Latitude / la-ti-tyood/ n. 1 the distance of a place north or south of the equator. 2 (latitudes) regions with reference to their temperature and distance from the equator: southern latitudes. 3 scope for freedom or thought, Origin latitudo 'breadth'.
Oxford Paperback Dictionary (OUP, Ed. Catherine Soanes, 2001)
We came up with the idea of our Latitudes series partly in honour of John Peel and the great work he did championing so many bands with his BBC Radio One sessions, and partly in reverance of the fact that Southern initially started out life as a recording studio in the late 1970's.
Many incredible bands have recorded at Southern - Crass, Sonic Youth, The Fall, PW Long, Fugazi, Therapy, PJ Harvey, Lee Perry, Bauhaus, Big Black, Shellac, Babes In Toyland, The Jesus And Mary Chain, Ministry, My Bloody Valentine... the list is virtually endless. However, in more recent years not so many of the bands we work with have had the chance to record at Southern Studios, albeit remaining a very active studio. With Latitudes we hope to redress this balance; reaffirming the bond between our studio and label.
Latitudes began as a simple concept, swiftly we agreed it would be a great idea to offer our favourite bands - many of them passing through London as part of a European tour - the opportunity to spend some time recording something spontaneous, collaborative, fun or experimental in our studio. Whatever the band wants to achieve in a one day session -- essentially - something truly transient, imaginative and unique. Something we hoped to capture in the aesthetic of the resulting record - something with boundless creative scope and freedom - specific to a certain time and space - something with latitude.
Another factor behind the Latitudes series was our impetus to create something unique and beautifully packaged, in limited runs, distributed primarily through smaller, independent distributors, mail orders, web shops, and retailers - basically something special for the people who love and support music, in these times of soul-less mass production. The artwork for each one of our Latitude releases will be specifically embellished by the band. Cult designer Stephen O'Malley has provided us with a wonderful template for the series - think smoky wavy cloud scapes and creatures of apocrypha. On top of this visceral odyssey of a cardboard CD casing, we ask our bands to design an artisan sleeve motif and insert, bearing the details of the session and a photograph either from the tour or session which best symbolises the spirit in which the session was recorded.
We couldn't be happier with the reception that Latitudes has received. Most of the pressings have quickly sold out, and the bands have all been really happy with the way their releases look and sound. In 2007, we started releasing some of the titles on vinyl as well.
Latitudes is our special adventure, and we hope that you will join us for the journey; latitudes by name and latitudes by nature.
Compact Discs
GMT0:00 Grails - Interpretations 3 Oct 05, 1000 copies
GMT0:01 Shit & Shine - Ladybird - 22 Aug 05, 750 copies
GMT0:02 Ginnungagap - Remeindre - 2 May 06, 1000 copies
GMT0:03 William Elliott Whitmore - untitled - 27 June 06, 1003 copies
GMT0:04 not yet released
GMT0:05 Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Pedestrian Pop Hits - untitled -23 Jan 06, 939 copies
GMT0:06 not yet released
GMT0:07 Sir Richard Bishop - Fingering The Devil - 06 Mar 06, 994 copies
GMT0:08 Paradise Island - Seeing Spots - 10 Jan 06, 1000 copies
GMT0:09 Magik Markers - The Volodor Dance - 20 Nov 06, 1000 copies
GMT0:10 Circle - Tyrant - 20 Nov 06, 1000 copies
GMT0:11 not yet released
GMT0:12 Blood & Time - untitled - 5 Nov 07, 1000 copies
GMT0:13 not yet released
GMT0:14 Miasma & The Carousel Of Headless Horses - Manfauna - 8 Oct 07, 999 copies
GMT0:015 not yet released
GMT0:016 not yet released
GMT0:017 not yet released
Vinyl
GMT0:01V Shit & Shine - Ladybird - 15 Jan 07, 499 copies (red vinyl)
GMT0:03V William Elliott Whitmore - untitled LP - 19 November 2007, 1045 copies (845 red, 200 green vinyl)
GMT0:07V Sir Richard Bishop - Fingering The Devil - 15 Jan 07, 728 copies (clear vinyl)
GMT0:09V Magik Markers - The Volodor Dance - 20 Nov 06, 1000 copies (800 black, 200 clear vinyl)
Coming Soon
A (Fallen) Black Deer
Dälek
Mount Eerie
Daniel Higgs & Chiara Giovando
White Magic
Boduf Songs
Bohren und der Club of Gore
