When Corin Ashley, ex-bassist of THE PILLS and one of the biggest BEATLES fans left on earth, decided to start his solo career, his was obsessed with an idea: to record in the historic Abbey Road studios, where the Fab Four had recorded their songs. The Abbey Road studios have recently returned to the front pages of the world press since EMI announced their intention to sell the studios this past February. In the end, in response to the negative reaction to this news, the British Government declared the studios a “historic monument.”

After releasing the debut album, “Songs from the Brill Bedroom”, the opportunity to record a special and exclusive single for Elefant came up (just before the controversy that finally prohibited the sale and above all the demolition of they legendary studios). Accustomed to ceaselessly writing, he focused on getting his two best compositions, extensively perfected and purified, and planned the recording sessions with an exceptional band. Because for this single, which is an authentic and unique gem, a collectors item, Mr. Ashley is ultimately accompanied by no less than: Ken Stringfellow (THE POSIES, REM, BIG STAR) singing on “Badfinger Bridge”, Martin Carr and Rob Cieka (THE BOO RADLEYS), Edward Ball (TV PERSONALITIES, THE TIMES) and on the technical board is Charlie Francis, who recently worked with Martin Carr and has an unbelievable curriculum that includes artists like REM, Robyn Hitchcock, WILCO, SUPER FURRY ANIMALS and THE HIGH LLAMAS among many others. The result is this very special, unrepeatable release that includes the previously mentioned “Badfinger Bridge” as well as “Second Hand Halo”, in an exquisite mix of rhythm’n blues, sixties pop and soul. It’s a blue vinyl single, limited edition, a necessary piece in all important collections as of now.

Limited Edition [Blue colour vinyl]

Audio click HERE [DEEZER]

Video click HERE

Carlos Valderrama and crew gave us one of the most marvelous pop discs we had heard in a long time last year; taking influence from the great Italian pop singers of the sixties and seventies, and combining it with modern influences like BELLE & SEBASTIAN and LA CASA AZUL, the made a fierily lit disc, full of dreamlike arrangements, tremendously immediate and inevitable melodies. Now we get two compositions in green color vinyl, limited edition format as a continuation of that great debut album. On side A we have “Mondo Fitness”, a song that reminds us of the Italian group’s ability to make indubitable hits while, at the same time, filling them with elegance and delicacy. On the other side, side B, “Diego Mon Amour” offers a more restrained facet of the band, that fills itself with a Mediterranean sound between Marseille and Salvador de Bahía, between the French chanson and bossa nova: a seaside cocktail while we watch the sunrise, after spending the night dancing in the most unimaginable bars. Because, as you know, staying in shape is important.

Limited Edition [Green Colour Vinyl]

Audio HERE [DEEZER]

The Valencian duo GUATAFÁN is one of those bands that show their love for the music they adore in every melody and every word of every song.

Their first record label release, which is also the second release from Elefant's new limited-edition singles collection, "New Adventures in Pop", has a song dedicated to HELEN LOVE ("Pink Punk Party"), a LA CASA AZUL version that is full of admiration ("Como Un Fan") and between the lines of the marvelous "Cucuruchu" (it was chosen to be included on compilation by the independent Japanese label abcdefg*record) and "Cálculo Utilitarista" you can openly discover the hours that María and Suso have spent listening to bubblegum, techno-pop, punk-pop and French and Spanish pop from the 60s.

Their demo was already singled out in Festival ContemPopránea's demo contest and they have played their songs in cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Mallorca and London. This single was recorded, mixed and mastered by Carlos Soler (DAMIEN LOTT).

GUATAFÁN are a lively and tremendously fun group, who put care into every single detail and who, starting now, can be considered a necessary reference for pop fans.

Audio HERE [DEEZER]

Since the release of their second album last February, their Guitarras y tambores (guitars and tambor drums) haven’t stopped for a single second. They participated in the 30th anniversary party for the radio show Flor de Pasión (RNE-Radio 3); they were COOPER’s special guests for the presentation of COOPER’s new album, “Aeuropuerto”, in Madrid and Bilbao; they performed at some of the most important festivals in Spain (Indyspensable, Contempopranea, Fuengirola Pop Weekend...) and they traveled to England to perform in London and at the Indietracks Festival.

COLA JET SET are releasing a limited edition single, a color vinyl with the A side “En Esta Pista Ya No Se Puede Bailar” and two new songs on the B side; “Nos Volveremos a Ver”, is a spot-on Spanish adaptation of the 1939 classic written by Ross Parker and Hughie Charles, “We’ll Meet Again”, which became one of the most popular songs during the second world war. The song has seen many versions throughout the years by many different artists, from Vera Lynn, who had a huge hit with it in 1954, to THE BYRDS, who included it as the final track on their 1965 debut album, “Mr. Tambourine Man”. But that’s not all THE TURTLES, THE CHORDETTES, Sandy Coast and even Johnny Cash himself did versions of the song, and now it’s COLA JET SET’s turn, a small gem for the B side of this new vinyl single that will also include a new song by Alicia, “Cola Jet Set 100%”, a declaration of intent.

Marc and Joel (The Hands Collective) did an extraordinary job directing the group’s video-clip, where they shine like true pop stars, playing, singing and dancing with a ton of friend.

**Limited edition! [White vinyl!]

The moment arrived and it was clear it couldn't be any other song. After so many characters typed into webs and blogs, being one of the most-search-for groups on the Internet, having their demos be the cause of adoration, being desire by other labels (some from outside Spain), PAPA TOPO finally has their first record label-backed release on the street, and what's more, they are the first group in Elefant's new limited-edition singles collection, "New Adventures in Pop".

Adrià and the young Paulita give us the definitive version of the "Oso Panda" demo, revised and remixed by Guille Milkyway (who has also done the same with “Lo que me gusta del verano es poder tomar helado”), which has also resulted in two danceable remixes of the song that is on its way to being a landmark in Spanish pop this year. Catchy as can be, as addictive as chocolate, easier to hum that "La la la"; with "Oso Panda", PAPA TOPO present themselves as one of the most attractive bands in the Spanish pop panorama thanks to their freshness, immediacy and appealing simplicity.

“Lo que me gusta del verano es poder tomar helado” is the song that made us at Elefant fall totally at the feet of the promising talent that is Adrià. The two-voice melodies, the lyrics, the arrangements... Puff! It's a pure pop explosion.

One side for the demo and the other side for Guille Milkyway's remixes, which the LA CASA AZUL leader made as a clear and authentic homage to the Moog discs from the 70s, full of versions of ultra fun and danceable country classics. A perfect appetizer, that does nothing more than whet our appetites. We want more!

Audio HERE [DEEZER]

It was one of the albums from last season, and we are still head over heels in love with it. The proof is that there’s a new 7” vinyl limited edition single, the fourth and final single from “Way Better Now”, the second full-length from Sweden’s SPEEKMARKET AVENUE, released last year, and which has earned them definitive recognition in an infinite number of countries, especially in Sweden and the United Kingdom (where it was the single of the week on Q Radio and on Steve Lamacq’s program on the BBC).

This time the chosen song is “No Drama”, one of the most immediate melodies on the disc (whose fun and surreal video, by the way, is already posted on the Elefant Records Youtube channel), in which we can enjoy some of the best qualities of the group: energy, precision in the arrangements, unforgettable melodies and huge choruses… as if they had been written on a sunny afternoon in the city of Glasgow by Stuart Murdoch and THE TRASH CAN SINATRAS. The B side will be filled by the previously unreleased “When You Fell”, a song that explores the more ambient and melancholic facet of the group. It’s the perfect reference to close one of the most marvelous discs we’ve released in the last few months.

Limited edition!

There are groups that believe that a song is still the greatest form of musical expression, and they reinforce this by releasing singles, like it was done in the 50’s. Nowadays, though, it’s an act of rebellion, but bands like THE CLIENTELE have successfully converted their collections of small vinyls into a myth in and of themselves, a precious object of desire of collectionists and pop lovers. THE LODGER are the biggest news in pop in recent years. With two incredible albums that already light up our shelves and that have made them a center of attention of both critics and the public, the quartet from Leeds led by Ben Siddall also made a place for themselves in the scene with three incredible singles (obviously impossible to find today), each released on a different independent label. “I Think I Need You” will be the fifth 7” of their career, the first with Elefant (of course, in a precious green color) and a new demonstration of their incredible ability to make beautiful pop melodies that are simultaneously full of happiness and timeless, and that has an attention grabbing trumpet presence. “We realized that we’d never released a ‘slow’ single before, so we decided that it was the perfect time to fix that” and here we have this mid-tempo rectification that is “I Think I Need You” and its fantastic and crystalline guitar arrangements. And for those who enjoy LODGER’s love of THE SMITHS, “I Can’t Stop” is one of those songs that you will beg on your knees for the DJ to play to brighten a Saturday night. “This Is Good Fortune” has one of those choruses that you need to remember every morning before getting on the bus that takes you to your daily routine, just to have a bit of sunshine every day, while “That Guy” is, as they themselves admit, the shortest song they’ve ever written, an explosive crescendo that barely takes a minute to blast. At Elefant we are deeply proud to collaborate in increasing the size of that object of desire we mentioned before, and that some of LODGER’s incredible compositions are now part of our catalog.

Limited edition [Green Vinyl]

Who hasn’t jumped around like a lunatic, in their room or on the dance floor, with songs as incredibly addictive and fun as “Judy”, “I Like A Boy in Uniform”, “Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me”, “Pull Shapes” or “Tell Me What You Want”? Yes, THE PIPETTES are doubtlessly some of the biggest news of the last decade, for those of us who are fans of the girl-groups, and they’re one of the bands responsible for recovering that sound for millions of people who didn’t know how fresh, how nervy and self-confident, and how exciting the sound could be. Rose Elinor Dougall was one of the three voices that gave us all that energy and vitality. And we say “was” because last year she decided to dedicate herself to a solo career that, in the few months that she’s had it up and running, has only put out hits and brought fame for her surprising personality and her delicate and elegant pop. After her first single, “Another Version of Pop Song”, which was released last December, completely sold out, and after recording a session for Huw Stephens’ program on the BBC (Radio 1), it is a pleasure to announce that Elefant Records is going to release, on white vinyl, her second single, “Start/Stop/Synchro”, just a few months before the release of her debut album, “Without Why”, which is still in post-production. The single shows a cautious jump from the British toward an exercise in style, full of elegance and excitement, solid, but delicate at the same time, surprising and tremendously catchy. The A-side, with the title track, is an incredible, on the mark pop song that moves between the elegance and solidness of Jarvis Cocker and the evanescence and excitement of bands like BROADCAST or COCTEAU TWINS; it is a song like we haven’t heard in years. On the other side, “Static Saturday” is full of sweet naivety, evocative in its recreated ambiance of casiotone and whispered lyrics, between bossa and pop, made to narrate hours spent locked inside your bedroom. Produced by Lee “Muddy” Baker (remember that “Bone” that he wrote with Tim Booth from JAMES), there is no doubt that “Start/Stop/Synchro” will, at the very least, be as successful as her first single (single of the week in The Guardian, Metro and the U.S. magazine Wears the Trousers, as well as one of the fixations of Under the Radar), and will be an advance of what is, without a doubt, going to be on of the biggest items in music news this season: the discovery of the beauty of Rose Elinor Dougall’s compositions and voice.

Limited edition [White Vinyl]

There is no other group like SINGLE. Simply put, they have no equal. It is a group that is capable of constantly reinventing itself without losing its absolutely recognizable personality. This is a musical project that has no limits other than its own curiosity, concern and excitement about finding new paths. Sometimes intimate and beautiful, other times, like this song here, fun and danceable.

“Mr Shoji” is the new song from SINGLE after three EP’s and an album that has placed Teresa Iturrioz and Ibon Errazin’s project in the sights of fans of the most innovative pop. In this new song, which is already a crowd favorite in their concerts, SINGLE come riding in on a contagious new synthetic rhythm that brings Jamaica together with Chicago. The ragamuffin and the blues unite in an incredibly natural way that is made stronger by the pop spirit that always fills their productions. In the best Jamaican tradition, the B-side of this vinyl single (the original pop format, which gives privilege to the songs and pays homage to the sound systems) is a dub version of the title track, in which Ibon Errazkin’s genius is even more noticeable. This is live, advanced and tremendously modern pop. Different from everything else, but without losing its familiarity.

For the occasion, SINGLE asked the very Mr. Shoji to make the video-clip for the song name after him. Mr. Shoji is no other than Japanese DJ Rootsseker, who has been living in Spain for several years and has already collaborated with the group on the version of “Honey” included on “Pio Pio”, and with Ibon on the selection of reggae songs “Spanish Trojan Sound Box”, published by PIAS in 2003. The video-clip is made from photographs from here and there that Mr. Shoji himself took.

We also want to separately mention the new and fabulous work of Javier Aramburu on the cover of this 7”. Aramburu, still new to album illustration work, keeps giving us the best of his paintbrush in his designs for SINGLE. This time it’s not a photograph of Teresa on the cover but, as it was on the album, a perfectly executed drawing, fun and beautiful at the same time. Like SINGLE’s music, really.

Limited edition [Black Vinyl]

Dan Treacy is back and he’s here to stay, as we can see by his intense musical activity in these last years. And here at Elefant we’re celebrating it with a new single that’s really a gift for our label. This limited edition vinyl can be seen as an unintentional ode to the nerd spirit, or an unforeseen tribute to the freak soul, from the perspective of a freethinking, spontaneous, rock n’ roll spirit that is the mind behind our beloved TV PERSONALITIES. So, the title track “People Think That We Are Strange” is an elusive call to flee from judgments (and prejudices), to let people express themselves and be themselves, just as they are and just as our protagonists do on this short and playful single of charming psychedelic pop, falling somewhere between the MODERN LOVERS of Jonathan Richman and the unpredictable craziness of PAVEMENT. The single is completed with the B side “A Glimpse of My Genius”, a hilarious improvisation that evokes a pop-punk drunk VELVET UNDERGROUND full of spontaneity, and even a wink to Lilly Allen! To reveal any more details would ruin the best surprise. Sink into the EP’s incredible lyrics as you let yourself float along with the galloping, unself-conscious riffs in an exercise that must be done at home, or in the bar, or lying in the grass… but always with the record player. Then who’ll say we’re strange?! Vinyl freaks of the world – Unite!

Limited edition [White Vinyl]

At Elefant we are congratulating ourselves on the release, for the second time, of the exclusive 7” of one of the most vital and active groups of the Scottish pop scene. Duglas T. Stewart put together a handful of unreleased songs in this item that marks the sepia tinted memory of the most elegantly poppy seventies, led by the piano, evoking the halo of composers like Burt Bacharach or Henry Mancini and artists like Dusty Springfield or Françoise Hardy. From the new version of “Our Secret Life” in French, rebaptized here as “Quand il n'y a plus d'amour” (with the French adaptation by Nick Garrie) to the closing gem of the EP, a version of “Hopelessly Devoted to You” that Olivia Newton-John sang in “Grease”, on of our favorite films, which Duglas deliciously recreates with the collaboration of the Scottish band THE ATTIC LIGHTS. The single is completed with two very recent recordings, the unreleased “I Can Wait Forever”, intimate folk pop marked with elegant melodies and vocals, and a version of “You Don’t Want to Be My Girlfriend, Phoebe” by MY LITTLE AIRPORT. When Duglas received MY LITTLE AIRPORT’s album, published by Elefant, he fell instantly in love with the song. He played it live a few days later and soon after decided to record it in the studio, the magnificent result of which is here. A precious collection of songs with the indelible stamp of one of the most gifted minds in pop of the last 25 years at the controls. As always, Duglas, it’s a pleasure.

Limited edition [White Vinyl]

Audio HERE [DEEZER] and SPOTIFY

We’re in luck - HELEN LOVE are back! Our favorite Bubblegum-disco-punk group is better than ever and they have a splendid collection of new songs that half the planet is going to go crazy over. “Calm Down Dad” is the first advance single from the flaming new album, “Stick It”, that will soon be released on Elefant Records. While we’re waiting for that moment to arrive, and to ease the long wait, we have this appetizer with three great songs. “Calm Down Dad” is pure energy, catchy indie-punk-pop that talks about the differences between a father and his daughter. She wants to have fun, go out at night, sleep with a boy, dress up like a vampire without being looked at strangely at home, travel the world, try new things and even sing like Kate Nash, but with a more working class accent. Like a mix between Jilted John and THE WAITRESSES, on this limited edition, orange colored vinyl single HELEN LOVE jump from punk to pop to indie, with realist, sarcastic and fun lyrics. The melodies are as sweet as candy, but an orange flavored candy that’s as bittersweet as real life.

The single is finished off with two fast-beat, punk-pop songs. “John Peel Roadshow” talks about how to work up enough courage to give your demo to a radio show host. HELEN LOVE, loved and supported throughout the years by John Peel, recorded a “Peel session” in 1997, which was, for them, one of the high points of the group’s history, as was the summer afternoon on which John Peel, after playing “Does Your Heart Go Boom”, said with a sardonic laugh, "That's HELEN LOVE... the sarcastic bastards"'. “Candeelips” closes the advance single with a sweet story about a boy with the sweetest and most desired lips in the neighborhood!!!.

Limited edition [Orange vinyl]

“Don’t fall in love” is the second single taken from “Way Better Now,” the second full length album of SPEEDMARKET AVENUE. The self-titled and previous released song of the album has turned itself into a total international indie-pop hit. Steve Lamacq chose this tune as single of the week on his BBC program and music journalists riddled the album with praise as it counted on the magic and wisdom of Jari Haapalainen (Producer of ED HARCOURT, THE BEART QUARTET, THE CONCRETES and CAMERA OBSCURA among others), although to have such a well-rounded full length, it is very important to have terrific songs and SPEEDMARKET AVENUE has plenty of them like the one which is the protagonist of the new single. “Don’t Fall in Love” is an instant classic, a short traditional song, the perfect pop tune with a contagious verse and a dazzling chorus. It comes so close to the in love and out-of-love music of sixties pop groups similar to THE SMITHS, LADYBUG TRANSISTOR, THE RAW HERBS and the early songs of AZTEC CAMERA. On the B side of this red special limited edition vinyl is "Dying in Africa", a heart-rending, intimate and melancholic cover of the Swedish Italian disco electro-pop duo NICOLAS MAKELBERGE.

Johan Lundin and Arvid Ringborg were in charge of putting images together for “Don’t Fall in Love” creating a fun video narrating the typical story of a band playing at the wrong event where they are out of place, a private party with terrible guests who do not jive well with the group.

Limited edition [Red vinyl]

Its big news for Elefant to have the privilege to discover an underground composer and witness and participate in his musical rebirth. Nick Garrie debuted with “The Nightmare of JB Stanislas”, a psychedelic folk album published in 1969 and produced by Eddie Vartan (Sylvie Vartan’s brother) but remained in the warehouse of the label, DiscAZ after the owner committed suicide immediately following the release of the album. Despite the fact that the copies of this magical album were scarce and the high price for collectors (more than 1,200 euros), it was admired throughout various decades. Leonard Cohen himself personally praised Nick on their joint tour in Spain in the eighties, announcing that he would have loved to have composed some of the songs of the album. He took part in luxurious collaborations, such as those in infamous soundtracks, along with Francis Lai (Oscar winner for “Love Story” and in charge of “Un homme et a femme”, “Vivir por Vivir”, “Bilitis”, “Dark Eyes” and “Emmanuelle”).
The scarce musical activity of this British composer is seen today thanks to the participation of the well known Scottish pop scene: Duglas T. Stewart (BMX BANDITS), Norman Blake (TEENAGE FANCLUB), Ally Kerr (his true guardian angel) and the entourage of musicians who have rendered their services to record the next album, “49 Arlington Gardens”, including Francis Lai, who authors, along with Nick, one of the most romantic moments of the album. For now, the single “Twilight” is a magnificent appetizer designed in a special limited edition vinyl, clearly demonstrating the preciousness which reigns in the melodies of this composer. Today he is recognized more than ever, along with the names of Donovan and Nick Drake. In January of 2009, his long awaited album will be released.

Limited edition

With their 1994 release of their first single, “Journey”, THE GENTLE PEOPLE have automatically turned into one of Elefant’s favourites with their delicious mix of unique and exotic pop sweetening their songs with admirable elements for Elefant: soundtracks from the 60’s and 70’s, easy-listening, French pop from the sixties, Moog and analogical keyboards, Japanese pop, science fiction films, Hugo Montenegro and cosmic music...The fruit of this admiration is this single we are presenting now, a special limited edition bound for the most sophisticated and hedonistic dance floors..
GENTLE PEOPLE vocalist Dougee Dimensional classifies “Plastic city” as a “hard-hitting post- millennial groove espousing the beauty of plastic surgery, collagen, and a little tuck behind the ear. 'You love the knife, it made your life, OH YEAH!', while "Naughty nauga" extols the virtues of a mischievous unidentified space creature...”

International court Euro-disco, a musical cocktail mixing equal parts of ST ETIENNE, DENIM, JACNO, BAXENDALE, SCISSOR SISTERS, Piero Umiliani, SHAMPOO, ANDREAS DORAU, LIO, DUBSTAR and LIME with the last generation of Japanese pop: HAZEL NUTS CHOCOLAT, CAPSULE and FANTASTIC PLASTIC MACHINE.

Formed as a result of an artistic collective of musicians, graphic designers and characters from other walks of life hitting the London music scene in 1993. Their sound had an immediate impact with Richard D. James (APHEX TWIN) who proposed to release one of their songs on his label, Rephlex Records, according to NME. "The coolest record label in the world", “Journey” received acclaimed reviews and their success helped to create a new style of lounge music called coined “Chill-out”. Two albums, various singles, numerous songs scattered about on many compilations (“Café del Mar”, “Big Chill”, “Radio Nova”...), TV shows, advertisements, mixes and collaborations with artists such as APHEX TWIN, URSULA 1000, PIZZICATO 5, Towa Tei (DEEE-LITE), FANTASTIC PLASTIC MACHINE and MANSFIELD, along with the recent release in digital format on iTunes on various compilations and exclusive singles is just another one of the amazing feats of THE GENTLE PEOPLE.

Limited edition