HSAL #67 (BANDCAMP EXLUSIVE)

Posted on April 7, 2025April 7, 2025 Posted in RELEASES, THE LABELTagged asentimentalsong, bandcamp, Columbus, compilation, Fainting Couch, honeybrandy, HSAL, indie rock, Lost In Space Camp, Lynchburg, music, new-music, news, Philadelphia, Plastic Hacks, reviews, Roanoke, rock, RVA, Sacramento, Sheetrock, Steve Scott, Stilyagi, Times Tables, TLVS, Virginia Beach, Young HierophantLeave a comment

RELEASE: HSAL #67
RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2025

AVAILABILITY: DIG
ARTWORK: Courtesy of Stilyagi
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: HSAL bandcamp

This, our ninth compilation, is a total “family & friends” affair. We’ve seen many artists come and go since dreaming this all up back in 2009. Consider this collection of tunes as a random card you get in the mail one day from a long-forgotten friend. It is steeped in nostalgic references and mile-markers from their journey that they think will at least hold your interest and at most rekindle a connection.

Here’s a track-by-track description of the compilation:

Track 01 – Fainting Couch, “So Long”: new single from the guitar half of “Powerviolet,” who we featured on HSAL #65.
Track 02 – Lost In Space Camp, “Aquatone (Attic Session)”: Instrumental take on a track that may include vocals on a future release…
Track 03 – honeybrandy, “Closed For Learning”: new track from upcoming album, “File Under Contemplative Protest,” due out later this year.
Track 04 – Plastic Hacks, “Slow Glow”: new single from the forthcoming album, “Fabulously Melancholy,” due out Spring 2025 on Friend Club Records.
Track 05 – Young Hierophant, “From A Room Forever”: this track is an unreleased composition from the sessions for his STELLAR 2024 album “Return To The Healing Church.”
Track 06 – Sheetrock, “Herald”: new single from RVA members of Toan Team.
Track 07 – asentimentalsong, “The Calm Before The Calm”: new piece presented by Joe from TLVS. #dronelife
Track 08 – Times Tables, “Zoom Meeting”: new single from Roanoke’s faux-midwestern emo sons. EP drops later this month.
Track 09 – TLVS, “Honey From Every Wind”: only track from last year’s split with Powerviolet that’s never been played live.
Track 10 – Steve Scott, “On A Personal Note (Stilyagi Drone Mix)”: Per Steve, this is a rough sketch of something being worked on.

HSAL #66: “RITUAL DETERGENT”

Posted on September 10, 2024September 12, 2024 Posted in RELEASES, THE LABELTagged honeybrandy, HSAL, HSAL #66, Stilyagi, TLVSLeave a comment

RELEASE: HSAL #66
RELEASE DATE: September 6, 2024

AVAILABILITY: DIG
ARTWORK: Courtesy of Stilyagi
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: HSAL bandcamp

FFO: UNKLE’s “Psyence Fiction,” Vacation Bible School, Early Nicolas Jaar

The creative itch for this single was birthed out of writing sessions for TLVS in the summer of 2024. Both Joey and Nathan shared a desire to push into more experimentation than what made sense for the three piece. Joey suggested that honeybrandy material may be just the thing to scratch said itch.

The upfront commitment to rhythm and samples mark something of a shift in the duo’s composition style. As they continue to work toward a new album, look for this newfound direction to compliment the more drone-based tension of previous releases.

HSAL #65: “POWERVIOLET / TLVS”

Posted on February 6, 2024 Posted in RELEASES, THE LABELTagged Cassette, Friend Club Records, HSAL, instrumental rock, powerviolet, Split EP, TLVSLeave a comment

RELEASE: HSAL #65, FCR110
RELEASE DATE: February 2, 2024

AVAILABILITY: CASS / DIG
ARTWORK: Rhys Meatyard, CASS layout courtesy of Stilyagi
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: HSAL bandcamp

FFO: New Order, Trans Am (A Side), Tarentel, Tristeza (B Side)

FCR110 & HSAL #65: A take on “instrumental rock music” that glides across a sonic pendulum using electronics and groove to measure its amplitude. This is a co-release with a VERY LIMITED run of super special cassettes. TLVS had created a new EP’s worth of material to follow 2022’s “Beauty In The Ghost” and began shopping it around. Buffalo’s Friend Club Records expressed interest and the two parties began to collude on a release. TLVS connected with Powerviolet, who had released “Wavelengths” through Friend Club in 2022, on the prospect of a split release.

Fast forward to the winter of 2023 becoming 2024…The digital version of this collection is available to stream most everywhere. The physical version has been meticulously crafted and is nearly in the hands of Friend Club, who has decided to close up shop. Your friendly neighborhood record label has taken the reigns on this and are currently shipping out the last few unclaimed copies.

Upcoming TLVS Tour!

Posted on January 8, 2024 Posted in RELEASES, SIGHTINGSTagged Durham, HYMY Industries, Lynchburg, Norfolk, North Carolina, Soporus, TLVS, VirginiaLeave a comment

TLVS is back to work in support of HSAL #65 (split release with Friend Club, may they rest in peace). In a few weeks, they will be taking their unique instrumental rock stylings around the mid-Atlantic with some wonderfully talented friends in tow. Check out the details on each date over at the shows page and, if you’re able to catch one of these dates, be sure to tell Will from Soporus/HYMY Industries how swell these screen-printed tour posters are!

HSAL #63: “The Way Of The Sevenfold Secret”

Posted on October 18, 2023October 19, 2023 Posted in RELEASES, THE LABELTagged California, emotional, experimental music, HSAL, HSAL #63, inspirational, meditation, poetry, Sacramento, spoken word, Steve Scott, Steve Scott poet1 Comment

RELEASE: HSAL #63
RELEASE DATE: November 3, 2023

AVAILABILITY: CD / DIG
ARTWORK: courtesy of Stilyagi
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: HSAL bandcamp

FFO: Eric Lunde, Allen Ginsberg, Gil Scott-Heron

The last time we were able to deliver a Steve Scott album, it was a collection of stories and feelings crafted over a decade’s (or more) worth of time. Perhaps it was the global pandemic’s penchant for driving focus, or maybe it was self-directed study of various religious texts, but something stirred our favorite British expat toward a cycle based on a 1926 booklet by Lilias Trotter. “Secret” begins with a pair of set pieces that read like memories as much as they do poems. The remainder of the album works through seven movements (plus an epilogue) that mirror Trotter’s writing.

Each poem is accompanied by subtly haunted tones that reinforce the presence of something more than Scott’s words. There are extended moments beyond the words that seem to invite reflection and internalization – as if the sounds that swirl around Scott mimic the role of Virgil leading Dante through the Inferno, Purgatory, and ultimately, Paradise.

Some albums resonate because the vibe they create invites an immediate repeated listen – the party doesn’t have to stop. “The Way Of The Sevenfold Secret” resonance is paradoxical in that the listener may find the silence replacing the final track to be the perfect headspace to make sense of the meditation through which they were just ushered.

HSAL #62, “Benjamin Mauch & Stilyagi”

Posted on January 31, 2023January 31, 2023 Posted in RELEASESTagged Benjamin Mauch, cassingle, HSAL, HSAL #62, LYH, RVA, split single, Stilyagi, VirginiaLeave a comment

RELEASE: HSAL #62
RELEASE DATE: February 3, 2023

AVAILABILITY: CASS / DIG
ARTWORK: courtesy of William Stichter
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: HSAL bandcamp

FFO: Jamie XX (A side), The Books (B side)

In a fortunate turn of events, HSAL found itself with some DIY inventory, including some blank cassettes, in the fall of 2022. Averse to squandering neat opportunities, we reached out to some friends to see about doing a split single. Benjamin Mauch, whose “Golden Bay Garden” still ranks as one of our favorite releases, took on the A side. Stilyagi, drinking the same potions that inspired his recently dropped, funky self-titled EP, took on the B side.

The physical copy of this single is magnetic tape housed in a clear shell contained in a “Maltese cross” style case. Each case has been printed by Grammy-nominated artist William Stichter.

New HSAL Sounds Are EVERYWHERE!

Posted on July 24, 2020 Posted in RELEASES, THE LABELTagged Benjamin Mauch, honeybrandy, HSAL, HSAL #58, L.A.Dies, LYH, Lynchburg, Not In Our City, ourlynchburg, VirginiaLeave a comment

HONEYBRANDY

First off, today is the official release date for the new honeybrandy record, “Deaton Forestbrook“! You can now stream the entire thing (all 39 minutes & 20 seconds) wherever you’d typically listen.

We’re pushing everyone we know to stream/purchase the new single, “Not In Our City” this weekend! We think the message couldn’t be more timely. It features a speech given by Dr. Keith Anderson to the Lynchburg VA City Council in prelude to the formation of the Alliance for Police Reform. Help us communicate this example of powerful things going on in small towns all over our nation!

L.A. DIES

Earlier this month, L.A. Dies were featured on a benefit compilation whose proceeds will benefit the purchase and continued operation of mobile shower units for the homeless community in the city of Birmingham, AL. There are also hopes or hiring homeless neighbors to clean and maintain the showers. Their track, “A Year In My House” predicts further exploration into the darker pop sounds of HSAL #49…

BENJAMIN MAUCH

*Cover of “A (C)able Tethered To The Sky” (sefl-released, 2020).*

Ever the composer, Benjamin Mauch just dropped a new album into the digital landscape. “A (C)able Tethered To The Sky” is a collection of pieces that Mauch wrote and performed using only the Novation Peak. All the trademark duality of bouncy melodies and contemplative tones you’ve come to expect from the Richmond-based artist are here. Proceeds from the purchase are being donated to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

It’s a new honeybrandy record!

Posted on July 15, 2020 Posted in RELEASES, THE LABELTagged Deaton Forestbrook, honeybrandy, HSAL, HSAL #58, Lynchburg, ourlynchburg, VirginiaLeave a comment

HSAL #58: honeybrandy, “Deaton Forestbrook”

RELEASE DATE: July 24, 2020

Joey and Nathan have been contemplating a record that mimics their live perfromances since dropping their debut LP – “Deaf Sharp” – back in 2017. The seasons since have found honeybrandy sharing stages with guitar focused acts (Andrew Weathers, Soporus) as well as acts that lean into electronic aether (Benjamin Mauch, Oahu). The duo studied, taking notes on various methods of composition and presentation.

“Deaton Forestbrook” showcases both artists’ penchant for the balance of drone and rhythm. “Which Are Not Pronounced” and “Not In Our City” lean into programmed drum loops while “These Words” finds layer after layer of synth and lap steel swarming around meditative instruction. The entire back half of the release is a single long form piece that could easliy score a fever dream.

AVAILABILITY: DIG
ARTWORK: courtesy of HSAL
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: HSAL bandcamp

FFO: early Tangerine Dream, Emily A. Sprague, The Inward Circles

HSAL #57 Goes Farther!

Posted on May 1, 2020 Posted in COVID-19, RELEASES, THE LABELTagged compilation, COVID-19, HSAL, HSAL #57, Isolation, ourlynchburg, Quarantine, Social Distancing, VirginiaLeave a comment

GREAT NEWS! Our most recent compilation, “Isolation“, is now available on Spotify! Over the coming days, you’ll find it popping up on most every digital platform. Stream/share this one with everyone you know. We are all responding to this strange season in our own ways. Consider this collection from among the Commonwealth’s finest are soundtrack to the full range of emotion. Thanks for listening…

“Isolation” being recognized!

Posted on April 20, 2020 Posted in COVID-19, RELEASES, THE LABELTagged COVID-19, Deep State, E-Lodie, From Overseas, HSAL, HSAL #57, Isolation, KEXP, online comp, radio airplayLeave a comment

Since releasing last week, HSAL #57 has been streamed over 500 times! It’s been great to see/read the positive repsonse to this record. Over the weekend, the comp started showing up on radio playlists:

Radio Free Roanoke (WROE): played the entire comp during their “Deep State” show on Friday, 04/17.
Luxemborg’s Radio 100,7: played From Overseas‘ track during their “E-Lodie” show on Saturday, 04/18.
Seattle’s KEXP: played From Overseas‘ track during their “Pacific Notions” show on Sunday, 04/19.

Where have you seen “Isolation” pop up? News feeds, podcasts or other streams? Let us know…Our sincerest hope is that it brings comfort to anxious ears and hope to heavy hearts.