Fence Records / Latest News

6th September 2008

The Pictish Trail's debut album proper 'Secret Soundz Vol.1' is now available to buy from the Fence Records website, and all independent record shops worth their salt.

SECRET SOUNDZ Vol.1 is a diverse collection of ten lo-fi pieces that are, at times, a bit homeboy electronic, often a lil’ folky, and a wee bit pop too. Here's a snippet of some of the reviews thus far ...

"A post-summer trove of sun-warped electro, anamorphic folk, Reg Perrin homages and lambent anthems – not least the wondrous ‘Words Fail Me Now’: never has ill-fitting Y-front falsetto sounded so thrilling. The dude is a treat." Nicola Meighan, PLAN B MAGAZINE

"Secret Soundz is a collection of lo-fi, intimate, routinely lovely introspection **** " Fiona Shepherd, THE SCOTSMAN

"This debut, despite being so lo-fi you can hear buses drive past, is more ambitious than the homely vibe suggests. The Pictish Trail has found limited resources to be no handicap for a limitless imagination." Sam Richards, NME

"Secret Soundz Vol.1 is a collection of intricate but playful electronica as colourful as its striking cover art. A sterling debut. **** " Milo McLaughlin THE SKINNY

"Johnny Lynch's debut as the Pictish Trail should be compulsory listening for anyone under the impression that Fence, the label he co-runs with King Creosote, is solely devoted to lo-fi folk. Indebted to Hot Chip, the Beta Band and Paul McCartney, this is charming, fresh and quietly outré. **** " Paul Mardles, OBSERVER MUSIC MONTHLY

>>> BUY IT HERE RIGHT NOW!

If your local independent record shop hasn't got any copies in stock, be sure to point them in our direction!

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ALSO ... ROZI PLAIN ALBUM - AVAILABLE FOR PRE-SALE AT A SPECIAL PRICE ... NOW!

Our latest signing, ROZI PLAIN, will be releasing her debut album - INSIDE OVER HERE - on Fence Records on October 6th 2008. And we think you're going to like it.

Rozi Plain was born Rosalind Leyden, in the leafy-greens of Winchester, 22 years ago. Since moving to Bristol she’s been working on the ferries that bob in and out of the city, along the Avon, whilst creating her own beautifully intimate music that captures life slowly floating by. With her older brother Sam (aka Romanhead), and her pal Rachael Dadd, she is a founding member of the Cleaner Records collective - a loose assortment of singer-songwriters from the Bristol area.

Through her output on Cleaner Records, and at various live shows, Rozi’s songs reached our malformed, hobbit-like ears. She’s subsequently played at many Fence Records events (including the Homegame Festival, in Anstruther), and has contributed to numerous Fence Collective compilations.

Her album is, quite frankly, stunning. Ten songs that capture the burnt haze of endless summers; ten songs that ebb and flow woozily, washing like the tide over your feet; ten songs that showcase an engaging, fresh new voice in British songwriting.

>>> PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM HERE!

1st September 2008

One of our finest exports, Mr Sir James Yorkston, releases his 4th studio album for Domino Records today. When The Haar Rolls In is available to buy from the Fence Records webshop! You can buy it seperately, or as part of a 3-album special (When The Haar Rolls In, Hoopoe and Live at Le Poisson Mouille - all three for £17.99!)

>>> BUY YOUR COPY OF THE ALBUM HERE!

>>> SAVE £££'s - BUY THE 3-ALBUM JY SPESH!

An incredible thing of beauty it is too ... but don't just take our word for it - the reviews are in!

Amid sleepy fiddles and brooding harmoniums, these bleary love-drunk dispatches – especially the startling spectre-rattle of Midnight Feast and the swelling autumn mist of The Capture of the Horse – rank among the most breathtaking by anyone this year. ***** PETE PAPHIDES, THE TIMES

The jewel in the crown of the Fence Collective, a close assembly of musicians domiciled in Fife's East Neuk, James Yorkston is a singer-songwriter who, on this evidence at least, must now rank among the best this country has produced. ***** BARRY DIDCOCK, THE SUNDAY HERALD

James Yorkston's homespun song-world remains as enveloping as the titular miasma, which settles on his native Fife coastline. Tender but never maudlin, and positively dripping in melody, this is Yorkston's best work to date. **** DAVID SHEPPARD, MOJO

The album is also available as a lush box-set, with remix and covers discs (featuring a fair few Fencers - King Creosote, Pictish Trail, HMS Ginafore, OnTheFly, Rozi Plain, UNPOC & Jon Hopkins) - see www.dominorecordco.com for more details.

Of course, as you ALL know, James will be playing - with his full band - at the next Fence Club show, at the Caves in Edinburgh on Wednesday, September 17th. Support comes from Malcolm Middleton, and Pictish Trail with Rozi Plain. Tickets are only £10 advance - available from this very website, and from Avalanche Records in Edinburgh - and £12 on the door.

>>> BUY YOUR FENCE CLUB TICKETS NOW!

29th August 2008

Here be the scoops.

We love Hallowe'en. And we love parties. So we're gonna have a Hallowe'en party, in Anstruther, over two days.

There'll be a Friday night fancy dress knees up at Legends on October 31st, from 8pm onwards ... and then a relaxed acoustic afternoon-into-evening at the Hew Scott Hall on Saturday November 1st, from 2pm onwards. Your ticket gets you in to both events. PLUS ... everyone who buys a ticket will receive a free gift! Oooh!

Who's playing? Well i can let you know that on the Friday night we'll be having a PIRATE THEMED fancy dress party - and everyone will be dancing to the dreaded Harry Axewound and his Ghoulies (which is pretty much the Fence Collective, all dressed up like eejits). Our indie-pals Ballboy will also be playing. As well as a few other bands and DJ's.

On the Saturday, you can expect the usual schmorgasboard of Anster talent - King Creosote, HMS Ginafore, Gummi Bako, Pictish Trail. Maybe JY if he's around. And a few travelling Fencers, too ... Barbarossa has come out of retirement for this one ... and we'll have tunes from a new Collective signing, Animal Magic Tricks ... amongst a zillion others!

So, i don't think i've given away too much there ... just enough to whet your appetite i hope :)

There's only 150 tickets - so we advise purchasing ASAP.

TICKETS GO ON SALE AT 12 NOON TODAY (friday 29th august) ON THE GIGS PAGE.

25th August 2008

Hello y'all,

There's some new things ready in the webshop ... before i tell you about that, i'll let you know about some radio news ...

I did a Pictish Trail session for Marc Riley on BBC 6Music last week - joined by King Creosote and a selection of Earlies ... and good clean fun it was too! We had a bit of chat and a giggle, and played 'I Don't Know Where To Begin', 'Words Fail Me Now' and 'Into The Smoke' See if you can spot some cod-reggae and a bus passing by ...

>> YOU CAN LISTEN AGAIN HERE

If you like listening to the radio LIVE, well then you might want to listen to BBC 6Music tonight. Rob Hughes is sitting in for Marc Riley and has asked ROZI PLAIN to come in and do a session! It was a very last minute thing (Marc asked me to ask Roz on Thursday night!) ... but it promises to be beautiful. We're putting out Rozi's debut album, Inside Over Here, on Fence Records on October 6th ... so expect to be hearing a lot more about her in the next wee while.

>> LISTEN TO ROZ TONIGHT, FROM 7PM, ON BBC 6 MUSIC

The pair of us are on tour throughout September - check the gigs page for listings / ticket info.

In more radio fun, Rob Da Bank played 4 King Creosote tracks from the Green Man Festival on his 'Rob Da Bank & Friends' show on Radio 1 last night. Sounds great too. They've got the tracklisting all wrong on the Beeb website - Rob played 'Twin Tub Twin', 'Nooks', 'You've No Clue Do You' and 'Something Beginning With D'. It's about 51 minutes in ...

>> YOU CAN LISTEN TO 'EM AGAIN HERE

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NEW ITEMS IN THE FENCE SHOP

We've got some new guest titles in stock from Art Pedro and Love.Stop.Repeat.

Art Pedro's new EP is Act II in his three part 'tin box' spesh. Bitter jilt-pop from the best thing out of Leicester EVER. And it's only £3.99!

>> BUY IT HERE!

Love.Stop.Repeat are a duo comprising of electronic De-Fencer Con Brio,and singer-songwriter Lindsay West. Accordion, harmonium,ukulele, gentle percussion and voice all swim in the same pool on their debut EP.Beautiful stuff - made all the more so by being packaged in hand-madecloth packaging (in two designs). Be the first to discover them ...

>> BUY IT HERE!

8th August 2008

The PICTISH TRAIL's debut album proper 'Secret Soundz Vol.1' has arrived!

Well ... it is officially released in all good independent record stores on Monday, September 8th. However, you can currently purchase the album by attending any of the Trail's live dates over the summer ... but if you can't do this, and you'd like your copy fresh on your doorstep on Monday 8th, then you can pre-order a copy of the album TODAY!

>>> PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY BY CLICKING THE PIC!

The PICTISH TRAIL is touring throughout September accompanied by fellow Fencer ROZI PLAIN - and tickets are currently on sale for the LONDON and GLASGOW show from this very site:

9th September - Upstairs @ Three & Ten, BRIGHTON
Buy tickets here

10th September - Betsey Trotwood, LONDON
Buy tickets here

11th September - Gander On The Green, BOURNEMOUTH

12th September - South Street Arts Centre, READING
Buy tickets here

13th September - END OF THE ROAD FESTIVAL (Local Stage)
Buy tickets here

14th September - The Railway, WINCHESTER

17th September - Fence Club # 6, The Caves, EDINBURGH
Buy tickets here

21st September - A.I.A. Hall, ANSTRUTHER, FIFE

25th September - The Tunnels, ABERDEEN
Buy tickets here

26th September - Captain’s Rest, GLASGOW
Buy tickets here

3rd October - The Legion, LONDON

5th October - The Cube, BRISTOL

1st August 2008

The next FENCE CLUB show is taking place on WEDNESDAY, 17th SEPTEMBER in the year of our lord, 2008. JAMES YORKSTON will be headlining, with his full band THE ATHLETES - performing songs from his fantastic new album, When The Harr Rolls In, on Domino Records.

We can now officially announce that MALCOLM MIDDLETON will be the support act for the night !! One half of the legendary ARAB STRAP, and an accomplished singer-songwriter in his own right, Malcolm will be accompanied by an acoustic guitar and a few tins, for what should be an incredible gig. Having played at our Homegame festival a few times, Malcolm's no stranger to Fence - and we're really chuffed he's on board for this show.

The PICTISH TRAIL and ROZI PLAIN, plucked from their UK tour, will combine forces to create one monolithic folk beast, which will open the night.

There should also be a free 7" single for all ticketholders at the end of the night - exclusive to this show!

It's all taking place at THE CAVES in EDINBURGH. Doors are at 8pm, with tickets priced at £10 in advance (for a limited time) and £12 on the door.

You can purchase tickets from our website (following the link, below), or from AVALANCHE RECORDS on Cockburn St in Edinburgh (from August 6th onwards ...).

>>> BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE!

28th July 2008

Hey folks - got some news on our Fence Club #6 show ... the secret special guest will be revealed on FRIDAY, AUGUST 1ST.

We're approaching our allocation of £10 tickets - they will soon jump up to the regular price of £12 - so be sure to buy yours quick, at this special price!

>> CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FENCE CLUB TIX!

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NEW SHOP ITEMS!

We've a new batch of albums from Pip Dylan in the shop. Parsnips, Ain't A Classical Piece ..., Piece of Cheese, Flamenco and Orange Dirt County are all back in stock. As some of the titles are CD-R, they are assembled to order - so please allow 14 days max for delivery!

>> CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT!

Art Pedro also has put a new, self-released E.P. together - The Love Parade is 5 tracks, at the bargain price of £3.99. As with his previous EP, copies are housed in a tin-box, and are süper-limited ... so buy it quick to avoid liver failure, and internal combustion! He's made a video for the first track - The Old Movies Are The Best - which you can watch on his MySpace.

>> CLICK HERE TO INSTANTLY ART PEDRO YOURSELF!

16th July 2008

Hello everyone. We're busy bodies at the moment.

CAMP BESTIVAL - DORSET - 18th/19th/20th JULY

The Fencemobile is headed due south this weekend, with four Fencey performances taking place on Saturday 19th ...

King Creosote takes to the mainstage at 3.15pm, and FOUND appear on the Insect Stage at 9.00pm. The Pictish Trail will headline the Insect Stage at 10.15pm ... and both KC & PT will be dancing around the campfire at around 1am, as part of the Strummerville session. Our good pal Rachael Dadd is also playing the festival - on the Friday afternoon.

THE PICTISH TRAIL - AVALANCHE INSTORE - EDINBURGH - 6th AUGUST

JUST ANNOUNCED! The Pictish Trail will be playing a free, acoustic instore show, at Edinburgh's Avalanche Records (situated on Cockburn Str) on Wednesday, August 6th. He'll be playing songs from his new album, Secret Soundz Vol.1, which isn't available in shops until September 8th - however a limited number of albums will be available to buy at this instore show. IN ADDITION TO THAT .... there will be some tickets on sale for our Fence Club #6 show, in September (with James Yorkston and special guests). MORE INFO ON THE INSTORE TO COME - CHECK THE FENCE WEBSITE NEXT WEEK FOR MORE DETAILS ...

... and then later that night ...

PICTISH TRAIL @ THE RETREAT- EDINBURGH - 6th AUGUST

JUST ANNOUNCED! The Pictish one scarpers to the other side of town to headline The Retreat - part of a new series of shows organised by our Tracer Trail friends, and taking place throughout August, at the Scottish Scullery, in St Johns Church Hall on Lothian Road/Princes St. Support comes courtesy of our very own HMS Ginafore - and a new girl/boy act from Rich Amino, called Button Series. Tickets are only £3. For more information visit www.myspace.com/edinburghretreat

FIELD DAY FESTIVAL - AUGUST 9TH - TICKET GIVEAWAY!

We love Tom Baker, we do. Not crazed Tom Baker of Dr Who fame ... but our chum at Eat Your Own Ears. You'll love him too - especially when you hear that he has given us A PAIR OF TICKETS to give away for his FIELD DAY Festival (happening in London's Victoria Park, on Saturday August 9th). Both King Creosote and The Pictish Trail are playing acoustic sets at this festival, alongside an incredible bill - featuring Dan Deacon, One Little Plane, Emma Pollock, Les Savy Fav, Mystery Jets, Of Montreal, The Notwist, Alasdair Roberts, Jeffrey Lewis, Tunng and millions more ...

To be in with a chance of winning the tickets, send an email - with the subject line 'FIELD DAY' to us at the following address: fenceclub [at] hotmail [dot] com. Winners will be notified on Thursday 31st July.

Good luck!

For a full listing of all the festivals we're playing over the summer, check the gigs page!

14th July 2008

Tickets for our next Fence Club show, in Edinburgh, on September 17th, are on sale NOW!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON HOW TO BUY TICKETS!

James Yorkston will be headlining, with support from a very special guest indeed, and The Pictish Trail 'n' Rozi Plain opening proceedings, plus more more more ...

FOR A LIMITED TIME, TICKETS ARE ONLY £10. THIS WILL GO UP TO £12 IN A FEW WEEKS - SO BUY 'EM TODAY!

1st July 2008

Fence Records is proud to announce that the next Fence Club event will be taking place at The Caves in Edinburgh, on Wednesday 17th September - and will be headlined by JAMES YORKSTON & THE ATHLETES!

This Fence Club show will be the main Scottish show in support of his new album, When The Haar Rolls, on Domino Records, which will be released that month.

We also have a non-Fence support act lined-up that is sooo sooooo special, we're not allowed to announce him yet! Rest assured, this is one show you will NOT WANT TO MISS!

Rozi Plain and The Pictish Trail will open the night with a combined set ... and there is more to be announced.

Tickets will go on sale this Friday - 3rd July - from the Fence webshop, at the special price of £10. This will go up to £12 in a few weeks time - so make sure you buy early!

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PICTISH TRAIL & ROZI PLAIN TOUR

As if that was not enough excitement for one day, we can also now announce details of a very special tour - taking place throughout September and October.

The Pictish Trail is heading out on the road - with his guitar and keyboard in tow - accompanied by fellow-Fencer Rozi Plain, in support of their respective new albums, Secret Soundz Vol. 1, and Inside Over Here.

The dates in September are going to be acoustic affairs, in very intimate venues - with lots of chat (but not from the audience, hopefully). And the October dates look set to be full-band shows in stadiums - with fireworks during the interval. Information on how to book tickets will be posted soon - until then check the gigs page for more info.

10th September - Betsey Trotwood, LONDON
11th September - Gander On The Green, BOURNEMOUTH
12th September - South Street Arts Centre, READING
14th September - The Railway, WINCHESTER
17th September - Fence Club # 6, The Caves, EDINBURGH
25th September - The Tunnels, ABERDEEN
26th September - Captain’s Rest, GLASGOW
3rd October - The Legion, LONDON
5th October - The Cube, BRISTOL

Christian Ward - he who did the Secret Soundz artwork - has knocked up a special poster for us! Click the image below to see a proper sized version. There's a few dates still to be added ... and I've spelt 'Betsey' incorrectly ... but it's nice to look at! Mark the dates in your diary!

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Finally, we've got some new titles in stock from señor Pip Dylan - we have limited copies of his self-released Parsnips, Flamenco, Orange Dirt County titles, alongside his Fence Records titles Ain't A Classical Piece, Not By A Long Shot, and Of All The Things I Can Eat I'm Always Pleased With A Piece Of Cheese. Click below !