Freak Animal label details:
Styles / Genre
Freak Animal is known as publisher of noise and power
electronics. We do handle small portion of related styles and bands/artists who
stretch limits of specific "genre" with experiments, but mostly it is power
electronics and noise. There is no music releases. FA does not release folk,
electro-acoustic, musique concrete, etc. Even if such material can be found from our
distribution section.
Style/Format of releases
Freak Animal has been publishing material in most formats. Tape, CDr, CD, vinyl
7", 10", 12" and vhs. With only few exceptions, items are pressed 100-300
copies. This is also direction what will be followed in future. Mostly future releases
happen in CD and LP formats. Hardly any 7"s can be expected, and CDr series has been
stopped.
Freak Animal belongs to old style of underground noise, where rough b&w / handmade /
xerox artwork / odd size covers are still part of releases, especially in case of
vinyl releases. There are not coming fancy modern packaging or "destined to be
collectors item" strange formats (7"+12" in box with book whatever..) etc.
Most of the Freak Animal records releases looks the kind of stuff what you will not find
in record shops, which is usually the case.
Content of releases
Freak Animal doesn't have strict rules of what type of non-sound content releases
must have, and there exists releases from pure no-content sound releases to various types
of extremes in politics, religion and sex (etc). Some releases include warning due
content, which has proven to be needed, since some distributors and customers have found
them too hard to handle. If you think you will have some political or moral issues against
particular releases, don't buy them. Also releases with no warnings can include
violent, pornographic or politically incorrect material, but that's no news for anyone as
Freak Animal is best known for it. Like said in "How the get signed"
section in end of this page, many of the bands are here as their material is highly
personal, obsessive or manifest strong emotions. It is not always the most important what
direction of politics, sexuality or other views band/artist has, but the passion and
dedication what shines through their work. Complaining about the content of releases is
worthless. Rules are simple: don't listen if you don't like it. If you seek for true sound
of dedication, welcome to Freak Animal's mailorderlist.
Promotion
Freak Animal does not intend to crossover too much with other music styles
(metal, punk, alternative rock,..) and therefore there is very little or not at all
promotional work done towards mainstream or alternative music press. Only few selected
places who review or write about noise & p.e., are sometimes on the mailinglist. If
you have decent zine or website with proof of existence & guaranteed longevity, you
may ask if something could be sent to you. FA does not supply DJ's or most of radio
stations.
There are mp3 clips available of each vinyl or CD releases what is currently in stock. By listening them, distributors and customers can get some idea what type of release we're talking about. However, often 2-4 minutes out of 40-60 minutes playingtime does not give full view of content.
Price policy
Freak Animal does not compete with prices. It is not intention to be the cheapest, but
prices are very fair and such ones what I would pay for release myself. Most of the items
are very limited (100-300) and therefore production prices are much higher than with
records that are pressed 500-1000 or more. We still sell releases for almost identical
prices compared to big editions. Only bad currency rates (Euro vs. US$) and postage rates
can make it difficult to some people in some countries to buy items.
Distributors / traders
Labels and distributors who are willing to sell FA releases, contact for
wholesale prices or trades. Of course also trades are done directly with bands / artists,
whoever releases something interesting what is needed in FA distribution. New distributors
are always welcome !
Buying Freak Animal releases or items
listed in mailorder catalog
All orders are welcome. There is no minimum order amount. If you have not ordered
before, see ordering information so you can avoid asking same questions what are already
answered on site.
People want to be informed of news send letter, e-mail and request being on mailing
list to receive news and mailorderlist. There is no longer being sent mailorderlist via
e-mail due large size of them. You will only receive once in a while notification of major
updates followed by link to FA site.
Finding Freak Animal titles from your
"local" distrubutors.
Freak Animal does NOT
have wide regular distribution network. Some releases are, and some are not distributed
by: Cold Meat Industry (swe), Cold Spring (UK), Eibon (Ita), Ground Fault Recordings (Usa), Hospital prod.(Usa), L.O.K.I. Foundation (ger),
Malignant (USA), Molehill (jap),
NEdS (Jap), Nuit et Brouillard (Fra), Old Europa Cafe (Fra), PacRec / Troniks (USA),
RRRecords (Usa), Segerhuva (Swe), Self Abuse Records (Usa), Slaughter prod. (Ita), Tesco
Distribution (Ger) and some more.
How to get signed?
Freak Animal is looking for noise & p.e. bands with musically superior quality and who
are interesting characters besides the sound. Mostly the bands become interesting who let
their own feelings, obsessions, statements or beliefs be exposed through the sound they
make. Very shallow approach and obvious copycats do not have possibility. Same goes for
most of retarded humor. Often people who we work with are, or have become, personal
friends & long time contacts. It's very unlikely that anonymous and completely
un-personal stranger would get anything released on FA. Freak Animal is label from noise
freak to noise freaks. We do not need "artists" who use this medium without
being totally dedicated to it.
Sending promotional material
tape or CDr to: FA, P.o.box 21, 15141 Lahti, Finland. Artwork / lyrics / info and such
things most welcome. Do not send mp3's via e-mail. Do not send any large files via e-mail.
Usually all promo material is being listened, but sometimes it doesn't happen immediately.