box subscription series.  Seamonster recorded a couple of tracks that had previously never been released, and they’re both quite arresting. (buy the record)

Thanks again for a wonderful year of vinyl, we couldn’t have done it without the fans, the writers, the collaborators, and (of course) the artists.