4AD

4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1980 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, originally funded by Beggars Banquet.

The current roster includes Ariel Pink, Atlas Sound, Beirut, Bon Iver, Camera Obscura, D.D Dumbo, Daughter, Deerhunter, Efterklang, Future Islands, Gang Gang Dance, Grimes, Holly Herndon, Indians, Iron & Wine, Merchandise, The National, Pixx, Purity Ring, Scott Walker, SOHN, Tim Hecker, Tune-Yards and U.S. Girls.

4AD forms part of the Beggars Group, along with Matador Records, Rough Trade Records and XL Recordings. Its history has been detailed by Martin Aston in his biography of the label, Facing The Other Way, released 2013.

History

Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, employees of the Beggars Banquet record store and label, founded Axis Records in late 1979 as a property of Beggars Banquet that was run by the two. After the first four Axis singles in early 1980, the name was changed to 4AD when it became apparent that the name Axis was already being used by another music company. The solution to this problem came from a promotional flyer that they had printed up to call attention to the new releases. The flyer's designer had added some typography that played on both the new year and the idea of progress:

Saint Vincent

Saint Vincent may refer to:

Persons

Other Saints

Other persons

James McAlister

James Edward McAlister (born September 5, 1951 in Little Rock, Arkansas) is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round of the 1974 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA, where he was also a star on the track and field team. He had the best long jump in the world in 1973 set at home in Westwood.

In 1974, the World Football League gained a large measure of recognition the day before the NFL draft when its Southern California franchise announced the signing of three potential NFL first-round selections, including McAlister. McAlister was one of a trio whose agent, 22-year-old Michael L Trope, decided not to wait for competitive bidding by the NFL. "Their value was at a peak, 30% to 35% higher than it would have been later, because of the publicity the WFL could get by our signing," said Trope, who approximated the total package at close to $1 million for his three clients.

McAlister also played for the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots. He was on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1971.

Bon Iver

Bon Iver (/boʊn iːˈvɛər/ bohn-ee-VAIR) is an American indie folk band founded in 2007 by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. Vernon released Bon Iver's debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago independently in July 2007. The majority of that album was recorded while Vernon spent three months in a cabin in northwestern Wisconsin. Bon Iver won the 2012 Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album for their album Bon Iver, Bon Iver. The name Bon Iver is derived from the French phrase bon hiver (French pronunciation: ​[bɔn‿ivɛːʁ]), meaning "good winter", taken from a greeting on Northern Exposure.

History

After the breakup of his band DeYarmond Edison, the ending of a relationship, and a bout with mononucleosis hepatitis, Vernon left Raleigh, North Carolina, and moved back to Wisconsin to spend the oncoming winter months at his father's cabin in Dunn County, Wisconsin. According to Vernon, it was during this time that the "Bon Iver" moniker first entered his mind; while bedridden with mononucleosis, he began watching the 1990s TV series Northern Exposure on DVD. One episode depicts a group of citizens in Alaska, where the show is set, emerging from their homes into the first snowfall of the winter and wishing one another bon hiver (pronounced: [bɔn‿ivɛːʁ], French for "good winter"). This was initially transcribed by Vernon as "boniverre"; however, when he learned of its proper French spelling, he elected not to use it, deciding "hiver" reminded him too much of "liver", the site of his illness at the time.

Strange Mercy

Strange Mercy is the third studio album by musician St. Vincent, released by 4AD on September 12, 2011, in the United Kingdom and a day later in the United States. The album's cover art was designed by St. Vincent, and was photographed by Tina Tyrell. The album peaked at #19 on the Billboard 200, making it St. Vincent's highest charting album yet, only to be surpassed by her next solo album, St. Vincent. In addition, Strange Mercy also received significant critical acclaim.

The album was recognized as one of The 100 Best Albums of the Decade So Far by Pitchfork Media in August 2014.

Background and recording

Strange Mercy was written in Seattle while Annie Clark spent time in isolation there, an experience Clark described as a "loneliness experiment" and "a cleanse." The reason she spent time in isolation was to escape from the information overload she was experiencing with New York and modern technology. Clark arrived in Seattle on October 2010 and stayed at the Ace Hotel. She used a studio provided by Jason McGerr to record her materials.