Audio Antihero: Specialists in Commercial Suicide present Jack Hayter’s (Hefner) upcoming singles series – “The Sisters of St. Anthony”. Jack Hayter of John Peel indiepop darlings Hefner, the Marc Riley endorsed folktronica ensemble Dollboy and Spongfinger (the band The Organ and NME christened “Dennis Hopper’s house-band”) makes his solo return with “The Sisters Of St. Anthony”. One single a month for twelve months.

Through the encouragement of band-mate Darren Hayman, Hayter began recording his own songs and released his debut solo album, “Practical Wireless” on Absolutely Kosher Records and the 2011 “Sucky Tart” EP on Audio Antihero. His music has been picked up on by BBC 6 Music DJ’s Tom Ravenscroft and Tom Robinson and he’s been seen supporting The Mountain Goats, Martin Grech, Darren Hayman, The Wave Pictures and KT Tunstall.

This is the sound of a unique songwriter and multi-instrumentalist blurring the lines between his trad. folk influences and the London anxieties of Hefner with creaking fuzz, biting wit, indie-pop rhythms and lo-tech electronica. St. Anthony is the patron saint of lost things. These songs are new and old, some lost and without a home. There is of course nothing especially new or remarkable about releasing twelve monthly singles, it’s just another way to enjoy his music.

Each of the twelve singles will be available individually or as part of a low priced subscription series with exclusive subscription only material. Cover art will come from guest artists like Benjamin Shaw and Antony Harding and fan submission competition entrants too. The series will be launched on April 4th at The Old Blue Last. Listen to the first single below and pre-Order here.

Press:
“Tom Waits and mates running amok in a second hand music shop.” – Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music
“One of the first major releases of the year for sure. Welcome back Mr Hayter – 8/10.” – The 405
“Wistful, semi-acoustic, Brel-influeced ballads…” – Uncut

“Some.Alternate.Universe.” is a charity double album for FSID from Audio Antihero Records to raise money for FSID’s work to stop sudden infant death syndrome.

This charity compilation features kindhearted artists like Jeffrey Lewis, Johnny Foreigner, Internet Forever, Still Corners (Sub Pop), Shoes & Socks Off, Jonah Matranga (Far/onelinedrawing), Ant (Hefner), The Art Goblins (Art Brut side-project), younghusband and the entire Audio Antihero roster including Nosferatu D2, Benjamin Shaw and more.

The album is available for download from Audio Antihero’s Bandcamp for a minimum donation of £3.99 with all money going directly to The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID).

FSID’s 1991 ‘Reduce the Risk’ campaign reduced infant deaths by 75% and they continue their research today and offer support to the bereaved. Audio Antihero is very proud to have the opportunity to contribute to this wonderful charity. Any help you can offer in spreading the word about this album and cause would be very much appreciated. We hope it will help to support FSID’s research and spread some lovely/noisy music at the same time.

This is Audio Antihero’s second charity compilation, after 2011’s well received “Bob Hope would.” album for the Japan relief effort. It also follows other fundraisers for The Haiti Hospital Appeal, British Heart Foundation and The Pink Ribbon Foundation. But for sheer awesome-per-cause, this is the best one yet. The next one might be a bit shorter though.

Great Lake Swimmers release New Wild Everywhere, their fifth studio album and follow up to 2009’s Lost Channels, on the 2nd April. Produced by long-time Great Lake Swimmers collaborator Andy Magoffin in Toronto’s Revolution Recording Studio, New Wild Everywhere captures all of the excitement and intuitive musicianship of a group at the peak of their creative powers, with 12 new tracks that reveal a depth and maturity only previously hinted at by lead singer and songwriter Tony Dekker. Featuring the touring band from Lost Channels (long-time collaborator Erik Arnesen on banjo and guitar, along with new addition Miranda Mulholland contributing backing vocals and violin, Bret Higgins on upright bass, and Lost Channels drummer Greg Millson), the album thematically picks up where the previous album left off, exploring transcendence in the natural world to describe the universal themes of love, mortality and escape.

Easy Come Easy Go is the first single taken from the new album, the video for which was directed by Scott Cudmore (Rural Alberta Advantage, Timber Timbre), shot in one take and showcases the band performing in a studio in their hometown of Toronto as the set gets deconstructed around them.

Indie-folk artist and irrepressible noise-maker Benjamin Shaw has finally started showing off what a nice young man he can be with two delightful acoustic sessions, sans the crackle and cacophony with which he has successfully alienated audiences young and old.

The visually inclined can watch Benjamin Shaw playing ‘How To Test The Depth Of A Well’ at the London Fields in session for the cooler-than-thou Line Of Best Fit:

While for those of you who like to folk-on-the-move, there’s a stunning three track session available for download. Originally recorded for Miami’s WVUM Radio, you can grab this sunless pleasure for free (or make a donation if you see fit):

Shaw will be playing a series of shows over the next few months, with more TBC:

Jan 30th – The Halfmoon, Putney (solo)
Feb 10th – Milfords, Temple with Jack Hayter (solo)
Feb 15th – Power Lunches Art Café, Dalston (Full band show)
March 16th – The Wilmington Arms, Clerkenwell (solo)
April 12th – The King & Queen, Foley Steet with Chris T-T & MJ Hibbett (solo)

All together now… “you shouldn’t blame it all on David Cameron, even if he’s vile…and you shouldn’t fill his lungs with water, just to make me smile…”

The fabulously noisy debut album “There’s Always Hope, There’s Always Cabernet” is available now on iTunes and Bandcamp (where you can stream the album in full and download a free track).

Keep up with Benjamin Shaw on Twitter / Facebook / Benjamin Shaw.net / Wikipedia.