Marina News

"Viva Marina" celebrates the 100th release of Marina Records. The label was founded in Hamburg in 1993 by Stefan Kassel and Frank Lähnemann. Over the years the label released many outstanding albums by artists like The Pearlfishers, Shack, Brent Cash, The Bathers, James Kirk, The Free Design, Malcolm Ross, Ashby, Paul Quinn & The Independent Group, Der Plan, and many many more - incl. the best-selling Beach Boys/ Brian Wilson tribute album "Caroline Now!". "Viva Marina" is the 4th of the label"s acclaimed compilations - following in the footsteps of "In Bed With Marina", "Ave Marina" and "Goosebumps". These compilations have all been elaborate classy affairs with lots of attention to detail (packaging / design / liner notes / photography / mastering). Artefacts of beautifully curated Pop Art. The new compilation continues in that tradition. It features 21 tracks from the Marina roster and kindred spirits like Van Dyke Parks, The Kingfishers, Frank Schmiechen and Michel van Dyke. Featuring many exclusive and previously unissued contributions. Enjoy 21 tracks / 75 minutes of pure aural pop pleasure. Viva Marina!

25th anniversary edition of the widely acclaimed tribute album celebrating the music of Brian Wilson & The Beach Boys. 24 exclusive tracks. New remaster on 2 LPs in a gatefold sleeve with extensive liner notes and many rare photographs.

Ladies & gentlemen - get ready for something truly special: Scotland"s best jazz musicians meet one of the best and most influential bands from Scotland! The Colin Steele Quartet play the music of The Blue Nile, undisputed masters of Sophisti-Pop. Especially their second album "Hats" (1989) is regarded as an all-time classic masterpiece. The beautiful and atmospheric, often synth-driven songs of The Blue Nile get the deluxe jazz treatment in exciting new arrangements. All-time classics like "Easter Parade", "Heatwave" and "Let"s Go Out Tonight" shine in bright new shades and colours, and get transformed into something unique by Colin Steele"s very own trumpet style. The album perfectly captures and even enhances the late-night moods and aural landscapes of The Blue Nile"s music, while also adding some unexpected, and, yes, even slightly funky turns to songs like "Body & Soul" and "Headlights On The Parade". Colin Steele"s smooth and emotive trumpet caresses and lifts these beautiful songs to new heights.

Back with a bang! "Road To Happiness" marks the triumphant return of Manchester"s one and only Dislocation Dance - after a 7-year long hiatus. The new album - their sixth - features ten new and fresh songs. Main songwriters Ian Runacres (guitar/vocals) and Phil Lukes (bass/vocals) most probably never sounded better. Kinda like Manchester"s Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards they create killer grooves a la Chic and The Real Thing. Melodies galore & disco euphoria plus beautiful vocals. To Love And Be Loved! Daft Punk meets Everything But The Girl. Ian Runacres formed DD in Manchester, and soon got trumpet player Andy Diagram on board who later joined The Pale Fountains and James. They created their unique mix of Post-Punk, New Wave, Jazz, Disco, 60s French Pop and Soundtracks. The band played their first ever gig at the legendary Factory in Manchester, recorded sessions for John Peel, Janice Long and Kid Jensen, and went on their own eclectic journey. Always maintaining their unique DD sound. Now they are back. With a truly fabulous album. On Marina - the perfect home for them. Let"s get (it) on... the road to happiness.

After a hiatus of five years, The Pearlfishers, Glasgow"s finest, return with their ninth album for Marina - most probably their best and most immediate one so far. Driven by main man David Scott"s exceptional songwriting and sophisticated arrangements, Making Tapes For Girls is a goldmine of pop gems - full of witty & colourful lyrics about the affirmative & healing power of music and pop escapism. The title track evokes memories of those days of compiling a C-30/60/90 for your loved one or secretly adored one: "I didn"t know how to say the right thing / So I left it to Joni and Paul...". Those mix tapes that came straight from your heart & soul - "the nub of it, the truth of it, the "you" of it." It is another Pearlfishers classic in the vein of My Dad The Weatherfan and Even On A Sunday Afternoon and also David Scott"s nod to Terry Hall"s The Colour Field.

20th Anniversary Edition of the long-deleted fifth album by THE PEARLFISHERS from 2003.
Deluxe 2-LP set in a beautiful gatefold sleeve with enhanced artwork and all lyrics. The album has been remastered and features four previously unreleased bonus tracks. Non-Returnable.

Masterful, melody-laden classic pop music, driven by main man DAVID SCOTT’s exceptional songwriting which has often been compared to PAUL MCCARTNEY, BURT BACHARACH, JIMMY WEBB, TODD RUNDGREN and BRIAN WILSON

“Perfect – SAINT ETIENNE meets ‘Moon Safari’-vintage AIR!” (Pete Paphides, MOJO)
For the first time on vinyl, remastered and beautifully packaged: “Looks Like You’ve Already Won” by ASHBY – a critically-acclaimed little masterpiece from 2005.

The pop duo from Boston presents a lushly arranged sound that combines European movie soundtracks, Brazilian bossa nova, post-rock electronica and classic 60s pop. THE SEA & CAKE with female vocals, BROADCAST with a sunnier pop quality.

Marina proudly present the first ever vinyl issues of three classic albums by Glasgow's finest, The Pearlfishers: "The Young Picnickers" (1999), "Across The Milky Way" (2001) and "Up With The Larks" (2007). They are issued in deluxe 2-LP vinyl editions in beautiful gatefold sleeves with enhanced artwork and complete lyrics. All albums feature four (!) bonus tracks each, most of them never released before and not available on any streaming platform. Three albums of masterful, classic pop music, driven by main man David Scott's exceptional songwriting which was often compared to Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Webb, Todd Rundgren and Brian Wilson. The beautifully crafted arrangements include woodwinds, trumpet, flugel horns, banjo - and real strings! "David Scott's compositions sound something like The Carpenters and Burt Bacharach - except much more poppy, upbeat, and current!" (Babysue). These albums also feature some of the finest Scottish musicians. Duglas T Stewart of BMX Bandits co-wrote two songs. Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub contributed backing vocals on "The Young Picnickers" and co-produced four tracks on "Up With The Larks". Mick Slaven, one of the most unique guitarists ever (Jazzateers, James Kirk, Paul Quinn & The Independent Group), plays on "Across The Milky Way". So does trumpet maestro Colin Steele who later recorded an entire album of Pearlfishers songs in terrific jazz arrangements ("Diving For Pearls", 2017). "The Young Picnickers" was selected "Indie album of the month" in MOJO magazine. "Up With The Larks" was recently voted one of "Scotland's favourite albums" in The Herald.

THE PALE FOUNTAINS - LONGSHOT FOR YOUR LOVE (Marina Records) New enhanced, remastered vinyl edition of the long-deleted, much sought-after Pale Fountains compilation "Longshot For Your Love" - originally released in 1998 - covering the band's early years from 1982 to 1984. "Longshot For Your Love" is a collection of rarities, radio sessions and previously unreleased tracks by Liverpool's second best band ever - fronted by Michael Head ("Our greatest living songwriter" - NME). Seven cuts are released here for the first time ever - incl. the superb John Peel and Old Grey Whistle Test BBC Sessions ('82/'83). The album comes with enhanced artwork - in a beautiful gatefold cover plus inner sleeve feat. lots of unseen band photos and extensive linernotes by former Pale Fountains manager Patrick Moore. On Marina Records.

After a hiatus of five years, The Pearlfishers, Glasgow"s finest, return with their ninth album for Marina - most probably their best and most immediate one so far. Driven by main man David Scott"s exceptional songwriting and sophisticated arrangements, Making Tapes For Girls is a goldmine of pop gems - full of witty & colourful lyrics about the affirmative & healing power of music and pop escapism. The title track evokes memories of those days of compiling a C-30/60/90 for your loved one or secretly adored one: "I didn"t know how to say the right thing / So I left it to Joni and Paul...". Those mix tapes that came straight from your heart & soul - "the nub of it, the truth of it, the "you" of it." It is another Pearlfishers classic in the vein of My Dad The Weatherfan and Even On A Sunday Afternoon and also David Scott"s nod to Terry Hall"s The Colour Field.