Recent Highlights: Q2 2025
Q2 saw chart successes, popular brand collaborations, soundtrack reissues, anniversary box sets, and D2C pre-order campaigns from: Pulp, Oasis x Adidas, Star Wars: Episode III , Stereolab, Anjuna25 , QOTSA, David Byrne , Boards Of Canada , Michael Clifford, SOPHIE and Saint Etienne plus more.
Pulp
Huge congrats to Pulp and Rough Trade Records on their UK no.1 record, “More”!
Pulp announced their first new album in almost twenty-four years via Rough Trade Records by launching an album store on Ochre.
Store exclusive formats included “Isha Kriya” Ink Spot Vinyl, Audiophile Deluxe 2LP as well as a "Theresa" Green LP, Cassette, CD versions and digital downloads.
A 7-inch version of single "Spike Island" was released for purchase midway through the campaign. Alongside June’s edition of Mojo magazine featuring a unique exclusive Pulp cover - not available in newsagents.
A curated selection of merchandise complimented the campaign and allowed for various bundle combinations.
An excellent D2C campaign leading to Pulp’s first no.1 record in 27 years!
Oasis x Adidas
After over 30 years of shared history and era-defining looks, adidas and Oasis announced their new Original Forever campaign and exclusive Oasis Live ‘25 apparel collection.
The adidas Originals x Oasis Live ‘25 collection features a co-branded 26-piece range of timeless adidas staples in various colours. The collection includes Firebird tracksuits (a favourite of Noel’s), raglan sleeve jerseys (iconically worn by Liam in a 90’s charity football match), bucket hats and coach jackets.
Leading up to the tour there was a huge demand for fans to get their hands on these garments ahead of the shows and the Oasis store powered by Ochre was the first place you could purchase from.
This came hot on the heels of Oasis 15th anniversary reissue of “Time Flies… 1994 – 2009” The complete singles collection was available with remastered audio as a quadruple vinyl deluxe box set and double CD shipping in June, leading to a no.2 UK chart placing!
Star Wars: Episode III
Mutant, in association with Walt Disney Music and LucasFilm, announced a 20th anniversary celebratory pressing of John William's original score to the iconic final chapter of the Star Wars prequel trilogy - Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
Long out of print on physical media, and only being pressed on vinyl for the second time ever, this limited edition release features incredible original artwork by Matt Ferguson and is pressed on 2x 140gm color vinyl as well as being available on 2x 140gm black vinyl.
Stereolab
Stereolab announced a new album, Instant Holograms On Metal Film. Their first new record in fifteen years.
In the lead up to the D2C campaign some interesting promotion teased Stereolab’s return. Some fans of the band received a package stamped “unsolicited Stereolab material”. Inside was a 7” single containing “Aerial Troubles” with a cryptic wordsearch insert. At the same time, posters with the band’s name appeared in a number of major cities with the same word grid printed on, leading to much online speculation about whether the single did indeed contain new music, or something uncovered from the band’s archives.
The D2C campaign then launched on the Duophonic UHF Discs website, including Clear 2LP Vinyl, Black Vinyl, Store Exclusive Embossed CD and HQ downloads. And Instant Holograms Stereolab logo screenprinted t-shirts were available in spectra yellow or black.
Anjuna25
To mark the label’s 25th anniversary, Above & Beyond and James have carefully curated a selection of picks from its rich catalogue that includes countless genre defining releases to present the label’s most expansive vinyl offering to date. Covering the full spectrum of that 25 year journey, the ten vinyl box chronicles 84 of the label’s most iconic releases across all three labels, including a vinyl dedicated to label founders Above & Beyond.
Encased in a custom outer slipcase box with a debossed foil Anjuna25 logo. Accompanying the ten vinyl is a 48-page perfect-bound booklet printed on premium art paper and textured cover stock, featuring track-by-track insights from artists and Anjuna HQ staffers delving into the stories behind each record and their reflections on 25 years of music.
Limited edition and exclusive to Anjuna’s label store.
Matador: QOTSA and David Byrne
June saw a busy schedule from Matador, with exciting announcements for David Byrne and Queens of the Stone Age.
“Who Is The Sky?” is the brand new album from David Byrne. Webstore Exclusive Deluxe LP features a bespoke lenticular sleeve, a gatefold sleeve, fold-out poster and the album pressed to "cantaloupe orange" / "strawberry pink" split vinyl. Other options include Lemon Yellow and Black vinyl.
"Alive in the Catacombs" is a special limited edition vinyl release by Queens of the Stone Age. Housed in a gatefold jacket with foil print inside and out, the deluxe vinyl edition contains an exclusive 24-page booklet of behind-the-scenes photos taken by long-time collaborator Andreas Neumann.
Each copy is individually foil-stamped and numbered and limited to 5000 copies, meaning it sold out very quickly.
Boards of Canada
New activity from Boards of Canada led to a great deal of excitement from fans.
New merchandise appeared exclusively available at Bleep alongside lookbook imagery produced by the retailer which was shared across their social media and on the collections landing page. Produced on unisex Stanley and Stella blanks with a Boards of Canada/Warp Records neck label.
Stock was booked into UK and US warehouses, and was readily available from launch, removing the pre-order element and optimising the customer experience for fans by bringing postage costs down with domestic shipping where possible alongside a quick dispatch to fans doors.
Michael Clifford
We were extremely happy to see Hopeless launch a label store on Ochre.
The LA label kicked things off with Michael Clifford of 5 Seconds Of Summer fame, announcing his debut solo album “SIDEQUEST”.
Vinyl fans were treated to Black Ice with Neon Green Splatter or Black & Blue Quad colour options of deluxe signed vinyl.
And a “SIDEQUEST” hoodie and t-shirt were offered as bundles.
SOPHIE
Another label store to launch in the same month was Glasgow based Numbers, who opted to go down the route of a custom built website with e-commerce integrated via by the Ochre API.
The new site was pushed live to coincide with the celebrating the 10th Anniversary of “PRODUCT” the foundational and genre-defining singles collection from SOPHIE.
Reissues were announced with many formats offered. Highlights included a pink Numbers exclusive with 6x double-sided posters and NFC Product card.
A 12” single of “OOH” was also available to purchase from the same landing page.
Saint Etienne
After 35 years recording together Saint Etienne announced that their 13th album “International” will be their last.
A dreamlike drift with friends and collaborators, including cameos from the higher echelons of pop - 80s chart heroes, electro, acid house and all points in-between, from Vince Clarke to Nick Heyward, Confidence Man to Erol Alkan, Chemical Brothers, Orbital, Doves and Xenomania's Tim Powell.
The bands D2C store included an Orange vinyl LP with exclusive signed poster, 2 x CD featuring 4 exclusive remix tracks and a Cassette tape.
Fans also were offered a curated selection of back catalogue on physical and digital formats.
