Monday 12 May 2008 sees the release of Anyone who had a heart, the debut vinyl outing for the outstanding Minotaurs. The 12" heavyweight vinyl EP is available now from our shop, and can also be purchased as a download.

Minotaurs were never likely to be pigeonholed as just another guitar band. Bursting out of South Shields, the seaside town more famed for Saturday night scuffles than finely crafted mini-epics, they bring a mix of immaculate vocals, beautifully arranged songs and heartbreaking narratives that give an entirely new twist to the art form making them one of the most exciting bands around today. Fragile and delicate, yet completely compelling, they hail not only the return of the anthem but the return of hope. While their joyous live shows have been rightly acclaimed as a breath of fresh air for melodic folk-pop this EP lifts them head and shoulders above their peers, showing them at their self-consciously stunning best. Lead track 'Anyone Who Had A Heart' is bursting with understated emotion and is a stunning representation of the warmth and charm that makes Minotaurs so enchanting to both the listener and the audience. Forster's voice swings between arrogance and insecurity, innocence and insouciance while the music spirals unfathomably and the effect is truly breathtaking. Minotaurs have already overtaken their contemporaries in both creativity and song writing. Wowing packed 'sing along' audiences they have been loved and admired solely in the North East for too long, it's time to let the rest of the country in on the secret.


TRACK LISTING:

A1 - Anyone Who Had A Heart
A2 - Good Care
B1 - Keepsakes
B2 - Dictaphone Song


LAUNCH PARTY:

	CBC004: Minotaurs EP Launch
	6pm, free entry
	Monday 12 May 2008
	RPM Music, Highbridge, Newcastle

ARTWORK:

Rob Ryan


PRESS:

Minotaurs are everything that you'd want from an indie band. Their sweet, succulent melodies are about to take your heart and hold it hostage of their own and then they'll probably use it to make another achingly perfect indie-delicate pop mesh.

Where Captain and Magic Numbers have failed is where Minotaurs succeed - unafraid of power in songs, 'Anyone Who Had A Heart' with its graceful guitars combine with vocals and drums with passion, not just cuteness. With so many copy cat sounds and false indie fancies, Minotaurs are sure to fill that ever growing hole where earnest indie should be. 4/5.
--High Voltage

Minotaurs sound like The Arcade Fire if they came from a Northern English nowhere town - South Shields in this case. Uplifting Big pop tunes with a Flaming Lips sense of melody and gorgeous boy-girl harmonies, this is classic indie-pop with the sound of a summer turning cold. On the radar.
--Music Dash

Twinkly melodious pop ne'er shone brighter than the Minotaurs - apparently a not-so-well-hidden star from up north. They hail from the Geordie coastal town of South Shields, which they describe as "more famed for Saturday night scuffles than finely-crafted mini epics".

This isn't completely true though. Notably, Franz Ferdinand singer Alex Kapranos is also from there, but the Minotaurs have all to play for in terms of firmly establishing South Shields as a haven for musos. Their new EP, Anyone Who Had a Heart, out in May, is a beautiful reflection on love, or maybe just pulling! "You know I'd give my heart away, to anyone who had a heart, or even someone who'd understand, tonight." Haven't we all been there?
--Camden New Journal

Minotaurs are making me pine for the north, for the days when we used to head out to the dirty backrooms of pubs, to community centres and working men's clubs, in search of something, anything to set our young hearts on fire. Back then we were still in awe of the peculiar power of music to completely rearrange the air you're breathing. We rejoiced in the fact that music was an ephemeral thing, not an object to own, in the same way we loved each car journey, driving too fast with the windows down, the way we kissed people for the hell of it, the way we danced until we were breathless because we knew a song wouldn't last forever.

"You know I'd give my heart away," Minotaurs are singing, "To anyone who had a heart/ Or even someone who'd understand/ In the world tonight." I'm looking at the audience scattered across the floor of the Dublin Castle this evening, heads bobbing, knees jouncing, I'm watching that pocket of air between us and the band, where all the molecules are thrown into glorious disarray, and somewhere in my chest I feel the surge of Springsteen singing: "Tonight I wanna feel the beat of the crowd/ And when I tell you that I love you/ I wanna have to shout it out loud/ Shout it out loud."
--The Guardian

Anyone Who Had A Heart is the debut EP from the South Shields based 6-piece, Minotaurs. Available on 12" vinyl and download, this is solid collection of four potentially massive pop songs. Jangling guitars, starry-eyed textures and equally beautiful melodies and harmonies paint incredibly romantic landscapes. If you're looking for a cross-reference then you might say they resemble a less depressing version of The Smiths.

Judging by the standards of this EP it becomes pretty clear that this is a band that is far more talented then the majority of indie-pop outfits currently littering the charts. 4/5.
--Leeds Music Scene

Newcastle labels Cabin Boy Cooperative and Distraction Records release Moira Stewart's debut album on Monday 14th April 2008. Moira Stewart formed late last year after inventing hair, the black colour used on bin bags, the feeling of resentment and the opposite of stamps. In a short space of time, their interactive live shows have became the stuff of legend, packing in audiences to witness live Twister, silly string, custard pies, glitter by the skipload, Batman costumes, more balloons than a Thanksgiving parade and the most innovative crowdsurfing that you'll ever witness. Its like if David Bowie starred in Bugsy Malone, re-written by Roger Hargraves.

But let's not forget the music: upbeat, fun, shambolic electro/guitar pop is the order of the day; think Hot Chip if they listened to The Orchids and The Field Mice instead of New Order, warm synths awash with indie guitar riffs and samples that Cassetteboy would be proud of. If 'Rave Binchy' was a musical genre, Moira Stewart would be pioneers. The songs have had NME staff writers wanting to join the band, A&R reps declaring their live shows as "the most fun I've had in years", Radio 1's Huw Stephens enthusiastically giving them repeated plays, and aspirational E4 yoof drama Skins will feature the band heavily in the new series airing in the Spring. Quirky, jerky, bonkers and brilliant, Moira Stewart's star is ascending, and it's shiny.


TRACK LISTING:

1 The Mr. Men Groove
2 Top Ten Drinks
3 We Still Live With Our Parents
4 Sprinkle Glitter On My Heart
5 Love Drops
6 Long Long Lost Wife Wife
7 In the Kitchen
8 You Are the Kids
9 Stars Are Shiny
10 Give a Little Love


LAUNCH PARTY:

MOIRA STEWART
An ideal chirpy soundtrack for the upcoming recession - Sunday Sun

THE BUBBLE PROJECT
Science pop sounds for today, tomorrow and the future - High Voltage

EMERGENCY LIBRARIAN
Computer Music samples played through a Dalek Modulator - Jon Pertwee would be proud

PLUS GUEST COMPERE:
MR DAVE HARPER
A cross between Dane Bowers and Ghandi

SUNDAY 13 APRIL 2008
THE HEAD OF STEAM, NEWCASTLE
8PM - £2/7 WITH ALBUM

	CBC003: Moira Stewart Album Launch Party!
	w/ The Bubble Project, Emergency Librarian
	Sunday 13 April 2008
	The Head of Steam, Newcastle

VIDEO:

Moira Stewart Album Launch Party: 13 April 2008


DavidW47

PRESS:

ALBUM OF THE MONTH
Debut album from the Newcastle-based band and it's a joyous carousel of fun and glad tidings. Skipping around the electro/pop minefield with giddy abandon, the album sounds something like The Lightening Seeds' Ian Broudie and Erasure's Vince Clark penning songs for Hot Chip whilst filtering it through the spirit of Technique era New Order. Yes, that great. There's a launch party on April 13 at The Head of Steam in Newcastle if you fancy it. You should.
--The Crack

Here's an album to put a smile on your face. Sweetness, Yes! the new release from Wallsend electro-poppers Moira Stewart is a joyful mix of 80's synths, indie guitars and quirky sampling. At times they sound a lot like New Order's younger, happier brothers - a bit less uptight, a bit less po-faced.

There's hints of Depeche Mode, and maybe even Carter USM in the mix too. Simple, infectious, happy tunes come thick and fast - all linked together with weird and often very funny sampling and chat. Something of that very English desire to have fun and dance without over-complicating things. Like your best mates coming round and playing guitar all over your Lemon Jelly records while they bounce up and down on your new sofa - in the end you'd have to give in and join in the fun.
--Buzzin' Music

One new Distraction record in our gaff is enough to have us scrambling for the bunting box but to receive two is tantamount to giving us a joy overload. After what seems like an age off radar North East's finest imprint is back on track with a new website overhaul and two killer releases gagging for deserved attention - the long promised and much anticipated third full length from the excellent though criminally under acclaimed d_rradio simply titled 'the album' (and a corker it is to) and this rather dinky debut from North Shields based trio Moira Stewart.

Sadly not the nations favourite newsreader although we must admit to being slightly smitten by Sian Williams, this particular brand of Moira Stewart concoct delightfully corrupting buzz sawing electro candy pop that's perkily primed with a ridiculously infectious effervescent euphoria that at various points manages to shoehorn an array of reference points that include Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine, Helen Love, Fosca, Lightning Seeds - (pre 'Three Lions' that is) and New Musik. Live shows have allegedly been the things of kids parties and include a copious amount of balloons and smiley faces while the band themselves appear to have an unhealthy obsession with the Mr Men.

Co-released in conjunction with Cabin Boy Co-Operative - the self styled vinyl boutique arm of the near perfect Fake Indie Label (home of Shin Jin Rui whose debut full length 'Zutiqua' has been causing a fair amount of disruption in our gaff; Minotaurs, New Clay, Dressed in Wires, Blackflower et al...) - these cherry tripped gems hark back to a simpler time, hand holding bedroom anthems for shy eyed indie kids dinkily decorated by Sarah heart-throbs Blueboy (just check out the shy eyed touches on the whirling honeycombed bliss pop of the irresistible 'You Are The Kids') and late 80's lovelies Hovercraft trading with cutting room tape reels belonging to 'Run 2' era New Order and Vince Clarke era Depeche Mode as on the opening salvo 'The Mr Men Groove' - see we warned you about the worrying Mr Men obsessions. All this translates to sumptuously mainline into a candy coated headspace occupied and devised by a mutant Fosca meets Carter USM incarnation. Across 10 tracks clocking in at a (by today's standards) relatively brief 37 minutes, Moira Stewart (the band not the news reader - but hey she might do) rally to the clarion call of a nation of lovelorn bedsits, indelibly twee in statue these effervescent lo-fi treats tingle with nuzzling fuzzy glee.

Incurably cute and frisky, once the lids lifted off 'Sweetness, Yes!' its like a summer holiday schools out parade, from the impishly kooky 'Top 10 Drinks' to the tear jerking 'Love Drops' Moira Stewart apply hooks aplenty to their delicately vibrant tenacious treats, 'Long Long Lost Wife Wife' sounds like a rascally Human League with the love baggage while the delectable 'In The Kitchen' is blessed with the kind of knowing porcelain pop sensibility that you keep double taking the credit sheet to make sure members of Dubstar or Blancmange aren't in the writing house which leaves the quietly arresting budget anthem 'Give A Little Love' to sprinkle its magic dust and neatly wrap up the set in rousing fashion. Bonkers but superb with it.
--Losing Today

Nice smooth upbeat pop that is often reminiscent of electronic-based pop bands from the 1980s. The press release that accompanied this disc was interesting... stating that the band formed "late last year after inventing hair, the black colour used on bin bags, the feeling of resentment and the opposite of stamps." Funny stuff: hardly the generic dribble we're used to reading! Sweetness, Yes! is a pure feelgood album. The rhythms are danceable and upbeat, the instrumentation simple and appropriate, and the vocals are subdued and hit the target. The best comparison we can come up with here is that Moira Stewart sounds something like a cross between Depeche Mode and Joy Electric. Nice, smart, hummable tunes include "The Mr. Men Groove," "Top Ten Drinks," "Long Long Lost Wife Wife," and "Give A Little Love." Instantly likable simple pop played with passion and integrity. Happy music.
--Sunday Sun

My first encounter with Moira Stewart, for their debut album, is a straight shot of joy. But it would also lead to a small confession. Well, maybe I've coughed this up before: I like New Order. And straight from the opening lines of their first track, synths, drum machines, ah-ha choir, thin lead vocals and guitars, I feel at home. Except that I really am at home instead of listening to my favorite New Order on an iPod on the train. It has great hooks, rock-dance inspired songs, funny samples, multi-vocals. In all great pop tunes, and this time I mean pop tunes. I am no record industry mogul, nor will I ever see big cash rolling in but if Moira Stewart won't be big with their uptempo, quirky electro-rock pop tunes who will? For the ten tracks, thirty-four minutes (how more classic pop-length do you want it), this has put one big smile on my face.
--Vital Weekly (613)

Labels: CD, download

	Dressed in Wires
	Prettier Horse to Ride
	CD Album
	FIL046
	Monday 17 December 2007
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Labels: CD

	The Bitesize Cowboys
	Bourbon Hymns
	11 Track CD Album
	FIL042
	Monday 7 May 2007
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Labels: CD

	Shin Jin Rui
	Roadside Attraction
	6 Track CD EP
	FIL028
	Monday 30 April 2007
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Labels: CD

	A Woman of No Importance
	AWoNI
	15 Track CD Album
	FIL031
	Monday 12 March 2007
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TRACK LISTING:

Tonight I Sleep With You
Multiply
Your Insecurities Ring Out (In His Name)
Logic & Touch
Rearrange The Mirrors
See
September
Quiet Pioneer
The Common Cold
Your House
The Girl With Only One Dream in her Mind
Hers & His
Injuries
The Tragedy of Being A Girl
We Made Our Plans By The Sea

Labels: CD

	Minotaurs
	(Baby) Give My Heart a Home, This Christmas
	CD Single
	FIL023
	Monday 18 December 2006
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MP3s:

(Baby) Give My Heart, a Home This Christmas - Minotaurs
Have yourself a merry little Christmas - John Egdell


CREDITS:

(Baby) Give my heart, a home this Christmas
- Minotaurs and friends

Bass Guitar: Andrew Coiley
Melodica & Castanets: Tom Devlin
Acoustic Guitars & Sleigh Bells: Andrew Forster
Lead Vocal: Sarah Farrell
Drums: Grant Lagan
Piano & Acoustic Guitar: Mick Ross

Electric Guitar & Glockenspiel: John Egdell
Electric Guitar: Dave Maughan
Cello: Sarah Cawthorne (A Woman of No Importance)
Violin & Viola: Vince Fleming (Belle & Sebastian, Isobel Campbell)

Additional Vocals:
Jennie Redmond (Jennie and the Bets)
Rachel Shoane
Aissa the dancing girl

Mischief & Alcohol consumption:
Shaun Goldsworthy (The Hype Foundation)
Andrew Richardson
Becci Robinson

Recorded by Daz at Blast Studios and Minotaurs at Studio 37.

Written by Minotaurs. Produced at Studio 37 by Minotaurs. (c) & (p) Minotaurs 2006.


Have yourself a merry little Christmas
- John Egdell

Recorded by John Egdell at Blast Studios, while Minotaurs were having a break.

Mixed at Yellow.

Thanks to Daz for help with the computer.

Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane.

Labels: CD

	Blackflower
	You won't get a girl like that
	7" Split Single
	CBC002a
	Monday 27 November 2006
	Moira Stewart
	Sweetness, Yes!
	7" Split Single
	CBC002aa
	Monday 27 November 2006
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Newcastle label Cabin Boy Cooperative release their second split single on Monday 6 November 2006. Pressed on limited edition white vinyl, CBC002 features the glorious, uplifting, West Coast-esque power pop of Blackflower, and Moira Stewart's unique Rave Binchey brand of quirky twee Euro-disco.

Blackflower are a dynamic power pop combo who believe that the melody is king. Songs full of joyous guitar hooks, bubbling bass lines and soaring, soulful vocals. An unusual blend of lilting Americana coupled with classic British psych-pop sensibilities; think On The Beach-era Neil Young minimalism meets Teenage Fanclub. Their originality doesn't lie in their sound, but in their songs, and their inspiration comes from open minds and bruised hearts.

Moira Stewart formed late last year after inventing hair, the black colour used on bin bags, the feeling of resentment and the opposite of stamps. Very simplistic, upbeat, fun, shambolic electro/guitar pop is the order of the day here; think Hot Chip if they listened to The Orchids and The Field Mice instead of New Order.

Labels: vinyl

	Lachrymose One
	Ill / Conceived
	9 Track CD Album
	FIL020
	Monday 20 November 2006
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TRACK LISTING:

Dear Jack
Sometimes a sense of realism creeps in
The worry mirror
Leave them behind
Clarianne II
Broken down transistor radio repair shop
Aspatria
The trial
Sorry

Labels: CD

	Shin Jin Rui
	Use Your Youth
	7" Split Single
	CBC001a
	Monday 9 September 2006
	A Woman of No Importance
	Your Insecurities Ring Out (In His Name)
	7" Split Single
	CBC001aa
	Monday 9 September 2006
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LAUNCH PARTY REVIEW:

I'll always give my unconditional backing to new ventures which aim to help the local music industry, so I'm hardly going to be anything other than fully supportive of Cabin Boy Cooperative, a new Newcastle-based label. Tonight, they celebrate their first release, a split 7" single featuring a song each by A Woman Of No Importance and Shin Jin Rui.

It's the second time I've seen Shin Jin Rui, and I admit, I was less than impressed the first time, especially given the glowing reports I'd heard. Tonight, they start with a new song, which isn't a good move. It sounds under practised and far from being fully formed, and doesn't give me confidence that they'll overturn my initial assessment.

At times, they sound almost Pavement-esque and that's where it works the best. The vocals are poor for most of the set, but that's no criticism - a large number of the bands I love have less than vocally blessed singers. Sometimes, the guitars sound like they're out of tune with each other, the guitarist sounds like he's playing in one key and the bassist sounds like he's playing a totally different one. All in all, they're very hit and miss - good for 50% of the time, and very iffy for the other 50%. That said, I can see their appeal, but they don't really hit my buttons.

AWoNI, on the other hand, hit all my buttons, along with some I didn't know I had. They don't have strings tonight, but that can't detract from the fact that most of their set is made up of pop masterpieces. During Your House you could have heard a pin drop, and new song This Morning is simply amazing. Add that to the fact that front man Marc is really growing into his role and you've got a simply great performance. John Egdell even joins them to play a tiny piano during the single, Your Insecurities Ring Out In His Name. The only downside for me is the non-appearance of Logic And Touch in the set, but I'll let them off for that.

On the whole, it's an excellent start for Cabin Boy, and bodes very well for the future of the label.
-- Thomas Bagnall, NARC.

Labels: vinyl

	The Bubble Project
	She Wears Green
	7" Split Single
	FIL017a
	Monday 21 August 2006
	Jennie and the Bets
	Stolen Kisses
	7" Split Single
	FIL017aa
	Monday 21 August 2006
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Labels: vinyl

	Jennie Redmond
	Live @ Alt.Vinyl
	2 Track CD EP
	FIL013
	Monday 6 March 2006
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Labels: CD

	Various Artists
	Local Band Scene
	16 Track CD Album
	FIL009
	Monday 14 August 2005
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1. Alex in danger - Ever Since The Lake Caught Fire
2. Tongue tied - Spraydog
3. Once, twice, again! - Dartz!
4. Wolfy - Chippewa Falls
5. This is a godless town - Peace Burial at Sea
6. I believe in you - Jennie and the Bets
7. Ack! - Kubichek!
8. Bunny, this is a special wand - Dressed in Wires
9. Daisy - John Egdell
10. Duplicity - Pale Man Made
11. Broken down transistor repair shop - Lachrymose One
12. Local band scene - Nev Clay
13. Vixillian Clauf - The Bubble Project
14. The enchanting - Minotaurs
15. Just like gravity - The Hype Foundation
16. Made for TV - Johnny Phonic

Labels: CD

	Daughters of the American Revolution
	Christmas
	5 Track CD EP
	FIL002
	Monday 20 December 2004
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TRACK LISTING:

Let It Snow
In The Bleak Midwinter
White Christmas
Silent Night
Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

Labels: CD