Blue Matter Records

17/03/2026

What's this? The Big Take-over runs a SECOND glowing review of Varied Superstitions. Well we never. You can buy it on purple vinyl or CD at Blue Matter Records folks...

https://bigtakeover.com/recordings/the-black-watch-varied-superstitions-Blue+Matter+Records?fbclid=IwY2xjawQmnFVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEerMKTFvIt9KBYZOWUZRLp8ZlbF3dIfT2FOztmPhG0nAAio8Goi-MNuHFffls_aem_8SqDJ_iXwNMLqwJ6znGd9Q

Twenty-six albums! There are a few bands or artists who rack up anything close to that tally, and most of those, I would suspect, started making music a long time before the black watch’s 1988 launch point. And if quantity doesn’t necessarily equal quality, having written about more than a few a...

03/03/2026

A great write up on the black watch's "Varied Superstitions" from the estimable Bucketfull Of Brains. Some kind words about Blue Matter Records too...

John Andrew Frederick has been the black watch – existing entirely in lower case – since the late 80s. A polymath and Anglophile based in Los Angeles; at times an author, university lecturer, tenni…

02/03/2026

Dear All, if you are on our mailing list you will have already received our latest newsletter alerting you to our latest releases. If you are not on our mailing list you can read it here...

https://bluematterrecords.substack.com/p/blue-matter-february-2026-newsletter

and sign up for future newsletters when you open it.

In other news, we have managed to secure a better rate for posting records and CDs to America by tracked mail using UK Royal Mail. We have also been able to offer a price for a single LP or a price for an order of two to four LPs. That brings the cost per album down significantly if you want to pick up some of our back catalogue or get a syndicate together to buy multiple copies of our latest releases. American customers, please also note there are currently no additional tariffs for LPs and CDs from the UK to the US.

We have also been able to put Eliza Skelton's "The Lookerer" LP ( on green vinyl ) back on sale after we found a quantity hidden away in our warehouse. If you want it, please be quick as we don't have many and when it's gone, this time it's really gone.

Oh, and thank you very much one and all for your continued support.

Best wishes

Nick and Gary

Two exciting new releases from Blue Matter Records... plus more!

20/02/2026

Here's a great review from Italy:
from Blow Up Magazine (Italy)
by Giancarlo Turra
the black watch
Varied Superstitions
Blue Matter Records
I wrote about the modern gentleman John Andrew Frederick in the September 2005 issue, reviewing his album “For All the World”, which is a summary of a whole career and the personal masterpiece of this artist, a true cult in every possible sense of the word. After a few months, the hyperactive Frederick is back with another chapter of the novel he’s been writing since 1988, where he partially overshadows the Sixties spirit of his aesthetic universe to investigate the face leading to new wave an the ‘80s indie-rock. The result of the move is extremely successful and recommended if your cup of tea holds an expressiveness with bittersweet aftertaste, even more personal when it naturally shows its reference points. Therefore, melodies stand out after a few spins, while the general atmosphere and the sound steer toward a solid minimalism; depending on the single tracks, the music mixes traces of shoegaze (Precious Little, Jolly Melancholy, In This Town), fascinating post-psychedelia (the gem Pretending) and hints to Psychedelic Furs (the wonderful, long tour de force It Is What It Isn’t), Yo La Tengo (the title-track, Living Backwards) and Robyn Hitchcock of “Fegmania!” (Faze, Your Clothes Sir). The final blessing comes from Blue Matter, the record label headed by the kindred spirit Nick Saloman A/K/A Bevis Frond: an additional guarantee of quality and a perfect closing of a circle.

12/02/2026

Gary, Shelagh, Jan & I spent last night inserting lyric sheets into the two latest releases on our Blue Matter Records label. Both due out on March 2nd. May we present to you: the black watch (lower case intentional) with their splendid 'Varied Superstitions' album, and The Green Ray with their no less wonderful 'Orchard House'.

11/02/2026

We are delighted with the great review for the black watch's new album, "Varied Superstitions" in the current Shindig magazine. It's out on Blue Matter Records on 2nd March and we think you'll love it, we do...

09/02/2026

We thought we'd update you on our Spring releases, Varied Superstitions by the black watch and Orchard House by The Green Ray. The CDs and records are pressed and looking rather fine. Now we can add the information sheets in the vinyl records and we are ready for the release date of March 2nd. In the meantime here is a short video of vinyl copies of Varied Superstitions being "sleeved" at the record plant. We hope you like the purple vinyl as much as we do...

06/01/2026

Hi Folks, We hope you all had a lovely Christmas and have a great 2026. Sorry we haven't been communicating very much recently, but we reckon you should know about 2 brand new albums set for release on March 2nd. We will be issuing a new masterpiece from Santa Barbara's the black watch (lower case intentional) called 'Varied Superstitions'. We'll also be putting out the wonderful new album from Walthamstow's very own The Green Ray which is titled 'Orchard House'. As you know (because we keep saying it) we only put out records we really love, and these two are both killer albums. Here's the ad for the pair of them. We don't think you'll be disappointed.

16/10/2025

In case you haven't found the fab video on YouTube for "Cryo-Love" from the Debbie & The Millbanks album out on Blue Matter Records here it is in all its splendour...

Debbie Duveen & The Millbanks are Debbie Duveen- vocals, Nick Saloman- guitar, Paul Simmons- guitar, Adrian Shaw- bass, and Jules Fenton- drums. Their debut...