Dance To The Radio: Still Occupied Though You Forget
2010 sees Leeds record Label Dance To The Radio celebrates its fifth birthday. To commemorate this, the label has released the limited edition 12” picture disc, released in conjunction with the worldwide celebrations of Record Store Day, April 17th. The compilation reunites artists who featured on Dance To The Radio: Leeds the very first DTTR compilation, with a selection of artists on the present roster as well as a selection of their favourite bands from over the world.
Leeds natives The Sunshine Underground and iLiKETRAiNS make a return to their roots; as does label co-founder and ¡Forward, Russia! member, Whiskas, now performing under the moniker Honour Before Glory.
There are some real gems on the release; Paul Thomas Saunders’ gentle stripped-back folk sounds like a one man Fleet Foxes, with his track ‘Death of a Sports Personality’. Blood Oranges utilise that typically Yorkshire strain of indie pop, with the boy-girl vocals of Slow Club with the vibe of Sky Larkin and Club Smith, whose track ‘Lament’ employs the anthemics and post-punk revival sound resembling White Lies so closely, it could be mistaken for them.
At the time of the label’s incarnation, the burgeoning New Yorkshire movement was in vogue, with a host of Yorkshire bands such as the Cribs, the Kaiser Chiefs and of course the Arctic Monkeys going on to receive widespread commercial recognition and acclaim. Five years has past and although the scene is perhaps less relevant than it once was, a multitude of talent still lurks. The title of the compilation is therefore very apt. You may not even look to Yorkshire for the latest bands any more, but whilst you forget, labels like Dance to the Radio continue doing what it always did; finding the best bands locally and from further afield and getting the music out there.
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