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First edition featuring Jeff Young's Liverpool memories, Matt Lockett's record archaeology, Eimear Kavanagh's visual stillness, Tom Roberts' literary discoveries and Lee Rogers' musical revelations.
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1. Better Listen
2. Salix
3. The Fall
4. Down The Line
5. Good Medicine
6. Sorrow
7. Bewildered Dance
8. Fugue State
9. Call For Peace
10. Descendant
11. Wings of Glory
In the creative pastures of Glasgow's music scene, Snowgoose stands as a beacon, helmed by the nuanced artistry of Jim McCulloch and Anna Sheard. McCulloch, with his illustrious stints with The Soup Dragons, Isobel Campbell and BMX Bandits, alongside Sheard's compelling vocal palette, carves out a niche that feels both warmly retrospective and boldly new. Snowgoose gear up for the release of their third album, Descendant, where they invite us into a place where the complexities of human emotion are laid bare against a backdrop of melodic beauty.
Anna describes the album: ‘Descendant explores the delicate interplay between the joys of love and the inevitability of loss. Each song navigates the complex emotions that connect these experiences, serving as a reflection on the beauty and pain of impermanence'.
Snowgoose have consistently garnered praise for their musical depth and emotive songwriting. Uncut Magazine described their earlier work as 'spellbinding', while The Scotsman praised Anna's vocals for invoking 'the spirit of Sandy Denny, a soothing instrument no matter what sorrow she is imparting'.
Descendant is crafted with their exquisite blend of folk and psych. Featuring the guitar of Raymond McGinley (Teenage Fanclub), the keys of Chris Geddes (Belle and Sebastian), the bass of Stevie Jones (Arab Strap), the pedal steel of Tim Davidson (Tracyanne & Danny) and the drums of Stuart Kidd (BMX Bandits) and Adam Stearns (Trembling Bells), this album is a testament to the collaborative spirit of Scottish indie royalty.
All songs written by McCulloch / Sheard
Recorded by Paul Savage at Chem 19, Blantyre
Mixed, mastered & additional recording by Raymond McGinley at his place in Glasgow
Design by Pascal Blua
Original Screenprint by Anna Sheard
© ℗ Snowgoose / Violette Records 2024
All rights reserved
Released 18 October 2024
VIO-080
Our Latest Release
In a world of endless playlists and algorithms, something important gets lost. Music should be more than just background noise.
We founded Violette Records because we believe certain music deserve attention. The records we release are ones we've spent time with, discussed extensively and connected with on a deep level.
Our catalogue is small and deliberate. We're not interested in disposable music or passing trends. We focus on recordings that stay with us, that demand more than a casual listen.
This is a place for people who still care about why music and records matter.
Love Letters To Music
News
We're quietly stepping away from the never-ending performance of social media, not because we've got it all figured out but because we're tired of watching music, art and culture turn into a scroll-past moment.
So we're trying something different by creating a space where things can matter without needing to shout for attention every single day.
A rare chemistry between Beatowls and J-Walk manifests in this carefully considered remix of 'All I See Is Trouble'.
Martin Brew's production touch - honed through years in Manchester's electronic landscape - brings new shadow and depth to the Liverpool trio's original, drawing out textures that were perhaps always present but now find room to breathe.
What emerges feels like a genuine conversation between cities. The North West's two musical capitals maintain separate orbits; here, they find common ground in patient electronic explorations that honour both Liverpool's melodic instincts and Manchester's production innovation.
Back on home turf, La Violette Società returns to Liverpool with four artists who don't play to the gallery.
Brown Fang brings measured intensity and melodic tension.
Olivier Rocabois layers baroque pop with playful self-awareness.
Matthew Edwards delivers stark, literate songcraft with a noir edge.
And Saint Vespaluus folds spoken word, humour and heart into something all his own.
A rare trip beyond our Liverpool base, La Violette Società comes to Leamington Spa featuring four artists whose work commands attention. Ellis Murphy introduces Merseyside folk sensibilities, while Emma Hughes presents her "crying in the car" indie reflections. Roy offers a narrative that balances comedy and menace, and The Specials' Horace Panter merges musical heritage with visual art. For one night only, in a single room, four unique voices share something truly worth hearing.
The psychedelic folk collective's carefully crafted new songs find their natural home at Violette Records after years of mutual admiration.
Somewhere between rain-slicked streets and vintage preamps, Tigers & Flies assembled with newfound precision. The horns cut cleaner now, the rhythms lock tighter—something's shifted since the early days. When Matteo's trumpet converses with Risha's trombone, you hear a band that's found its voice by refusing the obvious path. What happens when five friends convene with purpose? Summer will reveal all.
March 25th sees La Violette Società's 54th gathering at Ten Streets Social, bringing together four distinct artistic voices for one unmissable evening.
Yesterday's Flowers deliver dreamy cosmic rock from Folkestone that's already caught BBC 6 Music's attention. Pys Melyn bring their twice Welsh Music Prize-nominated psychedelia from North Wales. Liverpool's own BITE blend psychedelic exploration with dancefloor-filling grooves, while poet Melanie Banim cuts through with unflinching narratives that honour the city's storytelling tradition.
This carefully curated lineup creates a journey through sound and word, continuing La Violette Società's commitment to meaningful artistic experiences in intimate settings.
Some things just make sense. From the moment we first heard Tigers & Flies, we knew there was something special—sharp, inventive and completely their own. Over the past few years, they’ve grown into a force to be reckoned with, and it’s been a privilege to be involved in that evolution.
"I was that strange child who'd just mimic everything," Darcie grins. "Cat meows, scraping metal, Christina Aguilera's vocal runs—anything that made an interesting sound." Years before Beatowls, before their shape-shifting single "(Do You Want To Be) Loved," there was just a kid with perfect pitch and a legendary playground Donkey impression.
Between stories of Gary Numan-soundtracked visits to her dad's and reimagined Jewish folk songs, Darcie maps out a musical landscape that's distinctly Liverpudlian yet entirely her own.
Delve into the enigmatic world of Beatowls with the maXIon Remix of "(Do You Want to Be) Loved," where celebrated producer Gary Curran adds a new dimension to this standout track from the album Marma. With its enhanced spectral atmosphere and hypnotic synth hooks, this remix pushes the boundaries of sound, making the underground both darker and brighter. Curran's meticulous production respects the original's emotional core while introducing an enthralling, expansive soundscape that invites listeners into a new auditory experience.
Where psychedelic rock meets spoken word, where Welsh cosmic sounds blend with Liverpool poetry.
La Violette Società returns to Ten Streets Social with Bite's funk-fuelled psychedelia, Pys Melyn's Welsh wanderings, Yesterday's Flowers' dream-pop and celebrated Liverpool poet Melanie Banim.
March 25th 2025. A night of live music and literature in the heart of Liverpool.
Listen to Snowgoose’s recent interview and live session on Pete Paphides’ Soho Radio Show.
On the 28th January 2025, La Violette Società presents an evening of music, poetry, and spoken word that promises to be a memorable experience. This event takes place at the Ten Streets Social in Liverpool, a vibrant venue that echoes the innovative spirit of our performers.
The evening will feature four distinctive talents — M. Haiux, Wendy Erskine, Ralph Dartford and Nev Clay. Each offers a unique voice in their respective fields, and together, they will create a cohesive and compelling experience of the poetic, the melodic, the prosaic and the unexpected.
John Canning Yates' album "The Quiet Portraits" has been celebrated by Uncut Magazine as one of the top albums of 2024, praised for its compelling and exquisite soundscapes, surpassing even Taylor Swift in the rankings.
Snowgoose’s album "Descendant" has earned a spot among The Scotsman's top albums of 2024, blending California breeziness with English psych-folk and featuring esteemed guest musicians like Raymond McGinley and Chris Geddes.
Dive into the festive season with Tom Roberts of BEATOWLS' Christmas playlist. Go beyond traditional holiday tunes, with a mix of classic, soul, nostalgia and cinematic flair.
Each track offers a unique take on the holiday spirit. Listen now and let these songs fill your home with the joy of Christmas.
We return to Liverpool in January with the first Società of 2025 featuring M.Haiux, Wendy Erskine, Ralph Dartford+Gary Clark and Nev Clay
An evening where music and words converge in unexpected ways. La Violette Società offers a rare chance to witness four unique voices sharing one unforgettable stage. Don’t miss it.
La Violette Società is dedicated to creating a respectful and enjoyable environment for all attendees. Our commitment to maintaining high standards of respect ensures every event is not just an occasion, but a memorable experience. Upholding these values is at the heart of what we do, as we continue to foster a welcoming space for performers, guests and team members alike.
Experience Snowgoose like never before in an exclusive live performance film featured on Riverside Music TV. The session includes performances of "Better Listen" and "Bewildered Dance" by the band's full lineup, providing a rare glimpse into their rich musical craft.
The record label as a construct feels almost quaint now - a relic from when music needed physical vessels to travel through the world. But here we are anyway, building this strange little ecosystem between Liverpool and Paris, a project both anachronistic and weirdly urgent. Violette Records emerged from late-night conversations and shared obsessions, from the chemistry that happens when people who care about the same obscure things find each other. We've constructed this reality together through decisions that seemed trivial but have crystallised into something with its own gravitational pull - a label that operates less like a business and more like a collective hallucination that's somehow gained enough momentum to alter our material world.
We're quietly stepping away from the never-ending performance of social media, not because we've got it all figured out but because we're tired of watching music, art and culture turn into a scroll-past moment.
So we're trying something different by creating a space where things can matter without needing to shout for attention every single day.