Too Pure Singles Club Week: Paul Riddlesworth in Interview

PAUL ARTROCKER: Hi Paul, could we start with you telling us a bit about your relationship with Too Pure over the years?

PAUL RIDDLESWORTH: I’ve always loved Too Pure. Growing up, scouring the desolate record shops of Stoke on Trent for Dry, Peng or anything by Hefner on vinyl, all my home town had was a Woolworths - and that was shit for anything other than videos of Schwarzenegger films! So it was with great sadness that in 2008, after it'd been one of my all time favourite labels for eighteen years, it was to hang up its boots and shut up shop.

However, luckily for me, it was decided that, like Esteban and his Golden Condor, it was going to rise form the ashes in the form of The Too Pure Singles Cub label!

The deal is simple, the bands give us two tracks and we commit them to a beautiful, heavy 7” vinyl. We release one a month and for £35 subscribers get all 12 thoughout the year they also get to download the tracks way in advance.

Fast forward three years and we’re still flying the Too Pure Flag, the deal and model is completely the same only I’m a little older and finding it much more difficult to drink bands under the table.

As for The bands we’ve had on the label - Esben & The Witch, Die!Die!Die! Jeff the Brotherhood, Pulled Apart By Horses, Civil Civic and more... the list speaks for itself. We’re just happy to have been a part of their history and a stepping stone towards their success.

PA: The list of releases is indeed impressive but in terms of what might be forthcoming, can you give us an insight into how you choose the next releases on the label. What's important for you when you decide that a band should be represented by the singles club?

PR: It's alot of gig going - when at my age I should be at home fulfilling my addiction to the Alibi channel. A lot of bands who have been on the singles club recommend unsigned bands they either like or have played with. Like The Masters in France boys - they told me about COOLRUNNINGS from Knoxville and they really are amazing.

PA Have you ever repeated a band on the label, and if so, why?

PR: We did a split with Friendship and Die! Die!Die! when we'd already done 7"s with them on previous years. Die!Die!Die! are a phenomenal band and when I heard the single 'We Built Our Own Oppressors' we had to do it.



PA: Why a singles 'Club'? Why do you think people should be interested in committing to the Club rather than just buying isolated releases? Have you ever joined a singles club ?

PR: We want people to feel part of something. It has quite a communal feel to it, and I actively encourage subscribers to get in touch as long as they're not mentalists. It's good value and a great way of discovering new unsigned bands - like having a birthday once a month - as you get direct to your door a shiny new 7". Unfortunately I haven't [subscribed to any other singles club], although I have it on great authority that the Moshi Moshi one is pretty good. In fact, I might sign up to that today!

PA: As well as Too Pure, are there any other labels you used to 'follow' in terms of what they would release next ?

PR: I always loved Creation records - I think pretty much every release was fantastic. Fierce Panda were always one step ahead, and they've recently done an album with The Crookes, which I'm extremely happy about. Also growing up I loved everything 4AD did.

PA: Do you think people 'care' about labels any more ?

PR: Most definitely! I had a genuine email from a subscriber just this morning saying how important what we were doing was, which is always nice to hear. I didn't even prompt him! It wasn't a relation! No money changed hands!

PA: Why is it important to be a vinyl singles club ? What is special for you about vinyl and particularly the 7" single ?

PR: The thing with a vinyl record is there seems to be a more tangible connection with the piece: they look and sound great. We do really nice heavy weight 7"s in array of fancy colours ... ooh get us.

PA: Have you a favourite single or favourites so far ? Or one you are particularly pleased with?

PR: Yeah - 'I Punched A Lion In The Throat' by Pulled Apart By Horses was the first single I ever released for Too Pure - and one of the best. They're funny fuckers to boot. The Crookes was not only a great single but they also played at my wedding last year. Civil Civic - that was a great single and they're just cool bastards. The We Are Animal and the Masters In France singles are up there too, as are Bear Hands and Jeff The Brotherhood.. Its just too tough to pick one!



PA: Is there any chance that the Singles Club might do a collection of these singles at some point?

PR: Probably not, as we want the tracks to be special and limited for our subscribers - plus it's all about the vinyl.

PA; Can you give us an idea of what singles are coming next?

PR: We've got Stoke on Trents 'Maps Of Columbus'. They're a great power pop trio ( do I sound like a dick calling them power pop?) and just generally have the same outlook as we do, having fun and enjoying being involved in music. They like milk too, alot. Just watch the video for daisy.

In August we have Sheffield's Seize The Chair who are difficult to catagorise as every track I've heard has been completely different... but fantastic as. Then, coming up in September we have Knoxville's COOLRUNNINGS who sound like early Animal collective. The rest is TBC - so I'd better get my skates on!