Hot and Ready Records
Label Overview: I assumed that the days of sending away for a tape or record were long gone now that it's so easy to create your own website with Bandcamp and Tumblr. The package I received from California's Hot and Ready Records this week proved me wrong, and I couldn't be happier about it; it's interesting to see music distributors and artists paddling against the current of technology. The label, whose name may or may not be a nod to Little Caesar's Pizza, operates from a bare-bones webpage (you can view it here) which is little more than a list of titles to order with no cover art provided. I really like the idea of focusing on the music while also creating a bit of mystique. I also find it quite interesting that the catalog the label mails its customers actually lists much more music than its internet counterpart and includes a description of each release. It's as if it reveals all its secrets and quirks to you at a gradual pace; you'll get as much out of Hot and Ready as you put into it! You can also buy some rad zines and comics from the same address, my favorite is Throat Culture, which features rather conversational reviews of lo-fi bands like The Shivas, Hunx and Cassie Ramone's solo project.
