April 8, 1997

anatomy of a label: corduroy records

By KAREN RAWLINES _

Corduroy Records is the love child of Blain Butyniec, a resident «~ the St.Catherines/ Niagar: “alls, Ontario area. The idea erupted spring of 94, when Blain was 18. The first release (Binge/Loophole split 7" entitled Spacepeople) came out the end of that sum- mer. Efficient, to say the least.

Since Corduroy’s birth, Blain’s friends have played paramountroles, lending a hand with everything from baking cakes for release parties, to artwork. He has also had the ~ support of family. “My mom also helped in the early days with photocopying and the iike,” he mentions conspirato- rially.

Corduroy has the ben- efit of working closely with another presence of St.Catherines/Niagara Falls in the form of the zine Noise. “We did the Super Lady re- lease with them and plan on ‘doing more soon,” Blain ex- plains. “I write for Noise and so do other people who help with Corduroy as well as peo- ple in the bands, so it made sense that we'd do stuff to- gether. It’s cool because we re helping each other grow.”

A common problem as- sociated with the do-it-your- self ethic of independent la- bels is money. “We don’t have huge amounts of money...actually I don’t think we have any...” The dollars _and cents of the industry cre-

ate a make-or-break aspect to virtually all independent labels and, in turn, the independent bands they support. This does not mean, however, that these projects are fated to fail due to limited cashflow.

“Money is a definite hin- drance,” Blain admits, “but it can be worked around. There's a lot of cheap ways to

release music, you just have to be creative. Which is actually cool, because it adds a whole new dimension to the process. Trying to put out music within your means.”

Financial woes not with- standing, there still is a growth in the world of independent labels. “It’s cool to see indies in general getting bigger. It seemed to be a fad for a while, but I think the ones doing it because it was trend have fiz- zled out or will fizzle out. I’ve puta lot of money into it, and so I think anyone who does an indie [label] because it seems the cool thing to do will realize what it entails and will either back out, or do it for the mu-

With every label come the trials of the “definitive sound.” Corduroy is trying to avoid this. “Corduroy’s sound will hopefully be a sound that’s defined by good music rather than a particular style. It’s hard when you start [a label] because there are only so many bands ina small city that are necessarily making music that you like. That’s what was cool about the Super Lady 7" in that two of our bands {Loomer and Thanatopop] were joined with Plumtree and Mystery Machine, two bands we love and it was cool being able to go outside of your little area to work with other bands. We hope to do this more -- work with cool bands from anywhere. ”

Being a relative un- known outside his area, one has to question Blain’s mo- tives and the driving force of the label that keeps it going. His wry response: “world domination.” He continues to state that Corduroy’s raison d'etre is “to release music that I love and listen to.

And I love getting mail.”

Please write Corduroy for a catalogue.

CORDUROY RECORDS 7271 edenwood court niagara falls, ontario

12j 4e3

Boe aol corduroy@niagara com

David Bowie Earthling

While the reviewing minority are falling over them- selves to recite as many of his aliases as they can recall, David Bowie himself has developed a rip-snorter of an album. Earthling is, from start to finish, a charged, face- slapping musical assault and battery which leaves you smiling at the end. One privelege of being nose-wipingly

famous is having the cream of musicians screaming to

work with you. Bowie has once again surrounded himself with remarkable and compatible talent. Fellow freak-genius Brian Eno was invited along for nostalgia on the violent and sublime “I’m Afraid of Americans”, while Bowie’s new band scale the mountain of elec- tronic mayhem with ease and aplomb. No more can be said. Earthling is not of this world.

- Geraldine Quinn

Hey Kids! get your secret Panther Prints Decoder Pen to figure out today’s word!