Welcome to www.xtramilerecordings.com, the interweb home of London based independent record label Xtra Mile Recordings. We began life in 2003 with the noble intention of taking over the world but having failed with that initial aim, we now just release good music by good people.

03.03.2008

"As grandiose as The Killers, the suave This Gun and punky King Of England spit hummable fire, while closer 4am elegantly distils everything that already passed." Q MAGAZINE 4/5

On 17th March 2008 Chris T-T will release his eagerly awaited album ‘Capital’ through Xtra Mile Recordings preceded by the euphoric, call-to-arms single ‘A-Z’ on 10th March 2008.

Following on from the success of recent EP ‘This Gun Is Not A Gun’ - championed by Sunday Times, Rocksound, the Sun and played on XFM, 6Music and Radio 1 - the album is the final chapter in Chris T-T’s much loved London trilogy and brings the story of a modern gritty city fraught with prejudice and fear to a climactic end. "The whole thing's just a big clunky metaphor for modern urban decay," explains Chris. It is yet another brilliantly intricate and hilariously acerbic album, with musical styles ranging from electronic synth-pop to moody piano-led folk. On his past albums – including the first two parts of the trilogy ‘The 253’ (2001) and ‘London Is Sinking’ (2003), as well as overtly political mini-album ‘9 Red Songs’ (2005) – Chris T-T tackles life's grand themes of war, money, politics, love, sex, and death, and transforms them into highly personal and highly emotional songs. It’s a talent that has been championed by everyone from NME, Rolling Stone, and Q to Radio 1, Radio 3, and 6Music.

‘Capital’ was produced by Jon Clayton (Pete and the Pirates and Charlotte Hatherley) at One Cat Studios in London and features the world-class drumming of Andy Burrows (Razorlight), the award-winning folk stylings of Timothy Victor - infamous extra member / producer of Broken Family Band - Jon Boden of Spiers & Boden, Eliza Carthy Band and Bellowhead fame, and friend Jim Bob from Carter USM lends his unique vocals to the record. With such a wealth of talent 'Capital' reaches a depth too few albums try to attain.

After a jaunt around America’s West Coast with label-mate Frank Turner, Chris T-T will be embarking on a full UK tour with a band throughout March/April.

MARCH
25 Manchester Night and Day
26 Birmingham Bar Academy
27 Bath Moles
APRIL
2 Cambridge Portland Arms
3 Cheltenham Slak Bar
4 Berwick Barrels Aleshouse
5 Edinburgh Cabaret Voltaire
6 York Junction
7 London Luminaire
8 Brighton Komedia

"Richly layered both musically and lyrically, songs spin between vitriolic anger, witty self-deprecation and arch political condemnation. Like Kerouac and Wylie, T-T understands what is subversive about love. We should cherish such poets of 21st century urbanity." PLAN B MAGAZINE

"Extraordinary. A terrifying and thrilling experience... as a theme, violence is less an undercurrent and more a seething torrent. Capital's London pulsates with unease." MORNING STAR

"Another winner. One of the finest and most consistent songwriters this country has seen this century." THISISMUSIC.COM

www.christt.com & www.myspace.com/christtuk

01.02.2008

Sonicflyer released their debut EP 'Sun In My Pocket' on 28th January 2008 through Xtra Mile Recordings on CD only, preceded a week earlier by its release through iTunes and other major DSPs.

Sonicflyer were formed in Barnaul, a remote town in Southern Siberia, by brother and sister duo Yulia (vocals, lead guitar) and Dima (drums). The siblings fostered a love of British guitar music from seeing the likes of Oasis and The Verve on a local pirate TV station, and in 2006 they moved to London to pursue their dream. Quickly recruiting Chris (rhythm guitar, backing vocals) and Rob (bass, backing vocals), the band developed Yulia's yearning pop songs of hope and escapism, coupling their Britpop influences with an intense, layered sound that recalls My Bloody Valentine, Chapterhouse or Mew.

Soon after moving to the UK, a childhood dream was realised when the band were personally invited by Noel Gallagher to support him at an acoustic gig in Moscow. The plaudits continued to come thick and fast, with a breathtaking sunset performance at Latitude Festival leading to Silversun Pickups requesting them as the main support on their UK tour in September 2007.

A deal with Xtra Mile Recordings soon followed, and Sonicflyer took to the studio to record and produce the 'Sun In My Pocket' EP: a document of their extraordinary journey so far, and the start of a new chapter in which long-held aspirations seem set to become a reality.

You can catch them live at one of the following dates:

FEBRUARY

07.01.2008

Said Mike release the ‘Stop The Clocks’ digital EP on Monday 7th January through Xtra Mile Recordings.

Born in the same scene that has produced the likes of Kids In Glass Houses and The Blackout, it can be a double edged sword seeing your friends causing in a stir in the UK’s underground circuit, you can either get jealous and resentful about it, or it can spur you on to give it 100%. For this Pontypridd five piece it could only be the latter. Meet Said Mike.

The next 18 months were spent gigging the South Wales circuit, a previous stomping ground for Lostprophets, Funeral For A Friend, Bullet For My Valentine and The Automatic, and sharing the stages with the likes of Enter Shikari and Get Wape. Wear Cape. Fly. Upon returning from a four week jaunt of the UK at the end of 2006, the band were greeted with the news that they had won a vote to appear at the Taste Of Chaos at Cardiff’s CIA, alongside Taking Back Sunday and Alexisonfire, a clear indication that they were starting to reap the rewards for their continued hard work.

At the turn on 2007, Said Mike were starting to fill the venues they’d opened just a year earlier, and had began work on their debut EP. Keeping it in the family, the effort was produced by Todd Campbell, Dane’s brother, in their home studio. The obviously musically inclined brothers no doubt have their dad, Phil, guitarist of the legendary Motorhead, to thank for kick starting their interest.

The result is this, ‘Stop The Clocks’, a five track offering bursting at the seams with their hook-laden, genre-hopping rock stylings.

According to frontman, Tom, ‘Stop The Clocks’ is inspired by and touches on subjects such as bullying, love, relationships, drug abuse, frustration, but also enjoying life to the max and partying.” The key thing he says is “it’s all done with a positive feel. We write about things that go on in our lifes, and without a doubt go on in many other young people's lives. We don’t write songs about how shit life is for us, because we’ve all had decent up bringings, but that doesn't mean you can't have problems either, ” he adds.

23.11.2007

Everyone’s favourite travelling punk/folk hero Frank Turner is one of ten final nominees for XFM’s most coveted of competitions, their inaugural New Music Award 2007.

Beating off competition from the likes of Calvin Harris and Jamie T, Frank’s debut album ‘Sleep Is For The Week’ – released on Xtra Mile Recordings back in January 2007 – is up against the might of major label success stories such as Klaxons, Kate Nash, The Enemy and The Twang.

The award ceremony takes place on 16th January 2008 at London’s Koko when each nominee plays live and the winner, chosen by an esteemed panel of industry movers and shakers, is announced on the night.

The news of this fantastic accolade comes as Frank triumphantly returns home from a 3 week tour of America; hopping from a festival in Florida to sold out sweaty club gigs in New York from radio sessions on the west coast’s Indie 103.1FM to more packed gigs in LA. The tour was in support of the release of his mini album ‘Campfire Punkrock’ (USA) out in January 2008 through Welcome Home Records and with an ever-increasing profile in the States, there will be more touring and further releases across the pond next year.

Back in the UK Frank is currently busy recording tracks for his second studio album due for release in the Spring. Holed up in a shed in the countryside of Hampshire with ‘Sleep…’ producer Ben Lloyd, Frank’s second album is shaping up to be another killer collection of cleverly inventive alt.country/folk sing-a-longs and will feature up and coming pianist Ciara Haidar, the quirky talent of Beans On Toast and chart bothers The Holloways.

To catch a few early glimpses of this new material, Frank will be playing the following gigs:

DECEMBER
6 Let's Catch Up, The Hideaway Bar, Archway, London
10 The Hideout Bar, Paris, France (with Jonah Mantranga)
13 Xtra Mile Xmas Party, The Luminaire, Kilburn, London

20.11.2007

The ever-brilliant Chris T-T returns with a brand new EP ‘This Gun Is Not A Gun’ released on 19th November 2007 through Xtra Mile Recordings. Check out the video to the title track here and buy the CD here.

The EP is typical of Chris’s poetic song-writing talents, showcasing four fantastic folk-rock anthems that are simultaneously thought-provoking and challenging whilst remaining altogether foot-tappingly catchy.

‘This Gun…’ provides a clever foreword to the forthcoming release of ‘Capital’, the final album in Chris T-T’s much loved London trilogy. Due for release in February, ‘Capital’ brings the story of a modern gritty city fraught with prejudice and fear to a climactic end in the grips of a city devouring itself. "The whole thing's just a big clunky metaphor for modern urban decay," explains Chris. It is yet another brilliantly intricate and hilariously acerbic album, with musical styles ranging from electronic synth-pop to moody piano-led folk. Featuring the world-class drumming of Andy Burrows (Razorlight), 'Capital' reaches a depth too few try to attain.

As with his past albums – including the first two parts of the trilogy ‘The 253’ (2001) and ‘London Is Sinking’ (2003), as well as overtly political mini-album ‘9 Red Songs’ (2005) – Chris T-T tackles life's grand themes of war, money, politics, love, sex, and death, and transforms them into highly personal and highly emotional songs. It’s a talent that has been championed by everyone from NME, Rolling Stone, and Q to Radio 1, Radio 3, and 6Music.

07.11.2007

Some exciting news for us here at Xtra Mile - Frank Turner and Dartz have both been shortlisted in the final 32 of XFM's New Music Award 2007! We would very much appreciate it if you could head over to: www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?b=reviews&id=502985 and vote for them. It only takes a minute and it will make you a better person; we're all about self improvement. You get to vote for a top three so make sure you get Frank and Dartz in there!

In other news, we're having a party! Along with our buddies Big Scary Monsters, we're hosting THE Christmas Party of the year on 13th December at Kilburn’s award winning Luminaire venue.

With the two labels united by a similar independent and creative spirit releasing and co-promoting a wealth of exciting and innovative music, it only seems natural to showcase this winning friendship by having a party. Two bands from each label performing, DJs playing until the early hours and the obligatory Christmas goody give-aways, this will be a party not to be missed!

Getting the festivities underway is BSM’s This Town Needs Guns with their complex guitar pieces, towering drum rolls and bass lines that would put Jazz’s best to shame. They’re followed by the soaring post-hardcore outfit Secondsmile who Rocksound believe “are one of the UK's finest young bands.”

Then it’s Xtra Mile’s turn and Teesside’s favourite trio Dartz bring their “fast, giddy, heart-bursting, and dancable-as-shit” (NME) post-punk to the proceedings to be followed by everyone’s folk/punk hero Frank Turner who celebrates his incredible year with an intimate headline slot. Frank’s gigs have now become somewhat legendary; thought-provoking, foot-tappingly catchy and often descending into drunken sing-a-longs, his brand of honest, emotional and witty folk/alt-country is the perfect feel-good party closer. Expect sneak previews of new material not released until next year!

And if that wasn’t enough fun, Xtra Mile’s new signing, the wonderful Chris T-T will be DJ-ing the night away! Expect goody-bag surprises and riotous, drunken, good-spirited fun in the name of Christmas!

Xtra Mile and Big Scary Monsters Xmas Party
13th December 2007 at The Luminaire, Kilburn
Tickets are £6 from www.wegottickets.com
If any are left they will be £8 on the door...

Dartz, This Town Needs Guns and Secondsmile will be continuing the party tour round the country calling at: The Wheatsheaf in Oxford 14th December, Dr Browns in Middlesbrough 15th December, The Flapper in Birmingham 16th December, The Redhouse in Sheffield 17th December and The Roadhouse in Manchester (no Secondsmile) on 19th December 2007. Check the Dartz website/myspace for full details:

www.dartzisgood.co.uk : www.myspace.com/darts

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