Label spotlight: Glasvocht
Glasvocht has been around for almost 10 years now, cranking out loads of great jams on each and every format under the sun. Started by Filip Gheysen and based out of Belgium, the label is stronger than ever here in 2007. Recently the imprint cranked out a killer split LP between Harris Newman and Mauro Antonio Pawlowski, a slightly under-the-radar record that is sure to pick up steam. And if running a fantastic label wasn't enough, Gheysen also organizes shows in his native land. So if you're going to Belgium or just want to discover some new, excellent music, be sure to drop him a line.
I did somewhere around 1998. I was busy recording my own music on cassette and I wrote the name Glasvocht on it as some kind of fictitious label. Then I got the idea of starting a cassette label to bring out my own music and the music of other lo-fi artists.
So, Glasvocht started as a cassette label; later I did some CD-Rs and finally I released on CD and vinyl.
Glasvocht is a Dutch name for a substance in the human eye. I read it somewhere and I thought it could be a cool name for a label. It just sounds good. Sometimes people think it has something to do with ‘a glass of beer’, but it isn’t.
Every time I receive the releases from the pressing factory, it is a memorable day for myself. That’s why I keep on doing it. It’s also great to work with good artists and I enjoy organizing shows.
Money. And to convince people that you have a record that’s worth buying.
I’m especially proud I could release two wonderful tracks of Loren Connors, a living legend. And I’m also proud of the last vinyl release of Mauro Antonio Pawlowski and Harris Newman.
Jim O’ Rourke has always been a musician that I admired, but I wouldn’t dare to ask him to do something for Glasvocht.
On the compilation CD “We’re For The Unknown, Unbought & Unbossed”, a co-release with Nosordo from Sweden, there are a few artists that I selected from demos I received. Sometimes I also book some artists who have sent me a demo for shows. So, it isn’t impossible I can do something for people who send me a demo, but the chance is rather small.
For the near future I think there will come a few CD-Rs and a CD or LP. At home I have a record of Andy Gilmore which I like a lot. Maybe I can ask him to record something for Glasvocht.
I’m not sure. I don’t follow that much recent releases anymore. I enjoyed a few of the compilations from Sublime Frequencies. And a few months ago Harris Newman played in Ghent for an audience of 10 people. There was also a gig of Micah Blue Smalldone and I was so impressed that I bought his record, and I almost never buy records on shows. Tara Jane O’ Neill was also one of the best gigs this year.
If you have to choose between a Glasvocht CD and a nice girl, choose a Glasvocht CD. A Glasvocht CD is nice for the rest of your life, a girl isn’t.
-- Brad Rose (26 June, 2007)
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