Bristol/London label Art Is Hard is a UK counterpart to exciting young US indie-rock labels like Exploding In Sound, Double Double Whammy, and Father/Daughter. Back in 2012 they released a four-way split called Family Portrait featuring Joanna Gruesome, Keel Her, Gum, and the Nai Harvest-affiliated Playlounge. Three years later, Art Is Hard is releasing Family Portrait Pt. II, another four-way split with a new class of bands. This one features two songs apiece from Bruising, Fruit Bomb, Abattoir Blues, and Living Hour. That last band hails not from England but Winnipeg, and their sound is as wide-open and dreamy as the sky over rural Canada at night. “Steady Glazed Eyes,” one of Living Hour’s contributions to the split, demonstrates their prowess with that gauzy, celestial shoegaze sound. Hear it below.

Living Hour are touring Canada this spring:
04/23 Winnipeg, MB @ The Handsome Daughter
04/24 Regina, SK @ O’Hanlons Pub
04/25 Saskatoon, SK @ Vangelis Tavern
04/26 Calgary, AB @ Broken City
04/27 Edmonton, AB @ Chess House
04/28 Golden, BC @ Rockwater Cafe
04/29 Kelowna, BC @ Fernandos
04/30 Vancouver, BC @ Astoria Hotel
05/01 Vancouver, BC @ Red Gate Arts Society
05/02 Victoria, BC @ Logans Pub
05/03 Nanaimo, BC @ Crace Mountain
05/05 Kamloops, BC @ Zacks Coffee
05/06 Calgary, AB @ Palomino
05/07 Lethbridge, AB @ Electric Eye Music Festival
05/08 Edmonton, AB @ Wunderbar
05/09 Saskatoon, SK @ The Capitol

Here’s a photo of Living Hour for good measure:

The other three bands on the split — Bruising, Fruit Bomb, and Abattoir Blues — have a short UK tour booked for May as well:
05/06 Leeds, UK @ Nation Of Shopkeepers : Leeds
05/07 Manchester, UK @ Fallow Cafe
05/08 Brighton, UK @ Green Door Store
05/09 London, UK @ Old Blue Last

Family Portrait Pt. II is out 4/26 on Art Is Hard. Pre-order it here.