solipsistic NATION No. 136: Summer Rain Recordings

Okay, here’s the deal: once a month on solipsistic NATION I showcase a record label that is putting out some amazing music that you should know about. Whether it’s house or industrial or experimental, if it’s great I’m going to shine a light on labels who have great releases from their roster of artists.

Recently I have featured music from Tympanik Audio, Spectraliquid, Alfa Matrix and 12k. This week we’re going to hear beautiful music from Summer Rain Recordings.

I first heard about Summer Rain Recordings one day while reading one of HC from Headphone Commute‘s review of artists on the label. I’ve been reading HC’s blog for a while now and I’ve come to trust and respect his opinions on the music he discusses so I kept it in mind to do a show on Summer Rain Recordings. Then out of the blue David Holmes from Summer Rain Recordings contacted me about playing artists from Summer Rain Recordings on solipsistic NATION and I thought that was the perfect opportunity to have him come on the program and talk about his label.

Summer Rain Recordings is pretty eclectic but the music that David has chosen for this week’s show is very soft, beautiful and full of complex emotions expressing everything from quiet happiness to longing and regret. I think you’re going to love what you hear.

Aside from the talent on Summer Rain Recordings one of the things that makes the label unique is that every artist signed to the label donates a minimum of 5% of their royalties for every release to NextAid, or a charity of their choice, and Summer Rain Recordings match their percentage donation from the label profits from the release. Ioda, Summer Rain Recordings distributor and one of my favorite music vendor, also donates 25% of their fees for each of Summer Rain Recordings releases to NextAid.

Every purchase of Summer Rain Recordings music helps NextAid to raise funds for their pilot project, the building of an ecological community center and children’s residential village in Dennilton, South Africa. Now complete are 10 structures of the 25 slated for construction by summer 2010. The center will serve as a safe home for 50 children orphaned by AIDS, a multi-purpose center for the larger community, a hub for economic enterprise, and an example of innovative solutions for future projects throughout Africa.

  1. Toby Benson “La Mere de Ma Mere”
  2. Proof of Concept “Object of Desire”
  3. Auditory Canvas “Desert Sun”
  4. Interview with David Holmes, founder of Summer Rain Recordings
  5. About 9 “Keep Walking”
  6. riccicomoto “Double Zero Theme”
  7. Interview with David Holmes, founder of Summer Rain Recordings
  8. Melorman “The Small King”
  9. Pondermonkey “Cycle”
  10. Mr. Squirrel “Nothing But Pebbles”
  11. David Kira “Gia”
  12. Tepui “Caribu”
  13. Interview with David Holmes, founder of Summer Rain Recordings
  14. Elysian Piers “Music Box”
  15. Fabrizio Cacciamali “Close Curtains on a Sunny Day”
  16. Manic “Spring”
  17. Interview with David Holmes, founder of Summer Rain Recordings