Maher Shalal Hash Baz Blues Du Jour

Geographic, the Domino imprint label set up in the year 2000 by Stephen McRobbie and Katrina Mitchellof The Pastels, are pleased to announce the reissue of three of their seminal label releases: Maher ShalalHash Baz’s experimental ‘Blues du Jour’, The Pastels’‘The Last Great Wilderness’ - the score to directorDavid Mackenzie’s film of the same name - andLightships’ astounding ‘Electric Cables’.

After a welcome tip off from David Keenan at The Wire, Japanese improvisation ensemble group Maher Shalal Hash Baz, led by Tori Kudo, became one of the first signings to Geographic. McRobbie comments:“It was exactly the kind of music we wanted to release. It was kind of wild but totally melodic too - a mixture of original brass, outsider pop oddness and Tori Kudo’s brilliant cutting Syd Barrett-influenced guitar.”

A fruitful friendship between Geographic and the group blossomed and led to the first release on the label: ‘From A Summer To Another Summer (An Egypt To Another Egypt)’ (2000). A retrospective release of their 80s and 90s music, the album was released to critical acclaim including from BBC Radio 1 legendary DJ, John Peel.

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