ART IS HARD is a small independent record label in Bristol (UK) run by two friends influenced by the attitude and ethics of labels such as Factory, Wichita, Anticon and Dischord. They have a strange habit: release things – mainly postcards – with music, but they published a scarf with download code too.

To celebrate their seventh birthday they asked seven label artists  Samuel Stacpoole from Black Tambourines, KEEL HER, /please/, The Death of Pop, Shunkan, Gorgeous Bully, Oro Swimming Hour to record a 50 second song. Each track is an infectious burst of garage balladry, lo-fi bliss or trademark jangle:

300 copies black 7″ flexidisc with gold foil artwork with a postcard containing a download code. And if you would like to get postcards with music regularly then join the club.

5crap5 doesn’t hesitate to wear her obsession with 80s synth rock on her sleeve, citing The Human League, Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Flock of Seaguls, OMD, Gary Numan and Devo as influences. I didn’t want to believe that she’s also an Aussie.

digital album

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2 British grunge punk bands, Bloody Knees and Birdskull

split 7″ by Art is Hard

Sheffield’s bad kids, Best friends are back with a new 7inch vinyl single titled Happy Anniversary / Nosebleeds out now on Art is Hard Records!

Here’s a weird new retro style green screen video (possibly the best video making technique ever) for Happy Anniversary with lots of fun and a bit of sickness!

The Black Tambourines come from England. They enumerate the following bands like influence: Velvet Underground, Devo, Pixies, Sonic Youth, Ramones. Their music is fine fuzzy indie garage punk.

LP by Art Is Hard

Don’t confuse with Black Tambourine, a recently reformed American shoegaze indie pop band!

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Tropical Trash Noise rock in the manner of 90s with hardcore and metal elements. For example the Big Black occurs to me. But sometimes they wander on the way of experimental music too.

7″ by Sophomore Lounge