We Leave At Dawn "January 06" cd-r (Russian Folk Stories/2006)

Shortly after I started my label Rok Lok Records, I started receiving regular mail orders (yes through the mail) from a kid named Thomas from Exeter in the United Kingdom. He would always include typed out letters or handwritten letters with his orders and I'd return the gesture. Eventually, we didn't need any sort of commerce related transaction to communicate as letters and emails became fairly regular practice (as they do til the this day). At some point Thomas started sending me cd-rs of his various bands and then he and has girlfriend Hannah started a record label that was built upon strong DIY ethics and ideas. The packaging to all of their releases would be handmade, pieces of art almost where it was more than something just to put on a shelf. And this cd-r release from We Leave at Dawn is not only one of Thomas' bands but one of the label's earliest releases.

This debut effort from We Leave at Dawn, January 06 is a full length album consisting of nine tracks of emo done right. Not the hair in your face nonsense but the extension of Rites of Spring, and Moss Icon type of emo. The good kind. For anyone familiar with any of the United Kingdom's recent brand of emo bands such as What Price Wonderland, Jupiter Lander and Kids Return (another of Thomas' bands who just released a new split 10 inch with Saturday's Kids on Time as Color and Art for Blind) then you'll certainly dig We Leave At Dawn. For those of you not hip to the current UK emo scene then perhaps if I mention Life At These Speeds, Damezumari or Sinaloa does that ring a bell? If not you are on your own...

We Leave at Dawn came from the ashes of the band Structures and January 06 is just a great example of fantastic UK emo. The only other release We Leave at Dawn did was a 2 song 7 inch with the songs "Copernicus" and "to Infinity and Beyond" taken from the January 06 cd-r and thrown on a piece of vinyl. If anyone is interested I do have a copy or two remaining of the 7 inch in my distro. While I got burned out a lot on screamo and hardcore in the last couple of years emo of this ilk still is a joy to my ears Passionate vocals over a sprawling tidal wave of sound of driving rhythms and open strummed guitars. I love it. I also love all of my buddy Thomas' bands. I highly recommend that you check out Kids Return and Marshall Teller both of whom are emo bands and also Halftime Parade which is a 100% pure indie rock band in the vein of Urusei Yatsura and The Wedding Present.

We Leave at Dawn January 06 track listing
1. Another Cry
2. You're Never Online Anymore
3. Spectres and Spectators
4. Copernicus
5. To Infinity and Beyond
6. Goodnight
7. Earthman Come Home
8. I am At War
9. Untitled

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