The Beggars Group is closing down its Beggars Banquet and Too Pure imprints and merging their rosters into 4AD, which will take on extra staff as well. It’s more evidence that in this world of consolidation, labels whose output is thoroughly fetishized by indie collectors can easily be merged under the name of a label that was once famously persnickety about making sure everyone was fulfilling the sonic desires of its owner, who would then reward them with an awesome v23 album cover. At least they’re not combining the names into some kind of history-molesting Island Def Jam amalgam.
The Beggars Banquet and Too Pure imprints are being retired, with artists on both labels moving to 4AD.
The first act to do so will be former Too Pure act Stereolab, whose new album, Chemical Chords, which will be released by 4AD on August 18.
4AD will also call upon its own press and online promotions team, headed by Rich Walker (current Beggars group head of communications) and his staff of Hannah Gould, Annette Lee and Rachel Cawley.
Does this mean Matador could lose its identity too? And what about XL and Rough Trade? Will Cat Power and Adam Green soon be 4AD artists as well? Won’t Vaughn Oliver’s hands get tired?
Beggars Expands 4AD [Musicweek]
Kinda sad, been a lot of memorable songs in my life from Beggars Banquet, especially.
Now that McLusky, Hefner, and Electrelane are no more, my interest in Too Pure has decreased quite a bit. However, I still am sad to think that a new Seefeel record (please please please) would be a 4AD affair. Even though they were on Warp and Rephlex, they will always be synonymous with Too Pure to me.
Any news involving more v23 covers is a good thing.
I only knew Too Pure as “that label that put out McLusky and Future of the Left records”. As long as FotL has a label to release stuff on, i’m happy, regardless of imprint.
It reminds me of all the I get of punk-pop teen bands on Universal Motown. Blurggh.
[blog.newsok.com]
you guys forgot about the record-label powerhouse that is WIIIJA.
Too Pure? Man, that was a seal of quality for a long time, IMHO. Long Fin Kille, Minxus, Lika, Moonshake…
@Captain Wrong: PRAM
My tiny little universe is shrinking! Let’s get all my friends in Beggars Group bands ON THE SAME LABEL! ZOMG!
Th’ Faith Healers!!
Remember that Laura Cantrell album that came out on Matador not too long ago? Identity, schmidentity!