Touch and Gone

I've been remiss in not writing about this sooner, because this is huge. OK, it's not as huge as it was when Pitchfork first came out with the story, but the revised version, though not as tragic, is still pretty big.

So, on with it.

Touch and Go, the venerable Chicago record label that's been as important as anyone in the formation and development of indie rock, will stop releasing new music and will close its distribution arm.

The original report said essentially that the label was shutting down. But Pitchfork has since printed this update:

UPDATE: Touch and Go has clarified the information it gave to Pitchfork. We were originally told that the label will no longer be releasing new music. However, the label has since clarified that it hopes to once again release new music at some point in the future, once the dust has settled from the restructuring brought about by the shuttering of its distribution arm.

So, as I said, not as dire as we thought, but still. Just the fact that this label is getting hit may not be surprising, but it's upsetting nonetheless. I mean (and here I insert the obligatory roll call that would appear in any post about this label), Slint? TV on the Radio? Talk about spanning the arc of indie rock. In between there's been Calexico, Mekons, Jesus Lizard, Shellac, Butthole Surfers, Dirty Three, Big Black, Girls Against Boys, Don Caballero, June of 44, silkworm, For Carnation, !!!, and oh so much more. I know, right? It's sick.

And if you're wondering what that distribution arm bit might mean, I'm not really sure. Labels who took care of their distribution through Touch and Go include Merge, Kill Rock Stars, Drag City, Suicide Squeeze and Jade Tree, among others, so all those folks will have to find someone else to produce and ship their stuff. No small order, that.

Everything changes. But we still need Touch and Go. It's the roots. It's an anchor that keeps this unruly and far-ranging beast we love tethered to the earth. It's just great to have such a trustworthy, reliable, steadfast part of this whole world still around and still vital.

But, there's hope. New music could still come. Let the dust begin to settle.