Label Focus: City Slang
"As an independent label in this day and age, we have to stay innovative in that sense that we try and help our artists to manoeuvre and find a way. That’s the core of what we do since 1990 and doing this means we will always cross paths with new and innovative artists, the future classics."
A record label with a culture of nurturing innovation, City Slang is home to a roster of artists who truly excite us at Rough Trade, both past and present.
Named after a legendary 1976 EP by Detroit's Sonic’s Rendezvous Band, the City Slang sound is rooted in American indie rock, established to help distribute The Flaming Lips' fourth album to European audiences in 1990. Behind this venture, booking agent Christof Ellinghaus, who recognised a taste for this music within the European alternative landscape.
Embracing bands such as The Flaming Lips, Tortoise, Built to Spill, Sebadoh and Hole, City Slang have always been very much at the forefront of a burgeoning underground scene. Over their 30 years in business, this position has significantly evolved, branching out to represent a diverse range of genres such as alt-country, electronic and indie pop in artists such as Lambchop, Caribou, Jose Gonzalez and more, with a vision of supporting creative innovation.
A journey influenced by a changing independent industry and fan interest, we reflect on the highlights and finer details of the Berlin-based labels's 30 years of business, celebrating their role as key players of the independent scene with several new exclusive pressings, new represses, limited vinyl markdowns and merch...
City Slang Exclusives
Caribou - Honey
Our Album of the Month in October 2024, acclaimed electronic producer and DJ Dan Snaith releases his fifth studio album as Caribou via City Slang, his label home for the project since 2007. A buoyant blend of hip house, speed garage and techno, all pulling from Snaith's well-experienced club eras. Available on Rough Trade Exclusive pink vinyl + bonus CD.
Jessica Pratt - Here In The Pitch
A joint release for City Slang and Mexican Summer, the LA singer-songwriter's unique multi-dimensional folk-influenced sound is a perfect fit amongst City Slang's genre-defying roster. Pratt's fourth album is equally as beguiling as her previous work whilst stepping into even more expansive and cinematic qualities. On Rough Trade Exclusive gold vinyl.
Boy Harsher - Careful and The Runner OST
Minimal synth duo Boy Harsher have really caught our attention at Rough Trade. Gritty, ethereal beats, dark but highly danceable. Releasing on their own label Nude Club (via City Slang) the band expand their fine-tuned production on both their second album Careful and short film OST The Runner. On Rough Trade Exclusive flourescent or marbled vinyl.
Lambrini Girls - God's Country / Body Of Mine
Brighton post-punk duo Lambrini Girls are fast-rising newcomers and hot property of today's punk rock scene. The outspoken band champion community and going against the grain, an exciting fresh signing for City Slang's vibrant roster. On Rough Trade Exclusive clear 7".
City Slang T-Shirt
A limited edition run of white tees featuring the label's iconic logo.
City Slang Markdowns
We have special pricing (for a limited time only) across select titles in the label's catalogue in-store and online. Titles from Los Bitchos, Efterklang, Faux Real, Pom Pom Squad, Notwist, Caribou, Pom Pom Squad, Imarhan, King Hannah, Anna B Savage, Lambchop and more, with up to 30% off.
We catch up with City Slang General Manager Severin Most to chat about the label's evolving identity, finding future classics and the importance of keeping vinyl alive.
"If you keep an open mind and ears, you’ll find yourself in unexpected places. And that’s one of the most exciting things about working at a label."
City Slang's early reputation was largely shaped by the label's success in representing a burgeoning American indie rock scene to European audiences. How quickly did the label find its clear leftfield identity following this? Who were some of the artists who played a part in shaping this?
A big shift in our musical direction came with bands like Don Caballero, Tortoise, and Trans Am. Around the same time, Germany’s electronic and ambient scenes were emerging. Suddenly, guitar players were discovering synthesizers. Schneider TM and To Rococo Rot were pioneers of this shift, and soon, it was given a label: POST ROCK, for lack of a better term. Grunge was dead, so what did we have? Post-rock. Right.
The City Slang imprint clearly encompasses a wide range of genres in its roster, from the hard-hitting indie rock styles of bands like White Denim, Los Bitchos, SPRINTS, Pom Pom Squad, the beguiling avant styles and melodies of Tindersticks and freak-folk trailblazer Jessica Pratt or the imaginative electronic music of Boy Harsher or Caribou. What unites these artists across the alternative scene and makes them stand out as City Slang artists?
We have to be genuinely excited about the music. It’s never about just one sound that defines everything. It’s always something personal. When City Slang first started, it wasn’t about one specific sound, even with bands like Flaming Lips, Hole, Yo La Tengo, Superchunk, and Sebadoh. Those bands just made the most interesting, challenging, and amazing music at the time. With every year, we would discover an artist who challenged our status quo, and we would give them a chance. Sometimes it worked out, and sometimes it didn’t. Looking back, you see the success stories; you rarely hear about the ones that didn’t take off. But what does failure even mean? A record that wasn’t financially lucrative could still leave a mark on culture; it certainly left a mark on us.
For over thirty years City Slang remains a clear tastemaker through the catalogue it has built up. What has been key to maintaining the label's identity? Have you faced any challenges as our independent music community moves into an increasingly digital age?
The end of the century and millennium sparked a surge in music with bands like The Notwist, The Faint, and Radio 4. It was a time of Sturm und Drang, genres blended fluidly, and there was an intense craving for something new. Ten years after the Cold War ended, uncertainty crept into the music and people started realising that maybe, just maybe, things weren’t as rosy as they seemed. At the end of our second decade, around 2007, a new wave of bands took us by storm: Caribou, Menomena, HEALTH, José González's Junip, to name a few. Truly revolutionary stuff. It felt like a new generation had arrived, steadfast but with fresh horizons.
But the last ten years have brought the biggest changes. The creative process for our artists has changed drastically and fundamentally, the way people listen to music. All of this created new challenges but also paved the way for new exciting artists. As an independent label in this day and age, we have to stay innovative in that sense that we try and help our artists to manoeuvre and find a way. That’s the core of what we do since 1990 and doing this means we will always cross paths with new and innovative artists, the future classics.
If you keep an open mind and ears, you’ll find yourself in unexpected places. And that’s one of the most exciting things about working at a label.
Can you share five key releases and campaigns which have defined the label's success in terms of shaping the ethos, as well as commercially?
1. Calexico – Feast of Wire
Blending alt-country with all these wild Latin influences, Feast of Wire wasn’t just a win for Calexico —it was a big deal for City Slang too. There are big anthems and then there’s a lot of Space, your mind roams freely, and just when you think it gets a bit boring there’s an exciting turn. Comparing records to road trips is a horrible cliche that should be punished without mercy… but in this case, it’s miraculously fitting.
2. Caribou – Swim
The world was a bit of a mess in 2010, but Swim by Caribou? That album was like a big, warm sonic hug. Full of addictive beats, strange samples, a flute, and an angelic voice that makes you feel like everything might be okay after all.
3. Boy Harsher – Careful
Careful is a total landmark for the dark wave and minimal synth scene. You listen to this pitch-black discoid monolith, and it feels like you’re driving down a road full speed, and the only thing you see after a while is the rhythmic flicker of the white stripes in the middle, and you don’t know if you’re sleeping or not. It’s hypnotic and intense, pulling you into this strange in-between space where everything feels just a little off, but in the best way possible.
4. Junip – Junip (2013)
This one’s underrated as hell. Junip’s self-titled album was a total curveball from José González and his band. It’s this wild mix of folk, indie rock, and electronica that really gets under your skin. Line of Fire is great, but the rest is even better.
5. Hole – Live Through This (1994)
Live Through This was Courtney Love at her most vicious and vulnerable, all at once. The album just bleeds anger and pain and everything in between. A massive moment for 90s alt-rock, and even though it’s got DGC in the U.S., City Slang brought it to Europe.
It is clear that City Slang put a lot into the physical side with its releases, allowing for an album-focused approach. What is the role of vinyl in conjunction with this - is it important to the label to carry the vinyl format forward?
We love vinyl. I vividly remember the German music industry staging a PR stunt to declare the death of vinyl in the 90s, complete with a coffin full of records and a photographer capturing the moment. Vinyl was being buried - both literally and metaphorically. But not at City Slang. We laughed at the idea and continued to make all our records available on vinyl, a tradition we proudly uphold to this day. Now, we focus much of our effort on sustainability, ensuring that vinyl remains affordable for fans despite the increasing production and distribution costs (thanks, Brexit). We’re committed to keeping vinyl alive and accessible and BEAUTIFUL - I mean look at that Los Bitchos album!