Miscellaneous - Profile

by Benjamin Howarth

published: 10 / 3 / 2004

Often seen as the world's definitive emo label, Deep Elm have recently released a free sampler, 'This is How I Kill my Tears'. Ben Howarth looks at how much the label has progressed in the seven years since it first formed

Article

For the past few years, an awful lot of my reviews for Pennyblackmusic have been of Deep Elm bands and several Deep Elm compilations. Many of them end with a similar sentiment. This is cheap so what have you got to lose? And do you listen? Do You? No, well probably not. Well, this time you’ve no excuse, because their latest sampler. 'This is How I Kill my Tears' is FREE. That’s right! All you have to do is head over to www.deepelm.com and the good folks there will send you a 20-track compilation of their brightest new prospects in exchange for none of your money. Sounds like quite a deal to me! This article would sound like a mere advertisement, but, since there is no commerce involved, it can’t be. Deep Elm began right back in 1996 as a tiny 7” label. Now it has nearly ninety records out there, and has introduced the likes of Brandtson, Appleseed Cast, Red Animal War, David Singer, Last Days Of April, Cross My Heart, Pop Unknown and many many more to the scene, not to mention the Emo Diaries compilation series that gave the world their first glimpse of Jimmy Eat World, Further Seems Forever, the Movielife and Samiam. Though Deep Elm has the professionalism and A&R suss of a major label, it is in fact an in house 100% independent operation involving just three people. In a way, it reminds me of Creation Records, although it lacks the pretentious antics, drug abuse or crap albums that plagued Alan McGee’s venture. My favourite Deep Elm story is their ‘dispute’ with At The Drive-In. At The Drive-In, trying to distance themselves from emo – probably warming up for their subsequent prog rock career and friendships with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers (ie. Selling out!!) – made a point of slagging Deep Elm off at every opportunity. That had to stop though when Deep Elm produced some begging letters from At The Drive-In desperate to appear on the 'Emo Diaries' compilations. Deep Elm isn’t really a straightforward emo label any more, and fans of the Appleseed Cast will dispute if it ever was, so followers of the Us Art-Rock scene (Pavement, Slint, Sonic Youth etc) are probably its biggest audience. It now has a roster of amazing bands covering the whole indie spectrum from jangly pop to art rock to ambient space rock to full on hardcore. This compilation is a collection of its new breed of bands, and there is plenty to enjoy. Since it is free, you really have nothing to lose by checking it out. What are you waiting for? Finish reading the magazine, and hop right over to their site and indulge in a tasty slice of free indie rock action!