School Bell / Tree House (RSD 25)

Arthur Russell, aka Indian Ocean, needs little introduction in the vinyl world… but we’ll try. He was a celebrated experimental jazz cellist who co-founded the independent label Sleeping Bag Records with Will Socolov in 1981.

Prior to that, Russell served as the musical director at The Kitchen, an avant-garde venue in New York, during 1974 and 1975. He later shifted his focus to dance music, producing or co-producing several underground club hits under various names such as Dinosaur L, Loose Joints, and Indian Ocean between 1978 and 1988.

Throughout his career, Russell collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including musicians Peter Gordon, Peter Zummo, and Talking Heads, as well as DJs like Nicky Siano, Steve D’Aquisto, and Walter Gibbons.

We are excited to announce the re-release of the intriguing single School Bell / Tree House, created in collaboration with Walter Gibbons—a true slice of NYC dancefloor history in their typical ‘Proto House’ style. This single will be reissued in Sleeping Bag’s iconic sleeve and pressed on limited-edition yellow vinyl.