Dreamboat Records 2008 is the second annual sampler from Dreamboat Records, featuring new material from Dreamboat artists, collaborators and friends. This full-length album is available to buy on CD for £6 from our shop, or as DRM-free MP3s from Bleep.

From our own acts, we have the increasingly wonderful Rollercoaster Project, Robin Allender’s new full band sound, the lovely new Gala Band, and a solo track from Simon Grant (ex-Azalea City Penis Club). We’ve also included Dreamboat collaborations (Yellow6, Kiska) and new stuff we just think is rad (Tom Wilson).

The first three tracks are available as free MP3 downloads here, and you can stream the entire album at Bleep.

Watch out for news of the launch/Christmas party for this record, which will take place on Thursday 20th December and will blow your mind. Details to follow.

Lots of Gala Band news since the release of their debut E.P.

• We’ve made a video for one of the tracks, Bird on a Wire, which you can watch and download on our website
• They played a live preview of In the Wake, a track off the next album, during a live session for BBC Radio Devon, which you can download here. The whole session and interview is here (RealPlayer required).
• They’ve got a couple of gigs coming up in Bath and London. Check their MySpace for details.

We’re very pleased to announce the release of Little Revelations, the debut E.P. by The Gala Band. It’s five tracks long and £5 money (incl. worldwide p+p). The album came out on Monday, September 24 and is available from the Dreamboat Records shop. If you prefer iTunes, you can buy the album there by following this link.

Sam Wilkins has directed a great video for “Bird on a Wire”. You can also download an MP3 of this track and read the first review.

There will be an album launch party on Saturday 29 September at the Folk House, Park Street, Bristol. Tickets are available in advance from Bristol Ticket Shop and there’s a Facebook event if that’s your thing.

And finally, there is a gig at the Slaughtered Lamb in London on 27 September. Good times.

Several websites have been kind enough to write about Robin Allender’s debut album The Bird and the Word:

• Stylus have pubished a thoughtful review of The Bird and the Word and Azalea City Penis Club’s The Coffin Years
• Said the Gramophone wrote beautifully about the album
• Shake Your Fist gave it a very favourable mention
• Amelia’s Magazine published a lovely review
• Update: And so did Subba Cultcha

If you know of any more mentions of Robin in the press then please do let us know.

The upshot of all this embarrassingly effusive praise is: the album is great and you should buy it in our shop (or from HMV, Picadilly, Norman Records, Bleep or iTunes).

Don’t forget you can see Robin and his new band play live in London (10 August), Oxford (14 August) or Bristol (18 August and album launch on 7 September).

The Bird and the Word will be released on Monday 9 July. Order before then from the shop for the reduced price of £6 (usually £8). Amelia’s Magazine has the first review.

Robin has lots of gigs coming up: Ashton Court in Bristol on Saturday 14 July, and then London (Friday 10 August), Oxford (Tuesday 14 August) and Bristol (Saturday 18 August). See the live page for details.

Finally, the album launch, which has been delayed by Robin’s Gravenhurst commitments (Glastonbury last month and Paris with Animal Collective this month) will be at the Folk House in Bristol on Friday 7 September.