“Vlek are three 30-year old boys who have spent the good part of the last 10 years promoting Belgian artists and music in various structures, Boups, Unrezt/Thin Consolation, Radio Campus Bruxelles, Radio Panik etc. In the summer of 2009 they decided to team up and create Vlek.

According to Julien from the label “the first goal with the label was to try and give a few Belgian artists the exposition they deserved, we have so many great artists in this country”, they spent a year finding the funding to do that right, at the Wallonia/Brussels federation they found the financial support they needed, and thanks to a deal they locked with Köln’s Kompakt they secured worldwide distribution too.

Deciding to make small runs of vinyl, all home-crafted with care, they came up with the idea of the split 7”s. These compilations of 7"s feature a Belgian and a better-know “international” artist on each side. The first volume featuring Cupp Cave & Dem Hunger sold out, only a few remain of the second featuring Squeaky Lobster & Lapti – you can hear both volumes on Soundcloud. The next pair of AMAI 7"s are out in the Autumn.

From Vlek this summer is Cupp Cave’s Dice Pool, the cover was made with a letterpress, elbow grease and some 576 dice – you check the craftsmanship involved on their Flickr. Next week they are releasing an EP from Squeaky Lobster, consisting of his older tracks that badly needed an output on vinyl. It’s called ‘Will-o’-the-Wisp’ and is available via their website – as is all their other releases.

Expect another 12" by Squeaky Lobster, and a 12" from another Belgian producer Sagat later in the year, but for now you can hear what the label is all about on this exclusive mix by Lowdjo featuring some of the label’s forthcoming releases."

Aired on the 27th of June 2011 on Subcity Radio – Glasgow, Scotland

Tracklist:

Squeaky Lobster – Saint Seiya
Squeaky Lobster – Flying Rupees
Débruit – Mezdé
Squeaky Lobster – Runnin’ Amok
Grup Ses – Puf De
Squeaky Lobster – Turkish Delight
Tandy Love – Indian Zone Drum Killer Inc.
Squeaky Lobster – Aarnivalkea
Lapti – Sunpunch
Cupp Cave – Thoughtograph
Squeaky Lobster – The Magic Carpet Interlude
Kode9 & The Spaceape – Promises
Cupp Cave – Mind Bones
Chairman Kato – Fighting Fires
Dem Hunger – Squint Fucker

http://subcity.org/shows/wavygraves/13818/

“Vlek is Brussels’ patois for Junk. Cheap goods. For things that just fall apart as soon as you hold’ em. The name is testament to our willingness in creating just the opposite: Something that will last in a country that seems to be disintegrating before our very eyes. Sat atop of the rubble of what once was Belgium, we’re firing multi-coloured flares in all directions in an attempt to attract the attention of any international rescue teams in our vicinity. For better or for worse, we decided to exfiltrate those that could be saved.”