Origo Sound
Encyclopedia
Origo Sound is a Norwegian
independent record label
formed in 1990 in Norway
by Harald Lervik. The initiative to start the label was taken after Tormod Opedal, an employee in Lervik's software company, in 1989 had decided to close his own label Cicada
which had released two albums by the Norwegian composer Erik Wøllo. Wøllo had a new album ready to be released, and Origo Sound was formed the year after, with two albums launched in the autumn 1990, of which one was the new Wøllo album.
Origo Sound's major successes were the two albums by Biosphere
, Microgravity and Patashnik. Hailed by Norwegian and international press for setting the standard for what was to become known as ambient techno, the albums were followed by two more albums on the label, Substrata and the movie soundtrack Insomnia
.
Up until 2007, all but one of the albums released were by Norwegian bands and artists. The one exception was the Finnish duo Dystopia's album The Second Dawn in 1998, but Harald Lervik says this was purely coincidental. http://news.planetorigo.com/article.php?poarticle_id=117 In 2010, the label released its first CD of original music since 2004.
Over the years, Origo Sound has released albums in a variety of styles, all founded in various electronic music
subgenres. The first few years were dominated by a mix of styles ranging from new age music
to ethnic
and techno
. The mid 1990s saw some techno influenced albums, while in the recent past the label has moved in the direction of ambient
and experimental music
. The melodic approach is also covered in the catalogue.
In 2007, Origo Sound was merged into Planet Origo, an Estonian
company owned by Norwegian investors, including Harald Lervik. In October that year, the label released its first CD since 2004, the sampler Planet Origo, as a warm-up to future releases.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
independent record label
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:...
formed in 1990 in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
by Harald Lervik. The initiative to start the label was taken after Tormod Opedal, an employee in Lervik's software company, in 1989 had decided to close his own label Cicada
Cicada
A cicada is an insect of the order Hemiptera, suborder Auchenorrhyncha , in the superfamily Cicadoidea, with large eyes wide apart on the head and usually transparent, well-veined wings. There are about 2,500 species of cicada around the world, and many of them remain unclassified...
which had released two albums by the Norwegian composer Erik Wøllo. Wøllo had a new album ready to be released, and Origo Sound was formed the year after, with two albums launched in the autumn 1990, of which one was the new Wøllo album.
Origo Sound's major successes were the two albums by Biosphere
Biosphere (musician)
Biosphere is the main recording name of Geir Jenssen , a Norwegian musician who has released a notable catalogue of ambient electronic music. He is well known for his "ambient techno" and "arctic ambient" styles, his use of music loops, and peculiar samples from sci-fi sources. His track "Novelty...
, Microgravity and Patashnik. Hailed by Norwegian and international press for setting the standard for what was to become known as ambient techno, the albums were followed by two more albums on the label, Substrata and the movie soundtrack Insomnia
Insomnia (1997 film)
Insomnia is a 1997 Norwegian thriller film about a police detective investigating a murder in a town located above the Arctic Circle. The investigation goes horribly wrong when he mistakenly shoots his partner and subsequently attempts to cover up his bungle...
.
Up until 2007, all but one of the albums released were by Norwegian bands and artists. The one exception was the Finnish duo Dystopia's album The Second Dawn in 1998, but Harald Lervik says this was purely coincidental. http://news.planetorigo.com/article.php?poarticle_id=117 In 2010, the label released its first CD of original music since 2004.
Over the years, Origo Sound has released albums in a variety of styles, all founded in various electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
subgenres. The first few years were dominated by a mix of styles ranging from new age music
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
to ethnic
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
and techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
. The mid 1990s saw some techno influenced albums, while in the recent past the label has moved in the direction of 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 :...
and experimental music
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
. The melodic approach is also covered in the catalogue.
In 2007, Origo Sound was merged into Planet Origo, an Estonian
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
company owned by Norwegian investors, including Harald Lervik. In October that year, the label released its first CD since 2004, the sampler Planet Origo, as a warm-up to future releases.
Discography
This list is organized by release year. Titles are full length albums unless otherwise mentioned.| Year | Artist | Title | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Erik Wøllo | Images of Light | |
| Green Isac | Strings and pottery | ||
| 1991 | Karsten Brustad | Intarsia | |
| Biosphere | Microgravity | ||
| Biosphere | The fairy tale | 12" vinyl single | |
| Langsomt Mot Nord | Hildring | ||
| 1992 | Green Isac | Happy endings | |
| Erik Wøllo | Solstice | ||
| 1994 | Biosphere | Patashnik | |
| Karsten Brustad | Cape West | ||
| Neural Network | Brain-state-in-a-box | ||
| Sverre Knut Johansen | Distant Shore | ||
| 1995 | Eyeman Reel | Bird Colony | |
| Neural Network | Modernité | ||
| Erik Wøllo | Fossegrimen | Book + CD, joint release with Cappelen | |
| Biosphere | Novelty waves | CD single | |
| Eyeman Reel | Cyber Delhi | CD single | |
| 1997 | Current | Enter the Dream | |
| Circular | Nanotopia | ||
| Biosphere | Insomnia | ||
| Biosphere | Substrata | ||
| Exile | Dimension D | Exile = Erik Wøllo | |
| Various artists | Future Proof | Label sampler/compilation | |
| 1998 | Dystopia | The second dawn | |
| 1999 | Sverre Knut Johansen | The source of energy | |
| 2001 | Current | Musik | |
| 2002 | Living Dreamtime | Exploring the Water Element | |
| 2003 | Current | Communion | |
| Current | Ghost trip | CD single | |
| 2004 | Circular | Glass Darkly | |
| 2007 | Various artists | Planet Origo | Label sampler/compilation |
| 2010 | Nemesis Nemesis (electronic music band) Nemesis is a Finnish music group formed in 1987 by Ami Hassinen and Jyrki Kastman. In 1994 they released their debut album Xcelsior, the first Finnish electronic/ambient album to be released internationally... |
Gigaherz |
See also
- Electronic musicElectronic musicElectronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
- Progressive electronic musicProgressive electronic musicIn electronic dance music the term progressive is often used to denote a novel stylistic development within a specific genre of dance music. According to the DJ and producer Carl Craig, the term "progressive" was used in Detroit in the early 80s in reference to Italo Disco...
- Computer musicComputer musicComputer music is a term that was originally used within academia to describe a field of study relating to the applications of computing technology in music composition; particularly that stemming from the Western art music tradition...
- Dance musicDance musicDance 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...
- Electronic art music
- Ishkur's Guide to Electronic MusicIshkur's Guide to Electronic MusicIshkur's Guide to Electronic Music is an online Flash-driven guide to electronic music created by Kenneth John Taylor of British Columbia...
- SynthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
- Electronic dance musicElectronic dance musicElectronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...