Optical Sounds
Founded2008 (2008)
FounderRobert Gibson, Richard Gibson
Distributor(s)Outside Music
GenrePsych pop
Country of origin Canada
LocationToronto, Ontario
Official websiteopticalsounds.com

Optical Sounds is a Toronto based record label that was launched in 2008 by brothers Robert[1] and Richard Gibson.[2]

The label is focused on a community of underground bands with broad psychedelic influences[3][4] with The Embassy Bar in Kensington Market serving as a common meeting place for the musicians.[5]

Optical Sounds operates without contracts or employees and the organization’s main focus is on community based events rather than record releases.[2][6] The name Optical Sounds was taken from a track by the 1960s LA psych rock group The Human Expression.[7] It is distributed in Canada by the Outside Music group.[8]

Optical Sounds' roster has included Action Makes,[9] The Auras, B17,[10][11] The BB Guns, Bodies That Matter, The Disraelis, The Hoa Hoa's,[12] The Flowers of Hell including Odes and "O",[13] Magic Shoppe, Mimico, Ostrich Tuning, Planet Creature, Postcards, Sounds Around, Sun Stone Revolvers, Tess Parks, Twist, The Veldt, and Your 33 Black Angels.[6][14]

The label's 2012 compilation Psych Pop From Toronto was curated by Spacemen 3's Will Carruthers and reached the Top 20 of the Canadian campus radio charts.[15][16]

The label and its artists have showcased at Canadian Music Week, North by Northeast,[17] and South by Southwest.[18]

Media

The label’s releases and artists have appeared in media including Pitchfork,[19] the Financial Times,[20] The Guardian,[21] The Quietus,[22] Noisey/Vice,[23] Exclaim!,[24] Drowned In Sound,[25] Now Magazine[26] and on the cover of Eye Weekly,[27] along with numerous music blogs and campus radio stations.[28]

References

  1. ↑ Stephanie Corratie (18 Oct 2013). "Alumni Spotlight: Robert Gibson". The Ontarion.
  2. 1 2 "Optical Illusion". NOW Toronto. 2010-07-08.
  3. ↑ Richard Trapunski (2012-11-08). "Psych Pop From Toronto". NOW Toronto.
  4. ↑ James Sandham. "Canada Underground". Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Optical Sounds". Zunior. Retrieved 2015-11-08.
  6. 1 2 Richard Trapunski (6 March 2014). "Optical Sounds second Toronto(ish) compilation". Chart Attack.
  7. ↑ "Acid Shampoo & Flower Punk: The Hypnotic Eye Interviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  8. ↑ "Labels". Outside Music. Retrieved 2015-11-08.
  9. ↑ "Action Makes – Action Makes". Now (newspaper). 9 December 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  10. ↑ "B-17 'Raven Hair' (video)". Exclaim. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  11. ↑ "Your New Favourite Thing: B-17". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "The Hoa Hoa's". Nowtoronto.com. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  13. ↑ "Flowers Of Hell mainman mistaken for MI5 spy in Papua New Guinea". NME.COM. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  14. ↑ "This Week in Music: Optical Sounds and Dine Alone freebies, Ice Cream, Marker Starling x Twin Peaks". blogTO. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  15. ↑ "National Chart". Earshot. 2013-04-30.
  16. ↑ Chris Dart (2012-10-31). "Sound Advice: Psych Pop From Toronto by Various Artists". Torontoist.
  17. ↑ "Wavelength @ NXNE". Wavelength Music Arts Projects. 2015-06-17.
  18. ↑ Carlick, Stephen. "The Hoa Hoa's Host Montreal CD Release Party for Pop/Drone/Pedals". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  19. ↑ Ryan Dombal (12 October 2010). "Flowers Of Hell Leader Mistaken For A Spy". Pitchfork.
  20. ↑ David Cheal (27 November 2015). "The Life Of A Song: Walk On The Wild Side". Financial Times.
  21. ↑ Mike Doherty (5 Feb 2016). "The Veldt: Pioneering black shoegazers who anticipated The Weeknd". The Guardian.
  22. ↑ Ned Raggett (12 November 2013). "INTERVIEW Tess Parks". The Quietus.
  23. ↑ Julia Romanowski (23 April 2013). "Premiere The BB Guns Pennie Lane". Noisey, Vice.
  24. ↑ Sarah Green (10 May 2016). "B17 You Don't Come Around Anymore". Exclaim!.
  25. ↑ J.R. Moores (30 April 2013). "Flowers Of Hell, Odes". Drowned In Sound. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  26. ↑ Richard Trapunski (26 April 2012). "You're On Planet Creature". Now.
  27. ↑ Stuart Berman (12 December 2009). "Season's Dronings". Eye Weekly.
  28. ↑ "Season's Dronings". Earshot. 30 April 2012.
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