There are many electronic music labels that gained fame through their active years, but only a few can be considered landmarks in the history of electronic dance sound, paving the way for new boundaries in music culture. One is of them is undoubtedly MFS, an independent EDM label set up in 1990 by Mark Reeder, a legendary figure shaping the trance sound.
The label is mostly known for hosting artists such as Cosmic Baby (Harald Blüchel), Paul Van Dyk and Humate (Gerret Frerichs & Hans-Georg Schmidt). However, it is worth tracking down the first releases, in which the today's gem is found.
EFFECTIVE FORCE - DIAMOND BULLET (BEYOND JUDGEMENT)
Effective Force was the collaboration effort between Johnny Klimek and Paul Browse, two foreigners in Berlin city.
Johnny Klimek is an music composer and producer of Australian decent, born in 1962 in Melboure. At 21 year old age, he moved to Berlin, where he founded the pop rock band The Other Ones with his siblings Jayney and Alf. In 1987, he set up his own studio for his solo productions and remixes. During the first half of the 90's he was active in the Berlin underground electronic scene through his productions with Paul Browse. From 1997 until today he focused on film scoring and he is a frequent collaborator to composer Reinhold Heil and director Tom Tykwer (on films such as Run Lola Run and Cloud Atlas).
Paul Browse is also a music composer and producer, of different descent though. Born in 1959 in Sheffield, he was influenced at an early age by frequency modulation and the penetrating power of sound through the struggle of his deaf aunt and her hearing aid device. In 1980 he became a member of Clock DVA, an industrial, post-punk and EBM group, founded by Adolphus "Adi" Newton and Steven "Judd" Turner. In 1989 he left England and the Sheffield-based band to start a new life in Berlin, in search of the city's underground. He extensively worked with Johnny Klimek under various aliases (System 01, 03, Effective Force as a duo and Holy Language along with Dr. Motte) until 1997, when Klimek followed a different direction in film scoring. His last traces in music production are found in 2004 (according to Discogs), questioning whether he is active or not.
The well-known production of the duo was Illuminate The Planet (1993) as Effective Force, not in its original version, but by the World Order Remixes of Paul Van Dyk and Dr. Motte. This post however pays homage to their second release under this alias; Diamond Bullet is a 4th tracker that indicates the dark and hypnotic feel of the early trance records. Heavily based on sampling, it blends perfectly with the Horror Monologue of Marlon Brando in film Apocalypse Now.
EFFECTIVE FORCE - DIAMOND BULLET (WILL IN POWER)
EFFECTIVE FORCE - DIAMOND BULLET (RITUAL)
EFFECTIVE FORCE - DIAMOND BULLET (NIGHTHAWK)
Electronic music needs guys like Johnny Klimek and Paul Browse back (unfortunately, a not likely scenario...)
Κυριακή 26 Ιανουαρίου 2020
Δευτέρα 6 Ιανουαρίου 2020
Label Realm: Evoking music mEmoriEs
Another letter with a few labels to mention...
If you are familiar with the Balance series, then EQ Recordings should ring a bell. The Aussie label was set-up at the start of this century to release electronic dance music of international DJs. The legendary series was released on this label from 2001 until 2010, initially featuring DJs mainly from Australia (Sean Quin, Kasey Taylor, Phil K, Anthony Pappa) and expanding to others from all over the world. The fifth installment has been already mentioned twice in the blog, since it is considered the quintessential DJ mix by progressive house fans. The series continued to be released from 2010 until today by Balance Music.
Eternell is a small imprint of Swedish producer Ludvig Cimbrelius, set up to release his own works and collaborations. His two albums as Purl (Deep Ground & Stillpoint) are superb dub techno albums and they are a fine reason to reference the label!
What a legendary label Eye Q Records is! It was established in 1990 by Sven Väth, Matthias Hoffmann & Heinz Roth. The label encapsulates the true essence of old school trance: hypnotic, trippy and ethereal. The production trio of Ralf Hildenbeutel, Matthias Hoffman and Steffen Britzke produced a ton of classics under the label, such as
- Sven Väth - L' Esperanza
- Zyon - No Fate
- Cygnus X – The Orange Theme
- Barbarella – My Name Is Barbarella
and many more!
Even the seminal Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar was originally featured in 1992 behind the Eye!
The history of label was basically over in 1997, since the parent German company went bankrupt in August of the same year due to financial problems by the American division Eye Q USA. The UK division continued for two more years, but the label has changed its musical style dramatically, resembling no more its contribution to trance music...
Happy 2020 to all!
If you are familiar with the Balance series, then EQ Recordings should ring a bell. The Aussie label was set-up at the start of this century to release electronic dance music of international DJs. The legendary series was released on this label from 2001 until 2010, initially featuring DJs mainly from Australia (Sean Quin, Kasey Taylor, Phil K, Anthony Pappa) and expanding to others from all over the world. The fifth installment has been already mentioned twice in the blog, since it is considered the quintessential DJ mix by progressive house fans. The series continued to be released from 2010 until today by Balance Music.
Eternell is a small imprint of Swedish producer Ludvig Cimbrelius, set up to release his own works and collaborations. His two albums as Purl (Deep Ground & Stillpoint) are superb dub techno albums and they are a fine reason to reference the label!
What a legendary label Eye Q Records is! It was established in 1990 by Sven Väth, Matthias Hoffmann & Heinz Roth. The label encapsulates the true essence of old school trance: hypnotic, trippy and ethereal. The production trio of Ralf Hildenbeutel, Matthias Hoffman and Steffen Britzke produced a ton of classics under the label, such as
- Sven Väth - L' Esperanza
- Zyon - No Fate
- Cygnus X – The Orange Theme
- Barbarella – My Name Is Barbarella
and many more!
Even the seminal Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar was originally featured in 1992 behind the Eye!
The history of label was basically over in 1997, since the parent German company went bankrupt in August of the same year due to financial problems by the American division Eye Q USA. The UK division continued for two more years, but the label has changed its musical style dramatically, resembling no more its contribution to trance music...
Happy 2020 to all!
Τετάρτη 25 Δεκεμβρίου 2019
Label Realm: Dope recorDs
Enter the "D" section of label realm:
Dance Pool was a successful mainstream dance label company in Frankfurt Germany. Several famous acts released music in the label, such as Culture Beat, Jam & Spoon, The KLF. In the 90's, it served as the label to release classic eurodance tracks (Culture Beat - Mr. Vain, Ice MC - Think About The Way, Maxx - Get-A-Way) that ruled the dance charts. The last release can be found in 2003...
Data Records was not a classic label per se, however it was a great introduction for trance newbies at the turn of the millennium (1999-2002). Some indicative examples are ATB - Till I Come, Storm - Time To Burn, Zombie Nation - Kernkraft 400 and releases by Kamaya Painters and Oliver Lieb (the original version of Subraumstimulation is a tech-trance masterpiece). It was a sublabel of Ministry of Sound, originally focused on trance music. After the unification of all genres in one label, Data Records lost its touch.
A classic one! Deconstruction Records was established in 1986 by Pete Hadfield and Keith Blackhurst, but it reached its glory days when Hacienda's resident DJ Mike Pickering joined as A&R. All the masterpieces from the early days of UK house music can be found here: T-Coy - Carino, Guru Josh - Infinity, N-Joi - Anthem, M People – How Can I Love You More and K-Klass – Rhythm Is A Mystery are a handful of them. The label was also the first production home for Sasha and Way Out West. The legendary status of the label was maintained until 2000.
Dedicated was a British independent record label that released music between 1990 and 1998 by Spiritualized, Spacemen 3, Global Communication, Beth Orton (in the U.S.), Chapterhouse, Cranes and others. It was based in London and founded by Doug D'Arcy. The label deserves a reference just for the release of Global Communication - 76:14, one of the best ambient music albums (thank you Mr. Pritchard & Mr. Middleton for the blissful experience of 12:18).
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Dance Pool was a successful mainstream dance label company in Frankfurt Germany. Several famous acts released music in the label, such as Culture Beat, Jam & Spoon, The KLF. In the 90's, it served as the label to release classic eurodance tracks (Culture Beat - Mr. Vain, Ice MC - Think About The Way, Maxx - Get-A-Way) that ruled the dance charts. The last release can be found in 2003...
Data Records was not a classic label per se, however it was a great introduction for trance newbies at the turn of the millennium (1999-2002). Some indicative examples are ATB - Till I Come, Storm - Time To Burn, Zombie Nation - Kernkraft 400 and releases by Kamaya Painters and Oliver Lieb (the original version of Subraumstimulation is a tech-trance masterpiece). It was a sublabel of Ministry of Sound, originally focused on trance music. After the unification of all genres in one label, Data Records lost its touch.
A classic one! Deconstruction Records was established in 1986 by Pete Hadfield and Keith Blackhurst, but it reached its glory days when Hacienda's resident DJ Mike Pickering joined as A&R. All the masterpieces from the early days of UK house music can be found here: T-Coy - Carino, Guru Josh - Infinity, N-Joi - Anthem, M People – How Can I Love You More and K-Klass – Rhythm Is A Mystery are a handful of them. The label was also the first production home for Sasha and Way Out West. The legendary status of the label was maintained until 2000.
Dedicated was a British independent record label that released music between 1990 and 1998 by Spiritualized, Spacemen 3, Global Communication, Beth Orton (in the U.S.), Chapterhouse, Cranes and others. It was based in London and founded by Doug D'Arcy. The label deserves a reference just for the release of Global Communication - 76:14, one of the best ambient music albums (thank you Mr. Pritchard & Mr. Middleton for the blissful experience of 12:18).
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Εγγραφή σε:
Αναρτήσεις (Atom)