Area 52 Records

Area 52 Records “Christ. I don’t know how I get stuck with these people,” Garlon Hairmungus mutters as he puts the phone down. He’s been in animated conversation with his ‘talent spotter’, Kojé. “I mean. Kojé. It’s an anagram for ‘joke’ for crying out loud!” That’s as may be. Area 52, however, are no laughing matter. Having first come to Probe’s attention with mumblings about ambitious plans, they are on the verge of releasing the first in a series of split seven inch releases, which, in time, will feature such luminaries as Reynolds, Econoline, Jet Plane Landing, Oil Red O, Birdhouse and more. If this is impressive, the inaugural seven inch vinyl release includes tracks by established favourites Trumans Water and Penthouse who are joined by noisy vets, I’m Being Good and Australian noise mongers Gravel Samwidge. “Getting these bands had nothing to do with Kojé,” sighs Hairmungus. The Area 52 boss is in digestive trouble, as wrappers and leftovers strewn across his South East London office suggest. “I’ve been on a diet of food beginning with the letter ‘P’ for the best part of the last month. There’s only so much pasta, peaches, pastrami, potatoes and polenta the human body can take,” he laughs. “I’ve been eating pepper and pepperoni pizzas solid for the last fortnight and my valves ache!” But what about Area 52? “Well, we’ve made some good contacts, and the link with Probemusic should stand us in good stead for the immediate future. No thanks to Kojé. Our aim, really, is to bring new tracks by established underground bands and folks like Gravel Samwidge – bands we really think are worthy of exposure.” The future looks reasonably good for the label, assuming that Hairmungus can survive his diets, and the erstwhile Kojé can come up the goods he promised when he met the boss a few months ago. “That Kojé. Funny bloke. Never leaves the office without a deerstalker hat and a pair of opera glasses. He always says he’s off to see new bands and stuff, but I don’t know…………” Area 52’s first release, featuring Trumans Water, Penthouse, I’m Being Good and Gravel Samwidge is out on 18th February 2002, and is distributed by Shellshock. For anyone who likes their music to sound like sonically charged, molten tarmac, this should be a treat. Believe me, I’ve heard it. Elliot Smoke

Releases

• Birdhouse - How to make an underworld
  28/04/2003
• Various - Area 52 No.1
  18/02/2002