Hidden Shoal Recordings Release New Iretsu Album

Perth, Western Australia and Portland, Oregon October 9th, 2007. The Australian music label, Hidden Shoal Recordings, today announced the release of “The Moon and Stars Remain in the Morning Sky” by Portland based avant popsters Iretsu.

As its name suggests "The Moon and Stars Remain in the Morning Sky" is a folding of once separated elements into a single exquisite composite. The album manages to distil the core elements of chamber pop, folk, indie pop and rock and pours the result into a whole new mould.

With intricate, complex melodies woven into impeccable arrangements Iretsu have managed to paradoxically create an album that is both stripped back and at the same time bursting with an undeniable energy and complexity. All within one track minimal pop suddenly breaks out into an anthemic hook laden epic with strings cart wheeling over biting guitars, arpeggiated banjos and male/female chorales.

"The Moon and Stars Remain in the Morning Sky" presents such a wonderfully individual and engaging musical vision that descriptors which suddenly seem to fit become redundant moments later. If you had to find a contemporary marker then perhaps a starting point might be Sufjan Stevens conducting The Arcade Fire. The album is a masterful example of the band’s progressive avant-world music and signature experimental pop sound.

The band have also developed a reputation for themselves in their hometown of Portland for their exuberant live performances.

Whether they’re rocking on guitars or glockenspiels, local electro-pop consortium Iretsu truly knows no bounds – Portland Mercury

The quartet that is Iretsu — may be our city’s most talented unsigned and self-produced band…. they give you a full-on deliberate cabaret of avant-everything - St. Johns Sentinel

Iretsu began life in the Sellwood district of Portland, Oregon during the spring of 2002. Ryan Cross (Loch Lomond) and Kate O’Brien-Clarke (Loch Lomond, Eric Bachmann, Pseudo Six) started forming songs using guitar and cello/violin. Joel Holly (Hurtbird, Y5K) began collaborating on guitar and bass followed by drummer, Glen Scheidt (Basta). The band soon developed a buzz around the art-house scene of Portland with their electric theatrical performances at both regular gigs and art events. Iretsu have also become known for their collaborative work with the experimental theatre troupe Fever Theatre.

"The Moon and Stars Remain in the Morning Sky" is available now through Hidden Shoal Recordings. Check the album in the HSR Store for all distribution details.

Hidden Shoal Recordings is an Australian-based independent music label. The label’s current catalogue includes releases that slip between the edges of experimental ambient work, shoegazing pop, post-rock and indie rock. The label has earned a reputation for releasing exciting and engaging new independent music that is not bound by genre or style.

Label Site: http://music.hiddenshoal.com
HSR Store: http://agora.hiddenshoal.com