Re: 2008 so far...

I suppose the typo was no accident because to me the last years were 
filled with occasions to shed a few tiny tears about the label we all 
knew and worshipped for so long.

People familar with the 4AD message board (RIP) will know that I 
sometimes tend to complain to much, but seeing 

* how the whole cataloguing system is getting screwed-up (gaps, 
download-only video "releases", rereleases with current cat#'s, box 
sets of rereleases with another current cat# [but just if look at the 
barcode!]) 

* how service and communication with the worried fanbase was 
radically reduced (breakdown of the subscription, one nice person 
playing the punching bag on the message board, then occasional 
comments by some new but very busy people, then great big nothing)

* how some limited releases are only available through one or two 
internet services (downloads at Rough Trade, Beatport and not to 
forget gloriously monopolisitc i-tunes - and strictly limited bonus 
7"s if you order your vinyl copy in the US only [where you even get a 
free download thrown in as well while the european copy adds nothing -
 thank you very much]!)

* how signings are getting increasingly arbitrary (the cooking vinyl 
syndrome) finally cumulating into the merging with two other well-
respected labels (which had a totally individual profile to them)

* and how not one of these issues got adressed on the official 4AD 
homepage nor the journal (save for one tiny note on the journal 
anouncing the message board would return, but that was 5 months ago!)

is all getting me furious! But still nobody else seems to bother at 
all! Just a brief note about the news without any comment and that's 
it. Could it be that I am the last one who actually cares? 

I mean, i'm still trying to see things positive. Hey! One of my 
favourite 90's groops (Stereolab) arrived at 4AD and another one 
(Tindersticks) might [or might not] follow. There even was a short 
time around 1993 when i toyed with collecting Too Pure and now 
they're part of 4AD. 
Ain't life grand?

~ Vlad


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