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Always Check the Label: Bella Union

Simon Raymonde and Abbey Raymonde join Huw as he turns the spotlight on one of the UK’s most influential independent record labels, Bella Union.

In this week’s Always Check the Label, Huw Stephens turns the spotlight on one of the UK’s most influential independent record labels. Joining him are Simon Raymonde and Abbey Raymonde from Bella Union, the label known for championing adventurous and atmospheric artists from around the world.

Founded in 1997 by Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie, Bella Union has become synonymous with forward-thinking indie music, helping bring artists like Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty, and Beach House to wider audiences.

Simon and Abbey sit down with Huw to talk about the story behind Bella Union, the philosophy that drives the label, and the artists and records that have shaped its identity.

Huw has another brand new quiz created by the Music Quiz Generator, giving one of you the opportunity to win a Music Sounds Better With Huw pinbadge. And we declare that your evening has begun with the Home Run playlist at 5 o'clock.

Plus, MJ Cole also takes part in this weeks 'Song I Wish I'd Written'.

Produced by BBC Audio in Cardiff for BBC Radio 6 Music.

17 days left to listen

3 hours

Last on

Tue 17 Mar 202616:00
BBC Radio 6 Music

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Music Played

  • Arctic Monkeys

    Brianstorm

    • CD SINGLE.
    • Domino.

  • Martha and the Muffins

    Echo Beach

    • Virgin.

  • James Blake

    Trying Times

    • Good Boy Records.

  • Beck

    Where It's At

    • Geffen.

  • Greentea Peng

    Hu Man

    • EMI.

  • Death Cab for Cutie

    Riptides

    • I Built You A Tower.
    • ANTI-.

  • Buzzcocks

    Love You More

    • EMI.

  • Witch Post

    Worry Angel

    • Partisan Records.

  • Field Music

    (I Keep Thinking About) A New Thing

    • Memphis Industries.

  • Courtney Barnett

    Mantis

    • Fiction Records.

  • Tony Bontana

    Recoup (feat. leo sierra)

    • Everything Is Perfect Records.

  • Truthpaste

    Bus Song

    • Memorials of Distinction / DIRTY HIT.

  • Nia Archives

    Baianá

    • Island.

  • Gossip

    Standing In The Way Of Control

    • Back Yard Recordings.

  • Iggy Pop

    The Passenger

    • Virgin.

  • Princess Nokia

    Drop Dead Gorgeous

    • Artist House.

  • Jurassic 5

    Concrete Schoolyard

    • Pias.

  • Robyn

    Blow My Mind

    • Young.

  • Tame Impala

    Let It Happen

    • Fiction Records.

  • Lip Critic

    Legs In A Snare

    • Partisan Records.

  • Kae Tempest

    The Beigeness

    • Everybody Down.
    • Big Dada.
    • 001.

  • They Are Gutting a Body of Water

    sour diesel

    • ATO Records.

  • Panic Shack

    Thelma and Louise (SXSW 2026)

  • Fleet Foxes

    White Winter Hymnal

    • FLEET FOXES.
    • Bella Union.
    • 1.

  • Magi Merlin

    POPSTAR

    • Ditto.

  • Broken Social Scene

    Hey Amanda

    • Arts & Crafts under exclusive license to City Slang.

  • Boards of Canada

    1969

    • Geogaddi.
    • Warp.

  • Simon Raymonde

    It's A Family Thing

    • It's A Family Thing.
    • Bella Union UK.
    • 1.

  • Beach House

    Space Song

    • Depression Cherry.
    • Bella Union.
    • 3.

  • My Precious Bunny

    I Go Up, You Go Down

    • A Moment In My Eyes.
    • Bella Union.
    • 10.

  • Röyksopp

    Poor Leno

    • Wall Of Sound Recordings.

  • 1-800 GIRLS

    eye contact (feat. Council)

    • Sony.

  • MJ Cole

    Sincere

    • TALKIN' LOUD.

  • LTJ Bukem

    Music

    • Good Looking records.

  • Max Winter

    Candlelight (feat. Asha Lorenz, Rael & Will Lister)

    • Secret Friend.

  • The Psychedelic Furs

    The Ghost In You

    • CBS.

Broadcast

  • Tue 17 Mar 202616:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music