Various - LOOP Select 001

We're back in the LOOP!

Following the untimely closure of LOOP Magazine earlier in 2001, a new independently owned and operated record label was born - LOOP Recordings Aot(ear)oa. Continuing the musical vision of LOOP, to boost Aotearoa's underground music scene by offering support, advise and release assistance to independent local recording artists, the fledgling label already has two successful releases under its belt - debut albums by Rhian Sheehan and The Black Seeds.

Now, feeling the urge to satisfy our multimedia sensibilities once again, LOOP Recordings Aot(ear)oa have revived the format of last year's popular gold Select Edition release with LOOP Select 001 - a 128 page book of visual communication, a complimentary compilation CD of cutting edge independent New Zealand music, and a CD-Rom packed with web and video content. Another time capsule of our creative culture.

Slip the LOOP Select 001 CD into your drive and you'll find tracks from leading independent New Zealand musicians Cloudboy, Rhian Sheehan, Ekadek, TrinityRoots, Confucius, Solaa, The Black Seeds, Siena, Ebb, Peak:Shift, Harmonic FREq, Warren Field and Audio Sauce. Some are highlights of recent releases, while a good number are exclusive or as yet unreleased. Open the Select 001 book and you'll find visual accompaniment to match the music. Each CD artist was given free range over a handful of our glossy pages. Some chose to provide their own visuals, others to enlist talented friends (like photographers Grant Sheehan and Sarah Hunter, or designers Fiona Jack and Arlo), and yet others to express themselves in words, or to simply let their music do the talking.

In addition, we bring you more words and pictures from equally talented contributors - visual instalments from Andrew Ginther and Mint01, sketches from the workbook of Anya Whitlock, cardboard cutout creations by EllieMay, author Jonar Nader's musings on The Death Of Retail, fashion photography from Mikee, Barry Betham, Adrienne Pitts and Karen Djordjevic, highlights from the Dowse Art Museum's recent exhibition The World As One, and winning works from the Nokia Arts Awards 2000. But the content doesn't end there... CD-Rom content includes music videos by LOOP Recordings Aot(ear)oa artists Rhian Sheehan and The Black Seeds (their award winning clip for "Keep On Pushing"), an introduction to internet fashion star Penny Star, fashion collections from Karen Walker, Marilyn Sainty, Little Brother and Mandatory, and links to LOOP supporters who have made this whole project possible.

LOOP Select 001 Book and CD/CD-Rom - A time capsule of Aotearoa's creative culture, Spring 2001.

The debut issue of an ongoing series of quarterly releases, LOOP Select 001 is available now from selected magazine and book retailers and music stores, for just $29.95.

"LOOP was the best thing that has happened in New Zealand since I have been living here," says Saatchi & Saatchi CEO Kevin Roberts, who spends two weeks every month in New York. "I get it sent to me in New York. I always have one on my coffee table and I feel very proud of it as a New Zealand product. LOOP was a fantastically targeted media. It was cool, hip, urban, innovative, upbeat, interesting, controversial and it appealed to all the senses. The paper quality was good and nice to touch. Visually, the photos and art direction were great, and they promoted really good New Zealand music." - National Business Review, 11 May 2001

Listen and buy online: http://www.smokecds.com/index.cfm?layout=showcd&id=28805

For further information and interviews contact:
LOOP Promotions Manager Andy Mitchell: promo@loop.co.nz 021 136 1589
LOOP Media Assassin Michael Tucker: mikee@loop.co.nz 021 636 171