Melbourne’s Cable Ties land deal with US label Merge Records [exclusive]

Aussie punk outfit Cable Ties have signed a deal to alternative US label Merge Records.

Merge was founded by Superchunk’s Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan, and has been behind releases by Dinosaur Jr., Arcade Fire, Bob Mould, Ex Hex, Teenage Fanclub, Shout Out Louds and many more.

The new deal will see Merge exclusively release Cable Ties’ forthcoming sophomore record in 2020 worldwide, outside of Australia and New Zealand, where Poison City Records will continue to look after the band.

“Merge Records is very pleased to announce the start of our relationship with Cable Ties,” Ballance exclusively tells TMN.

“Their work ethic, DIY attitude and catchy songs make them a perfect match for us. Their songs have an honesty and directness that the world needs right now.”

Cable Ties are set to have a huge 2020, which will include debut shows at SXSW in March.

The band’s Nick Brown called Merge Records an “incredible and inspiring label”.

“To [have] grown from a DIY, bedroom cassette-dubbing operation to one of the most beloved labels in the world is remarkable,” he continues.

“That Laura and Mac would take a shine to a little group like us (in amongst all the stuff they get sent) is wild. We couldn’t think of a better home to look after our riffs than Merge.”

On top of their newly minted record deal with Merge, Cable Ties will also be represented by US agency Ground Control, working with agent Anna Benefield.

Ground Control also represents Parquet Courts, Sheer Mag, Angel Olsen, Kim Gordon, Kurt Vil and Stella Donelly.