Fresh Squeezed: The Harding Street Assembly Lab

jason - Posted on 26 January 2010

Joanna & Nathan McGlothlin are mostly known for their creations in the world of arts and crafts, but expanding into music for 2010. Based in Lynchburg, Virginia, Joanna and Nathan began to notice that there was a lot of quality music in Virginia going unnoticed. With the mission of shedding light on these locals, the vinyl-based label was born. However, they aren't just content releasing music, but they are adding in their artistic touches. There first two releases have well-designed collage-based covers and are pressed on multi-colored vinyl.

Their first release is split ep from Herizon (Tim Condon) and Virgineola (Nathan McGlothlin). Yes, it is bold to put your own music on your labels debut, but it works. The ep is filled with delicate ad experimental folk music. You can feel the weight and urgency that Harding Street felt with they heard it.

Listen: Horizon "All Gone" (mp3)

The second release on the label is a single from TLVS (The Late Virgina Summers), “Pebble Azalea Starfish” b/w “Golden Cypress”. This is a taste of the full length album TLVS is working on for Harding Street. TLVS would fit in well with Chicago's avant scene with their free form wondering instrument experiments. The element of vinyl only adds to the layers and textures in their sound.

Listen to: heather majestic purple (live) (mp3)

This is an impressive and artistic start for an exciting new independent label.