Remember when you bought your first album? Which one was it?

Think of your joy that you felt… And since then, how much more you have listened, loved and discovered.

Who has allowed this passion of ours to endure? The record labels, of course. They’ve been there for us and made it through tough times (despite our ‘digital proclivities’), but now it’s about to become a lot harder for some.

As most have you have probably read, the Sony/PIAS record warehouse was set fire and has burned down to the ground earlier this week, in the midst of the London riots. Over 150 independent record labels have been affected, and all of the stock (3.2 million pieces)  has been destroyed. Several YBP bands are signed onto labels which have been affected by the fire. Some of them include:

Beach House (Sub pop)
Elvis Perkins (XL)
New Pornographers (Matador)
King Creosote (Fence, Domino)
Laura Veirs (Bella Union)
My Brightest Diamond (Asthmatic Kitty)
The National (4AD)
The Tallest Man On Earth (Dead Oceans)
Wolf Parade (Sub pop)

As a direct result of this disaster, some record labels are in real danger of going out of business. They need our help.

How can you help? By going online and purchasing a digital album from any one their stores.

Here is a full list of labels who have had their inventory destroyed. And below is a list of YBP’s top 5 recommendations to get your started. Let’s give thanks and show our appreciation to the record labels who have fought hard to stay independent and are still fighting to enrich our lives with beautiful music. They need us now more than ever, so get those credit cards out!

King Creosote & Jon Hopkins – Diamond Mine (Fence/Domino)

Buy King Creosote’s YBP t-shirt here (benefits Greenpeace)
Buy Diamond Mine directly from Fence Records here

Malcolm Middleton – Waxing Gibbous (Full Time Hobby)

Buy Waxing Gibbous directly from Full Time Hobby here

Various Artists – Dark Was The Night (4AD)

Buy Dark Was The Night from MP3s from Amazon here

Bon Iver – Bon Iver (Jagjaguwar)

Buy Bon Iver’s YBP t-shirt here (benefits Interval House women’s shelter)
Buy Bon Iver’s Bon Iver album here

The Tallest Man On Earth – The Wild Hunt (Dead Oceans)

Listen to the YBP theme song, by The Tallest Man On Earth here
Buy The Wild Hunt MP3s from Dead Oceans here