Herb Recordings is an independent record label based in Scotland (Glasgow), specialising in innovative electronic and post-rock music. With a small but uniquely talented roster of artists, Herb aims to provide an outlet for that rarest of commodities – music that’s both challenging, forward thinking and engaging but not too far into the realms of the experimental or impenetrable in nature. Accessibility is the key quality of the label’s output.
Run with a firm sense of community in mind, Herb Recordings is very much a convergence of artistic values, united by a common musical purpose. The current artist roster includes both local and international projects taking in a variety of musical styles including down-tempo and melodic electronica, post-rock and eclectic world music-infused electronics.
In a climate of over-experimental and deeply inaccessible electronic listening music, Herb provides a home for those more refreshing and organic artists seeking to bend musical boundaries rather than re-write them. This is an electronic music label for the post IDM era, where the musical ethos tends towards the emotive rather than the exotic.
Herb Recordings’ releases are distributed globally by Cargo Distribution, a leading London-based partner, giving the label presence in the most respected independent record stores as well as established high street chains. Artist releases are to be found in a variety of physical formats including 7†and 12†vinyl records and CD, as well as digital download through most of the main global vendors (eg. Bleep, iTunes, Beatport, eMusic, etc).
With an exciting release schedule in place taking the label well into the middle of 2009, the next 12 months will see Herb grow steadily in stature as the imprint seeks to reach as many discerning listeners around the globe as is possible.
Keep your eyes and ears open for the Herb.
HERB004 Engine7 - Tempertantrum (11.36am)
Release Date - 28th April 2008 " Glaswegian producer Engine 7 works with a hybrid of IDM and techno influences only to combine them with a more aggressive, rock-oriented sound, resulting in the crisp, accelerated beats of 'Tempertantrum' and the more tranquil strains of 'Sunrise Catalonia' whose semi-yodelled vocal fits in nicely with the post-rock chord changes and the slightly new age feel to the production." Boomkat
HERB001CD Rubens - Carnivalesque
CD
Release Date - 8th October 2007
" Carnivalesque echoes with early Warp-era electronica a la Black Dog, Autechre or B12, sprinkled with essence of mid-seventies Kraftwerk, Cluster and Tangerine Dream, the lot blended into voluptuous swathes of synthetic waves and unashamedly upbeat and modern electronica. Right from the opening moments, the pair set the tone with crystalline acoustic guitars layered over crisp electronics on Vertical Hold, and swirling melodies on the uplifting Breaking Into Smile. Within the first ten minutes, Rubens deploy an impressive armada of sounds and moods, wrapped up in disarmingly simple and confident pieces, that it is a wonder how they could sustain the pace for long and continue to deliver. Yet, they do, time and again." The Milk Factory
HERB003 Rubens - Breaking Into Smile EP
12" Vinyl
Single Of The Week - News Of The World
Release Date - 1st October 2007
"The Black Dog, Kirk Degiorgio and Dextro provide revised versions of the pair’s Breaking Into Smile, another track taken from Carnivalesque. One of the definite standout moments from the album, the original, also featured here, is another piece of heady melodic electronica which continuously evolves around a central theme, a classic structure pioneered by the likes of The Black Dog and Degiorgio, amongst others, in the early nineties." The Milk Factory
Featuring remixes by:
The Black Dog (Warp, Soma, Dust Science)
Dextro (Gronland, Border Community)
Kirk Degiorgio (Mo'Wax, Peacefrog, New Religion)
HERB002 Rubens - Puggies/Vertical Hold
7" Vinyl
Release Date - 27th August 2007
A - Puggies
AA - Vertical Hold
"A lovely little 7" this, dunno much about Rubens, two blokes from
Scotland that make electronica. Anyway that's by the by, what really
matters is that "Puggies" is a great electro pop instrumental, with
flashes of Stereolab (without the rubbish vocals) and Caribou, a lush
melody line, driving beats and deft edits. Over on Side-B "Vertical
Hold" mangles acoustic guitar, rewound synth noises and motorik beats
into a stunning little number. Just like Bibio with beats."
Record of the Week - Piccadilly Records
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