We look at some house and disco record labels currently keeping the music alive and talk to the people behind them.
We've got two-bob pop stars headlining festivals, every rapper from Bow to the Bronx is flooding the charts with watered-down 'dance' music, and the once hallowed isle of Ibiza has become the clubbing equivalent of Bluewater. But it's not all doom and gloom for house heads; there are still plenty of independent record labels out there providing dancefloors with top quality music on a regular basis. We chose our five current favourites and asked a representative from each one to name their favourite label of all time.
Futureboogie Recordings
South-west based Futureboogie Recordings is the 'one to watch' of our list. They're newcomers to the record label scene despite being around for years as DJs, and after seeing the Bristolians play on more than one occasion over the past year I'd put their taste up against anyone, an attribute which will of course serve them well in their new venture. Great artwork to boot.
Label owner Joe90 picks: Warp Records.
“The only label I ever slavishly tried to collect every release on. It opened me up to so much different music, but also design (big up designers republic!), aesthetics, nerdy collector vibes, raving, and the true meaning of eclectic. Warp more than any other label had a huge influence.”
Christophe - The Force (Original Mix) by Bright & Shiny
ISM
The brainchild of a collection of studio masterminds including Yam Who?, ISM have got modern disco on lock down. As well as producing and releasing the recent Odyssey remix album, they also released one of the EPs of this summer with 'Futurism', a four-track stormer with work from PBR Streetgang, Yam Who? and Ron Basejam.
Label owner Electric Boogie picks: Sleeping Bag.
“Started by Arthur Russell in '81 it gave us some of his finest moments and greatest collaborations with projects such as Dinosaur L and Indian Ocean. Label partner Will Socolov signed the beat master Kurtis Mantronix in '85, giving him his first release and recruiting him to A&R. Let’s not also forget the seminal Kariya' 'Let Me Love You For Tonight' from '88 with its hauntingly distinctive reverbed keys quickly followed by that fat beat, into the synth bass line then those vocals hit it and just kill ya.”
PBR Streetgang - J2thaB by PBR streetgang
Delusions of Grandeur
Masters of the beats and puppeteers of the modern disco-house movement, Delusions of Grandeur have flooded dancefloors with top quality house and disco from the likes of The Revenge, 6th Borough Project (who released his first full length LP on the label) and Tornado Wallace. Consistently great.
Label manager/podcast host Norm De Plume picks: MoWax.
“It was truly experimental. It had quite an eclectic mix of music and the artwork, and the packages were beautiful. It was also the label that kind of got me into hiphop / electronic / sample-based music.”
Deep Space Orchestra - Lo Pan - Delusions of Grandeur by Deep Space Orchestra
Kojak Giant Sounds
In these days of new-fangled digital downloadery, album artwork is the definition of a dying art. Thankfully Kojak Giant Sounds keep the flame burning with their ultra-cool instantly recognisable pastel colours and palm tree motif. Other than great design, they've also provided some of the finest edits and remixes to hit dancefloors over the past few years – Maxxi Soundsystem's 'Crticize' and Rayko's 'Edge of Seventeen' are two fine examples. A cult label of the future.
Label owner Ionik picks: None.
“That's impossible!”
Maxxi Soundsystem - "Criticize" by Kojak Giant Sounds™
Sleazy Beats
Sleazy Beats Recordings does exactly what it says on the tin – slow, dirty disco house to make you dance like you're in a Prince video. They made waves last year by picking up Aussie wonderkid Tornado Wallace's breakthrough EP 'Tornado Never Dies' and have been able to keep momentum since. Also worth checking out are their excellent 'Music for Serious Jogging' mixes, which have become a go-to for those looking to hear the newest slo-mo cuts.
Label owner Guy picks: Jisco.
“They stopped putting out records a while ago but they were among the first to pitch things down and bridge the gap between disco and moody, beatdown deephouse. The Mark E, Casinoboy, Revenge and Eddie C Jisco are still always at the very front of the bag.”
Tornado Wallace - Be My Ladyboy (preview) - SBR003 by Tornado Wallace
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