A&C Download Sampler (2014)

Arts & Crafts

• Funk
• Electro-indie
• Alternative rock
• Poptronica
• Baroque pop
• Neokrautrock
• Indie pop

Comment: Arts & Crafts is an indie label based on Toronto, Canada whose well-known artists are or has been Bell Orchestre, The American Analogue Set, Moby, Röyksopp, Stars, The Hidden Cameras, Tricky, Los Campesinos!. The recent sampler includes such artists as NO, Gord Downie, The Sadies, And The Conquering, Kevin Drew, Lowell, Reuben and the Dark, Timber Timbre, Trust, and Zeus. Stylistically the compilation used to veer into lush indie electronic and electro pop, circumspect baroque pop, funk-inclined rock, straightforward but viable rock and roll, and even an up-to-date version of krautrock. However, the catchiest and most volatile track on it is Kevin Drew`s You In Your Were, and more pretentious and distant one is Timber Timbre`s Curtains!?. In a word, the Arts & Crafts`s sampler is compelling and worth to be enjoyed again and again. Subscribe to the label`s mailing list.      

Arts & Crafts - Arts & Crafts Sampler Vol. 7 (2010)

Arts & Crafts

9.0

/Electronic pop, Alternative pop/rock, Indie pop, Baroque pop, Compilation/

Comment: this 12 track sampler is issued on a well-known Canadian indie label, named Arts & Crafts. There are represented such artists as Sally Seltmann, Zeus, Dan Mangan, Chilly Gonzales, Timber Timbre, Amy Millan, Broken Social Scene, Jason Collett, Los Campesinos, The Most Serene Republic, Still Life Still, The Hidden Cameras. Indeed, it can be said that the best part of these artists have already established their reputation, thereby being beloved all around the world. However, stylistically the miscellany veers away from the instances of silenful alt-folk contemplations and burbly indie rock examples to shimmering brass and baroque pop, soft rock revival and more electronically whimsical propulsions and majestic spiritual outbursts.

Arts & Crafts Label & Management Sampler Vol. 8 (2012)

Arts & Crafts
Soundcloud

8.8

/Indie pop, Alternative rock, Baroque pop, Electronic pop, Singer-songwriter, Synth pop, Alt-folk/

Comment: this is the eighth compilation by Arts & Crafts, a considerable Toronto-based indie imprint. (Chiming) guitar music meets poptronica/electronic pop/synth pop meets baroque pop - this would be one of the slogans of the miscellany. At times it allows for itself even more bombastic elements having powerful rises and ascending. There are represented such artists as Bishop Morocco, Antoine Reverb, Molly Rankin, Dan Mangan, Gold & Youth, Cold Specks, Parlovr, Trust, Eight and a Half, The Darcys, Zeus, Uncle Bad Touch, Bam Bam. The favourite of mine are Cold Specks`Holland which interlace an alt-folk and chamber folk template with soul(ful) tendencies, and Trust`s Sulk which is an instance of glimmering synth pop.