Reekus Records

Reekus Records
Parent company N/A
Founded 1981
Founder Elvera Butler
Genre Rock, indie, alternative rock, punk
Country of origin Ireland
Location Dublin, Ireland
Official website www.reekus.com

Reekus Records is an Irish independent record label and publishing company based in Dublin, founded by Elvera Butler in 1981. The label specializes in the promotion of mostly Irish, alternative music.

The label has a discography that charts over three decades of alternative Irish music. The company has released albums by leading Irish artists, including The Blades, David Hopkins, Perry Blake, Reemo, The Moondogs, Metisse, Big Self and performance artist Nigel Rolfe, as well launching the career of now established acts, such as Aslan and Microdisney.[1]

Reekus Records is a member of the Irish Recorded Music Association known as IRMA.[2]

History

1980s: Kaught at the Kampus and the origins of Reekus

The creation of Reekus Records originated from Kaught at the Kampus, a vehicle for local Cork bands, whose central aim was to give support slots to smaller acts at the Downtown Kampus, a regular club night in the Cork Arcadia Ballroom. Run by Reekus Records founder Elvera Butler, Downtown Kampus regularly hosted gigs with influential bands of the era - these included The Cure, The Stranglers, The Specials, The Beat, UB40, Rory Gallagher, The Undertones, and up-and-coming Irish acts of the time, such as U2 and Stiff Little Fingers.[3]

Early releases and the 1980s

During this period, Reekus expanded beyond Cork, setting up offices in both Dublin and London. Notable releases during this period include The Blades' double A-side single, The Bride Wore White/Animation in 1982 (in the Hotpress National Poll, The Bride Wore White was voted best single of the year[4]) and 'The Last Man In Europe' (chosen in 2011 as "Classic Irish Album #1" on Irish music blog Swear I'm Not Paul[4]). Other notable releases include the album 'Stateless' by Northern Irish band Big Self, Aslans' double A-side, This Is/Please Don't Stop and single releases from The Camino Organisation and Montage.

2000s: New energy, bands and releases

In 2001, the label released the solo album from The Blades' songwriter and frontman Paul Cleary, entitled 'Crooked Town'. This was quickly followed by re-releases of The Blades' albums 'Raytown Revisited' and 'The Last Man In Europe' onto CD format. Favorites of John Peel,[5] The Moondogs released 'Red Fish' in 2003 (their first album in over twenty years) and in 2002 and 2007 respectively, Reekus released 'California' and 'Canyon Songs', two albums by Sligo-born songwriter Perry Blake.

Several new bands were introduced to the label's roster in this period, and a string of new releases soon followed: In October 2003, Saville released 'Somnambular Ballads', which led Hotpress to call them "one of the nation's favourite bands";[6] in 2005, 'Amber and Green' by David Hopkins was released through Reekus and was given 4.5/5 in Hotpress and made album of the week on the Larry Gogan Show on RTÉ 2fm; Reemo's debut, 'Colours', was described as "blistering" and "epic".[7] Other well-received releases include 'Kaeleidoscope' by Carosel, 'Blood Is Not Enough' by Myp Et Jeep, 'Cash Is King' by Mocrac, 'Charm Offensive' by The Radio, amongst many other albums, EPs and singles.

The Definitive Guide to Punk in Ulster.

In 2003 Reekus moved into print, with the publication of It Makes You Want To Spit - The Definitive Guide to Punk in Ulster. Because of the very few venues and even fewer gigs around at the time of the Northern Irish Troubles, music lovers embraced a punk, DIY aesthetic.[8] The book was originally an 84-page fanzine, whose information was compiled and rewritten by Reekus Records.[8][9]

Celebrating its 30-year anniversary, Reekus Records released Too Late To Stop Now in 2012, a compilation featuring a selection of the acts that the label had signed over its three decades in Irish music.[10] The collection contains both well known and previously unreleased material.[1]

Recent activity: 2010 onwards

Releases, reunions And gigs

In 2010, Reekus released the debut album from up-and-coming Dublin folk rockers Sweet Jane, 'Sugar For My Soul', which was called "beautiful... a cohesive record, one of intriguing atmosphere and stunning depth."[11] The band have since changed their name to their current moniker Buffalo Sunn.

Named "Young Songwriter of the Year" by Irish music body IMRO,[12] Keith Moss released his debut, 'What Eludes You Moves You' through Reekus on 13 July 2013, as well as the 'Torture in Paradise' EP and the singles The War Outside Our Door and Fat Men Have To Eat. The Daily Mirror wrote of his debut: "On their brilliant debut What Eludes You Moves You, the band hurtles breathlessly through electronica, heavy rock and psychedelic pop on a deeply dark and thoughtful record."[13]

Dublin rock band Saccade released their debut album, 'Force of Habit' through Reekus in 2011. As well as playing several television and radio shows in that same year, Hotpress awarded the album 4/5, writing "... that's the band's forte, an unapologetic ability to craft weighty rock songs that also have that soft pop underbelly to help propel them to the masses".[14]

Deetrich released 'Tug Of War' in 2011. The Irish Daily Star wrote "the blend of acoustic pop and country influences is a perfect backdrop for Doyle's strong voice", and Hotpress called her voice "rich [and] ageless". Her single, "Bent Out Of Shape", was chosen by KCLR FM as their single of the week.[15]

In 2011, Cry Before Dawn released their comeback single, Is This What You Waited For, through Reekus Records. Formed in 1982, Cry Before Dawn won the prestigious IRMA award for Best Newcomer in 1987 and Best Irish Group in 1989.

In March 2013, featuring with Electro Sensitive Behaviour, Perry Blake released the single Micheal Caine. It was another stylistic departure for the songwriter, this time seeing him move into electro-pop territory.[16]

In mid-2011, Reekus Records curated an installment of Heineken and POD's Music Future's Bright featuring two bands on Reekus's roster, Sweet Jane and Saccade.[17]

In 2014 Buffalo Sunn released their debut album By The Ocean By The Sea on Reekus Records. Produced by Grammy winner Pat McCarthy, the album debuted at #2 on the Irish indie charts, and #14 on the Irish charts overall.[18][19] The album was received well by the Irish media, receiving 4 out of 5 stars from both The Irish Times and the Irish Daily Star.[20]

Reekus artists

Artists published include:

Current roster

Past artists

Discography

1980-1990

Singles

Albums

2000-2009

Singles

EPs

Albums

2010 onwards

Singles

EPs

Albums

References

  1. 1 2 "Compilation Review". Irishtimes.com. 2011-12-23. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
  2. ↑ "List of members". Irma.ie. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
  3. ↑ Colm O Hare. "Reekus in the years". Hotpress.com. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
  4. 1 2 "Classic Irish Albums #1: The Blades – The Last Man in Europe | Swear I'm Not Paul". Swearimnotpaul.com. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
  5. ↑ "Irish Rock Discography: The Moondogs". Irishrock.org. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
  6. ↑ Eamon Sweeney. "Somnambular Ballads | Music Review | Album". Hot Press. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
  7. ↑ "Reemo". Breaking Tunes. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
  8. 1 2 "Review of It Makes You Want to Spit". RTÉ.ie. Archived from the original on 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
  9. ↑ "Article about launch of It Makes You Want To Spit". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
  10. ↑ "Daily Mail To Late To Stop Now Review". Highbeam.com. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
  11. ↑ Richardson, Jordan (2011-04-26). "Music Review: Sweet Jane - Sugar for My Soul". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
  12. ↑ "Keith Moss | Reekus Records". Reekus.com. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
  13. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20130809045602/http://breakingtunes.com/keithmossandthetightropewalkers. Archived from the original on 2013-08-09. Retrieved 2013-10-10. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ↑ "Saccade". Breaking Tunes. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
  15. ↑ "Deetrich". Breaking Tunes. 2011-11-18. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
  16. ↑ "2 U I Bestow: : 2Day's Tune: ESB ft Perry Blake - Michael Caine". 2uibestow.blogspot.ie. 2013-03-22. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
  17. ↑ "Article about Reekus organising gigs in POD". Heinekenmusic.ie. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
  18. ↑ "Breaking Tunes - Buffalo Sunn". breakingtunes.com. Retrieved 2016-09-07.
  19. ↑ "Irish Album Charts Top 20 Week Commencing October 17th 2014 | Music Scene". musicscene.ie. Retrieved 2016-09-07.
  20. ↑ "Buffalo Sunn: By the Ocean By the Sea". irishtimes.com. Retrieved 2016-09-07.
  21. ↑ "Keith Moss | Reekus Records". Reekus.com. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
  22. ↑ "Death In The Sickroom | Reekus Records". Reekus.com. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
  23. ↑ "Reekus Records | Independent Irish Record Label & Publishing Company, Dublin, Ireland". Reekus.com. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
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