SKiN GRAFT News for You's

B A L L P E E N ( ! ) B U L L E T I N S

updated: March 16th, 2016

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Hi Everybody,

This is Mark filling in for News Desk Reporter "Jazzy" Joe Romita. It's been a while!

There has been a lot going on behind the scenes these last few months. I'm happy to report that the bands and I have now got the majority of our ducks in a row - and we have some news to share with you!

SKiN GRAFT Records turns a quarter century old this year, and a press release has gone out to mark the occasion, which we've reproduced below.

..and actually, SKiN GRAFT existed as a comix zine for five years before the record label even began, so that means SKiN GRAFT as a whole turns 30 this year. We put the first issue together in 1986 back when I was in high school, and I'm thrilled to announce that my old cartooning buddies - Los Bros Graft - Rob Syers, Jeff Bentle and Paul Nitsche are each working on some new artwork that we'll be presenting later this year.

All of the original SKiN GRAFT comic books are long out of print, but for those interested, you can see an old, hastily assembled gallery of the archived SKiN GRAFT comic covers HERE.

As for the record label, we have plenty to announce just below.

Fair Warning Dept: Postage prices continue to go up, and whenever I have an opportunity, I'm going to have to overhaul the SKiN GRAFT Online Shop to reflect our ever-rising costs. So if you've been wanting to order some records or cds, now is a great time to pick stuff up.

Also, before we move on, I'd like to thank Greg of Lovely Little Girls for assisting with the launch of the SKiN GRAFT Records Soundcloud Page. You'll find that right HERE.

Okay - Here are today's announcements!

SKiN GRAFT Records Celebrates 25 years
with move to REDEYE Worldwide;
Announces Releases from
CELLULAR CHAOS, ARAB ON RADAR,
LOVELY LITTLE GIRLS and DAZZLING KILLMEN

Press Release: March 16th, 2016

From genre-defying to genre-defining, over the last 25 years SKiN GRAFT Records has curated a collection of music that would seem at home nowhere else. SKiN GRAFT initially sprang to life in 1986 as a punk-infused comix zine, but with a move to Chicago in 1991, SKiN GRAFT reinvented itself as a quirky, aesthetically-driven record label. Now headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and with shipping facilities just outside of St. Louis, the label will move its entire catalog, including recent releases from Sax Ruins, Yowie, Child Abuse, Strangulated Beatoffs and Doomsday Student to distributor Redeye Worldwide for an April 15th re-launch to retail shops everywhere.

SKiN GRAFT Records debuted with a collection of seven-inch singles packed inside comic book sleeves that defined its irreverent, multi-disciplinary approach. With the now-defunct distribution arm of Touch and Go, the label began churning out a stream of innovative releases from uncategorizable acts ranging from post-rock harbingers Brise-Glace, to the grindcore noise-pop of Tokyo’s Melt-Banana, to Chicago’s “rock re-defining” U.S. Maple.

CELLULAR CHAOS

SKiN GRAFT’s first new release under the partnership with Redeye will be the sophomore album from New York’s Cellular Chaos, “Diamond Teeth Clenched,” on June 24th, 2016. Headed by vocalist Admiral Grey, guitarist Weasel Walter and bassist Shayna Dulberger, Cellular Chaos inexplicably merge iconoclastic post-punk / no wave experimentalism with articulate songwriting, outlandish glam rock personality, and a dash of blast-beat fury. The release marks a reunion of the label and Weasel Walter, who rose to prominence during his tenure at SKiN GRAFT with albums from his bands The Flying Luttenbachers and Lake Of Dracula.

LOVELY LITTLE GIRLS

On July 8th, SKiN GRAFT will release the new album from Chicago’s notorious nine-piece art-prog band, Lovely Little Girls. Led by visual artist / vocalist Gregory Jacobsen and Cheer-Accident’s longtime bassist Alex Perkolup, the band features the cream of the crop from Chicago's avant-rock scene. “Glistening Vivid Splash”, produced by Greg Norman and mastered by Todd Rittman, propels the ensemble’s darkly humorous vision of absurd sexuality, abject failure, and unceremonious death to new heights by utilizing more space, and employing a strange sense of harmony that will strike a chord with fans of Magma, Cardiacs, and Art Bears.

ARAB ON RADAR

August will see the arrival of two previously unreleased recordings from Providence, Rhode Island’s now-defunct Arab On Radar. Produced in 2001 during the sessions for their “Yahweh Or The Highway” LP, the songs will be presented on a limited edition, seven inch single and packaged with a handcrafted aluminum sleeve, screen-printed with artwork from the band’s longtime collaborators Mat Brinkman and Neil Burke.

DAZZLING KILLMEN

To cap off the label’s 25th anniversary, a deluxe, gatefold-sleeved double LP of Dazzling Killmen’s seminal album “Face Of Collapse” will be released in the Fall. Noteworthy for being SKIN GRAFT’s first full-length release, “Face Of Collapse” has been recognized as a milestone in the development of underground rock music and was singled out by Alternative Press’ Loud Life as the number one heavy record of the '90s. The band has gone back to the original tapes for the reissue, and specific details will be unveiled as the release date approaches.

Redeye Worldwide is home to a diverse group of independent labels, including Drag City, Barsuk, Soul Jazz, Warp, Yep Roc, Erased Tapes and Thrill Jockey, and has recently expanded its footprint to include a total of 11 offices worldwide.

Additionally, as part of Redeye’s worldwide distribution network, SKiN GRAFT Records is pleased to announce new partnerships with the following distributors:

Planet Distribution Australia

V2 Records (Netherland) B.V. Benelux

Mandai Distribution Belgium

Outside Music Canada

Modulor France

H’art Austria / Germany / Switzerland

Audio Globe Italy

BBQ / Ultra Vybe Japan

Pdis / Disk Union Japan

Southbound New Zealand

Border Music Scandinavia / Eastern EU

Sheer Sound CC South Africa

Popstock Distribuciones Spain

Proper UK

Based in Haw River, North Carolina (near Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill), Redeye began in 1996 and has grown from a regional supplier to an international distributor quick to respond to the evolving marketplace. On May 17th, 2016, the Music Business Association will present its prestigious “Independent Spirit Award” to Redeye for its contributions to the independent music community.

Now headquartered in Vienna, Austria, SKiN GRAFT Records was formed in Chicago in 1991.

www.skingraftrecords.com
www.facebook.com/SkinGraftRecords
www.soundcloud.com/skin-graft-records

Photo Credits:
Arab On Radar: Marci Rogal
Cellular Chaos: Justina Villanueva
Dazzling Killmen: Mark Buckheit
Lovely Little Girls: Katie Hovland

Click photos for High Resolution versions

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So that's the news!

Thanks to everyone out there - especially you - for helping us get to this point. Your support and enthusiasm are what keep SKiN GRAFT going (...and caffeine helps too). There will be many more details to share in the months to come, but for now, let me leave you with the first look at the cover art for Cellular Chaos “Diamond Teeth Clenched"!

'TIl Next time,

Mark Fischer

RECENT RELEASES:

CHILD ABUSE
LP / MOD CD

DOOMSDAY
STUDENT CD

THE BEATOFFS
LP / MOD CD

SAX RUINS
LP / CD

STRANGULATED BEATOFFS MOD CD

ZEEK SHECK
Distributed 2xLP

U.S. MAPLE
DIECUT METAL LP

U.S. MAPLE
CD / LP

ATHLETIC AUTOMATON LP / MOD CD

All titles available for ORDER at

CLICK HERE FOR MORE NEWS

RECENT RELEASES:

CHILD ABUSE LP / MOD CD	DOOMSDAY STUDENT CD	THE BEATOFFS LP / MOD CD

SAX RUINS LP / CD	STRANGULATED BEATOFFS MOD CD	ZEEK SHECK Distributed 2xLP

U.S. MAPLE DIECUT METAL LP	U.S. MAPLE CD / LP	ATHLETIC AUTOMATON LP / MOD CD

Planet Distribution	Australia
V2 Records (Netherland)	B.V. Benelux
Mandai Distribution	Belgium
Outside Music	Canada
Modulor	France
H’art	Austria / Germany / Switzerland
Audio Globe	Italy
BBQ / Ultra Vybe	Japan
Pdis / Disk Union	Japan
Southbound	New Zealand
Border Music	Scandinavia / Eastern EU
Sheer Sound CC	South Africa
Popstock Distribuciones	Spain
Proper	UK