www.dandelionradio.com is run by volunteers inspired by the ethos of the late BBC DJ John Peel. ‘Five Years’is a download-only, two volume compilation including a selection of Dandelion Radio’s favourite bands since it first went on air in June 2006. Fittingly, many of those joining the celebrations were big favourites of John Peel too.
A free compilation has been released featuring highlights of the first five years of Dandelion Radio, the online station at www.dandelionradio.com
The album, which will only be available until 31 July, is a free birthday gift from Dandelion Radio to its listeners available via the Unwashed Territoriesnetlabel. Joining Dandelion to wish them many happy returns are 10 artists who recorded more than 40 John Peel sessions among them. These include Trembling Blue Stars, Martin Carr (formerly of The Boo Radleys), Decoration, Beatnik Filmstars and Darren Hayman (ex-Hefner). Alongside them are many newer bands that Dandelion Radio DJs have loved and celebrated during their first five years on the air, including eleven tracks from exclusive sessions recorded for Dandelion Radio’s shows. More than half of the tracks are unavailable anywhere else.
Dandelion DJ Mark Whitbysaid: “We were looking for a way to celebrate the last five years and say a big thank you to all the bands and listeners who’ve been a part of Dandelion Radio. The best way to do this was to involve some of those artists in putting together a top-class compilation album to give away to listeners for free. I’m really pleased with the acts we’ve got on there, from those who got their first airplay with Dandelion through to artists I first heard and loved on John Peel’s show.”
John Peel legends Martin Carr and Darren Hayman have donated completely new, as yet unreleased tracks, while Trembling Blue Starshave given us an exclusive unreleased track from nine years ago. And in the true spirit of Peel, the compilation also features many new artists who’ve been discovered by Dandelion during its first five years – such as Yorkshire based singer-songwriter Alisia Casper, South Wales indie pop artist Hehfu and Australian electronic duo The Emergency.
Many of the artists here – such as Burnley’s Jay Stansfield and Cheshire’s Vert:x – followed in the footsteps of the likes of Vampire Weekend and The Wombatsby getting their first record label releases following Dandelion Radio airplay. Jay contributes a specially recorded birthday track, while Vert:x’s own exclusive contribution is a characteristic barrage of spacerock-influenced noise. As well as breaking new bands and artists, Dandelion has also taken the Peel blueprint of maximum diversity, and it’s a blueprint that’s perfectly showcased on this collection.
To join the celebrations, go to http://unwashedterritories.bandcamp.com/releases, download both volumes and help pay tribute to the radio station that’s kept the John Peel banner flying more successfully than anyone could have hoped. And listen to the special series of anniversary shows streaming at www.dandelionradio.com throughout the month of June.
