Hands Productions
Encyclopedia
Hands Productions is a contemporary independent
industrial music
record label
, founded in the early 1990s, based in Germany
. Hands Productions is known for its CD packaging, using cardboard and paper rather than typical plastic jewel cases, and typically elusive and minimalist designs. Most releases' artwork is designed by Nicola Bork, the domestic partner of Udo Wiessmann, director of Hands Productions and a member of Winterkälte. Releases are often rare and sought after as collector's items.
The label's roster grows regularly, often to release pseudonymous or collaborative projects of existing artists. The style of music varies, from minimalist ambient
releases from Orphx
and m², to occult
-inspired releases from Ah Cama-Sotz, to aggressive rhythmic noise
from Winterkälte and NKVD, to breakbeat
releases from Typhoid and Needle Sharing, to nouveau elektro
releases from Shorai, 5F 55, ¥Π¥, and Synth-Etik, and harsh electro dance music
from Proyecto mirage
and S.I.N.A.. Industrial music
mainstays The Klinik joined the roster in 2002.
In addition to regular album releases on CD and vinyl, Hands Productions hosts an annual music festival called Forms of Hands which features actively performing artists on the label, and releases a compilation CD under the same name with exclusive songs recorded by the artists who performed at the festival. Another annual tradition of the record label is the release of a multi-disc and multi-vinyl sampler compilation, showcasing three new recordings of a variety of artists.
Hands acts are regularly featured at the Maschinenfest
and Infest
underground music festivals.
Related record labels include Ant-Zen
, Hymen
, Pflichtkauf, and Parametric.
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
industrial music
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, founded in the early 1990s, based in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Hands Productions is known for its CD packaging, using cardboard and paper rather than typical plastic jewel cases, and typically elusive and minimalist designs. Most releases' artwork is designed by Nicola Bork, the domestic partner of Udo Wiessmann, director of Hands Productions and a member of Winterkälte. Releases are often rare and sought after as collector's items.
The label's roster grows regularly, often to release pseudonymous or collaborative projects of existing artists. The style of music varies, from minimalist ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
releases from Orphx
Orphx
Formed in 1994, Orphx is the electronic music project of Canadians Richard Oddie and Christina Sealey. Hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Orphx is very active in the international industrial and experimental music scenes...
and m², to occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
-inspired releases from Ah Cama-Sotz, to aggressive rhythmic noise
Power noise
Power noise is a fusion genre among noise music and various styles of electronic dance music. It should not be confused with "power electronics", which lacks rhythmic elements and is closer to harsh noise...
from Winterkälte and NKVD, to breakbeat
Breakbeat
In 1992, a new style called "jungalistic hardcore" emerged, and for many ravers it was too funky to dance to. Josh Lawford of Ravescene prophesied that the breakbeat was "the death-knell of rave" because the ever changing drumbeat patterns of breakbeat music didn't allow for the same zoned out,...
releases from Typhoid and Needle Sharing, to nouveau elektro
Electro-industrial
Electro-industrial is a music genre drawing on EBM and post-industrial that developed in the mid-1980s. While EBM has a minimal structure and clean production, electro-industrial has a deep, complex and layered sound. The style was pioneered by Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, and other groups,...
releases from Shorai, 5F 55, ¥Π¥, and Synth-Etik, and harsh electro dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
from Proyecto mirage
Proyecto mirage
- Full Time Albums :Proyecto Mirage, Hands Productions -1999Two tons of Rubble, Hands Productions -2001Two tons of Rubble-Box, Hands Productions -2001Do not look at me -Picture Vinil -2002Gas Alarm, Hands Productions -2004...
and S.I.N.A.. Industrial music
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
mainstays The Klinik joined the roster in 2002.
In addition to regular album releases on CD and vinyl, Hands Productions hosts an annual music festival called Forms of Hands which features actively performing artists on the label, and releases a compilation CD under the same name with exclusive songs recorded by the artists who performed at the festival. Another annual tradition of the record label is the release of a multi-disc and multi-vinyl sampler compilation, showcasing three new recordings of a variety of artists.
Hands acts are regularly featured at the Maschinenfest
Maschinenfest
Maschinenfest is a yearly, three-day underground music festival featuring industrial, power electronics, noise and other alternative electronic performers. There are both independent and signed bands who are booked to play, as well as many vendors for music and related paraphernalia...
and Infest
Infest (festival)
Infest is an annual three day music festival held at the University of Bradford Union in the United Kingdom, featuring alternative electronic music acts from genres including industrial, EBM, futurepop, synthpop and power noise...
underground music festivals.
Related record labels include Ant-Zen
Ant-Zen
Ant-Zen Audio and Visual Arts is a German independent record label founded in 1994 by Stefan Alt , who serves as the art director. Visual arts from Ant-Zen are typically bleak but astonishing landscapes, or microscopic studies of what is often overlooked...
, Hymen
Hymen Records
Hymen Records is an imprint of the Ant-Zen record label, founded in 1997 by Stefan Alt . Hymen mainly releases material of a technoid, power noise/rhythmic noise, dark ambient, IDM, breakcore or similar experimental electronic nature....
, Pflichtkauf, and Parametric.
External links
- Official site
- Official Site Forms of Hands
- Hands Productions at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...