Gargyle Blog

Prince Language Talks DFA Records

DFA records turned 10 years old recently, and they have had one hell of a decade. Started by the DFA production duo of James Murphy and Tim Goldsworthy, alongside acclaimed child-actor and herbalist Jonathan Galkin, the label burst out of the gate with their first few twelve-inch singles, which included The Rapture’s “House of Jealous Lovers” and “Losing My Edge” from Mr. Murphy’s LCD Soundsystem. Not a bad start. Combining the sound, energy and musicianship of long-lost downtown NYC post-punk art-damage with the classic and weirdo dance music of the disco and house variety, they’ve gone on to bring us artists like The Juan Maclean, Hot Chip, Holy Ghost!, Shit Robot, and Yacht, just too name a few, and helped change the sound of dance floors worldwide along the way. We’re psyched to feature a choice selection of their newest releases on heavy-duty vinyl, including the incredible new album from The Rapture!

Yacht – “Shangri-La”

The Rapture – “Sail Away”

LCD Soundsystem – “All My Friends” (London Session)

-Prince Language

Prince Language Talks Mexican Summer

Today’s featured label from our holiday record shop is Brooklyn’s Mexican Summer records. Born in 2008, the label made a name for itself by releasing limited-edition, ornately packaged vinyl pieces. Over two short years, Mexican Summer has expanded its catalog to nearly 100 releases across multiple formats while maintaining the hands-on sensibility of a boutique record label. The label showcases past and present releases by artists including Best Coast, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Washed Out, and Kurt Vile and unearthed reissue legends such as Robert Lester Folsom, Linda Perhacs, and Fraction. The music Mexican Summer summer releases evokes the ethos of a time when the word “indie” in front of “label” actually stood for “independent” – not just in the literal sense of being unconnected to the big corporate music-pushers, but in the way that their output privileges quality and strong artistic voices over any over-riding aesthetic or style. They do seem to dig synthesizers a lot, but who doesn’t these days?