Vessels and the new Cuckundoo Records
Ben Winbolt-Lewis of the Leaf Label shared with Puddlegum that he is developing a new record label called Cuckundoo Records with the aims of releasing experimental music, particularly "experimental sides of guitar music." They describe their vision:
"The ideal situation would be to get artists from all walks of life and musical styles to jam together, recorded both in audio and on film. The essence of music is in live performance, so Cuckundoo wants to be able to catch this vibe."
Based out of Leeds, United Kingdom, Cuckundoo's first signing is a local band called Vessels. The band has a guitar driven experimental sound, with similarities to Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky, though Vessels is not an entirely instrumental band. Vessels are comprised of: Tim Mitchell (drums, beats & record collection), Martin Teff (guitar, bass, synth), Tom Evans (guitar, vox, zither, psaltry, bontempi), and Lee J. Malcolm (guitar, vox, synth, laptop, reverb).
Cuckundoo Records released their first single, Yuki and Forever the Optimist. Steve Lamacq of BBC Radio One described them as, "dynamic post rock which stalks around your room before launching itself through a window."
BBC Radio One invited Vessels to record four songs, so the band stepped in front of the microphones on March 28. They took this opportunity to record two new songs and two songs from their self-titled. 
The four songs were streamed on BBC Radio One's website for a week before being aired on Huw Stephens' radio show.
With a European tour for the month of September in the making, Vessels have a smattering of summer festivals and individual shows this summer in London, Leeds, among other cities. They are also working on a United Kingdom tour in July, so expect details to be announced soon.
Vessels – Forever the Optimist
Vessels – Two Words and a Jesture
Vessels on:
iTunes | Insound | Amazon | Hype Machine | Elbo.ws | Musicofthe.net | Last.fm | YouTube
May 9 – 93 Feet East – LONDON, London and South East
May 24 – Dry Bar – MANCHESTER
May 26 – Live at Leeds @ The Faversham – LEEDS
May 26 – Dry Dock – LEEDS
Jun 9 – CHALK @ Scala — DATE CHANGE — NEW DATE TBC LONDON
Jun 23 – NASTY FEST VII @ Faversham ALL DAY – LEEDS
Jul 28 – NottingHill Arts Club – LONDON
Aug 12 – Rainbow Spirit Enlightenment Fayre – Chepstow Racing course, Monmouthshire, Wales