Maybe it's because they're new to this game or something, but On The Bone Records could do with some lessons in PR. Label founders James Brown, Tom Goodhand and Fran Rodgers spend ages trying to lend mystique to the label's origins before settling for the truth and casually reeling off some of the best creation myths this hack's ever heard. Like the one about how they never actually liked each other. Leeds Guide readers will already know Tom Goodhand has a mile-wide vicious streak in his capacities as a music journo, but guess which future business partner found his band on the receiving end of a verbal lashing. "I'd gone to see this gig at the Mixing Tin and James' band (It Takes Bridges) were playing," says Tom. "In my review I said they were really dull, shoegazing bollocks so they hated me for a while." Maybe sensing Tom's guilt, James adds: "To be fair we were fucking awful. But then we sent Tom a new demo and said, 'Since you're our fierc­est critic, have a listen to this and see if you like it.'"

On The Bone actually started life as James' baby, a platform on which he could promote local talent. Tom got on board when James booked his band for the second event. Since then they've never looked back, although Tom admits the label idea was sprung upon him somewhat unexpectedly: "I went on holiday to Spain and when I came back On The Bone Records was on MySpace. That was the first thing I knew about it." On The Bone's first release will be a 19-track compilation featuring songs from artists as diverse as This Et Al and Downdime. "It's basically 19 of our favourite bands," says James. "Some of the acts on there are pretty big and have been kind enough to give us exclusive tracks, so hopefully we'll sell a few on the back of that." Even the label's title, which makes this writer feel slightly queasy with punning potential, has its own inter­esting back story. James explains: "A few years ago there was this lady who made us curries when we got back from nights out at three in the morn­ing. She was completely nuts, but she'd be waiting for her husband to come back off his shift as a taxi driver. "The curry always had meat on the bone cos she said it was much better that way, so I thought surely Leeds is better on the bone as well."

Now you've boned up, go buy the album.

Alex Denney

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