On the Record

JIM CARROLLon music

IT’S THE most successful record label you’ve probably never heard of. Since it was established in 1993, Putumayo has shifted more than 27 million world music compilation CDs.

The secret to its success? Probably that it doesn’t rely on selling its wares in record shops or appealing to world music purists. You will find Putumayo’s compilations by the counter in supermarkets, delis, gift shops, boutiques and crafts stores worldwide.

People may have stopped going to record shops, but they are still keen to buy music and make impulse purchases so, as label boss Dan Storper has discovered, it pays to go to where your customers are.

“The decline in traditional music retailers has caused an increase in our sales at museums, gift shops and children’s stores,” Storper said recently. “There just aren’t many places to buy music any more.”

Probably thanks to such vibrant sales, Putumayo has been a long-time digital refusenik, but that’s set to change as the label decides to plunge into the world of iTunes. That’s partly due to the recent Sony warehouse fire in London, when the label lost about 15,000 CDs.

It will be interesting to see if Putumayo succeeds in the online jungle. The label’s success to date has been built on colourful album sleeves, solid track selections and strong retail placement.

But digital sales are a different bazaar and the label will be hoping that its brand and name recognition factor will have the same kind of traction online as it does in bricks-and-mortar stores. It will also be hoping that other labels are still as willing to license tracks for compilations now that they have an online stall as well.

Plus the label will have fingers crossed that its strong track record with physical sales will continue.

NEW MUSIC

CAROUSELS

Smashing earworm Here to Meis what attracted us to Carousels, a Guildford-based duo with a hankering to take My Bloody Valentine's Soon to a bright new dimension as charted by Crystal Castles. Debut live show in October so watch this space for more developments.

Selscarou.com

ALEX ANDREW

This 18-year-old Dublin singer-songwriter makes the grade with a damn sweet voice, promising songwriting potential ( Scarsand Leavingshow sparks) and a good handle on covers you'd expect (Bon Iver) and ones you wouldn't (John Legend).

Breakingtunes.com/alexandrew

GIRL BAND

New-ish Dublin-based four-piece featuring former members of Harrows make a grand entrance. Their Bandcamp-downloadable track Second Oneis a fantastic blast of punky fury and righteous energy. The name is damn hard to Google, mind.

Breakingtunes.com/girlband

NOW PLAYING

Skrillex Right Here (Warner Music) Superb bolshie bass stomper from Sonny Moore, who plays his first Irish dates in December.

Martyn Ghost People (Brainfeeder) Adventurous future-funk from Dutch-born producer Martyn Deykers, who is now happily residing in Flying Lotus's Brainfeeder crib.

NewVillager NewVillager (Iamsound) Fine debut album of pop soundscapes from the San Francisco arts' collective/band who gave us the lovely Rich Doors single a while back.

El Michels Affair Enter the 37th Chamber (Truth Soul) A bunch of Wu-Tang Clan classics get a funk re-up from Leon Michels and his all-star band.

SL2 On A Ragga Tip (XL) One for the old-skool ravers in The Ticket readership.Still sounds mighty dandy nearly 20 years on from its release.