Excellent ‘home-grown’ indie formed by the arc life trust, an arts organization that formed out of the arc cafe in central dunedin. releasing a number of aptly titled compilations each year (usually with a specific focus, i.e. ‘arc life’ was a live album, ‘arc beats’ more electronically-aimed and accompanied by a cook book.. of all things).
They’ve been a brilliant resource to up and coming musicians in the south, releasing loving-produced small run release and promoting them from the cafe, and allowing musicians free-access to their in-house studio (above the cafe itself). now run by mike hex (of the hiss explosion) and featuring a plethora of different artists on their quickly growing catalog (Mestar, Cloudboy / Demarnia Lloyd, Bible Black, Sola Monday, David Kilgour etc etc).
Sadly in early 2004, label coordinator Mike Brassell (aka the well-loved Mikey Hex, lo-fi legend and member of squirm, the Hiss Explosion, Ape Management etc) passed on, leaving studio engineer Thom Bell to take over the reins of the studio. I had the privilege of interviewing Mike in January 2004, and organized the Christchurch memorial to him, which was well attended by friends, band-mates, and loved ones (and followed up by an even larger scale event in Dunedin).
Compilation Discography
- music of dunedin [1998 arc001]
- arclife [1999 arc005]
- flying way too high [2000 arc007]
- arc beats cd and cookbook [2001 arc011]
Contact Details
- Arc Cafe website [official website]
- Arc Cafe manager email [email contact]
- +64 3 474-5135 [phone number]
- +64 3 474-1135 [fax number]
- Arc cafe, 135 high St, Dunedin, New Zealand