Skam Records
Encyclopedia
Skam Records is an independent Electronic
record label
based in Manchester
, England
, founded by Andy Maddocks
around 1990. Skam also runs a smaller sub-label called 33.
is rumored to have never been officially released, only distributed as a promo. This was a self-titled debut from Lego Feet (SKA001) (Sean Booth and Rob Brown, now commonly known to be the pioneering duo Autechre
); approximately 100–150 copies are believed to exist. The label followed with two 12" records from a project known as Gescom
, whose members vary between each release. It is widely believed that Booth and Brown of Autechre
are staple members, however.
Other early Skam releases came from the likes of Freeform
, Bola
, Jega
, Team Doyobi
, E.Stonji, and Boards of Canada
. These first ten label releases are commonly regarded as classic electronic records, during which Skam was at its prime. With exception of the oft reprinted EPs Boards of Canada
's Hi Scores
EP (SKA008) and Gescom
's Keynell (SKA007), early Skam releases still fetch high prices on the collector's market.
Skam entered the full-length
market in 1998 with the releases of Soup by Bola
(SKALD/P2) and Music Has the Right to Children
by Boards of Canada
, the latter being jointly released with Warp Records
(SKALD/P1, WARPCD/LP55), both of which have been praised by the IDM community as classic recordings.
A recurring feature on the packaging of Skam releases is the name of the label printed in braille
.
Up until the 2004 release of Mr 76ix's Hits of 76ix, the label has produced a 7" single along with each full-length album; the 7" catalogue numbers begin with the letters "KMAS". Boards of Canada
's rare single for Aquarius, for example, is KMAS001. Skam has since stated on its website that future KMAS releases will feature purely exclusive tracks to complement full-length recordings of the same number.
In 2001, Skam began the "SMAK" series. Each SMAK 12" showcased two artists, one per record side. Some SMAK artists, like Quinoline Yellow
(SMAK09), have gone on to become full Skam musicians. NMB Allstars (SMAK07, "North Manchester Bedroom Allstars") went on to become part of the sublabel 33, which Skam has been known to refer to as "a part of the family." Others, like Ola Bergman
(SMAK05) and Posthuman
(SMAK01) went on to set up their own record labels: New Speak and Seed Records
, respectively. Also, some artists, such as Made (SMAK03), are renowned Skam live acts. In October 2004, Skam gave birth to the "AMKS" series with Supermechamaximegamegablast by Mortal and Chemist, which is, as the catalogue number may suggest, a mix.
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...
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,...
based in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, founded by Andy Maddocks
Andy Maddocks
Andy Maddocks is an entrepreneur and musician, who founded Skam Records, an independent electronic label, in 1990. He is also a member of Gescom with Darrell Fitton and Russell Haswell.-External links:***...
around 1990. Skam also runs a smaller sub-label called 33.
History
Skam's first 12-inch single12-inch single
The 12-inch single is a type of gramophone record that has wider groove spacing compared to other types of records. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the cutting engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality...
is rumored to have never been officially released, only distributed as a promo. This was a self-titled debut from Lego Feet (SKA001) (Sean Booth and Rob Brown, now commonly known to be the pioneering duo Autechre
Autechre
Autechre are an English electronic music duo consisting of Rob Brown and Sean Booth, both natives of Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1987, they are one of the most prominent acts signed to Warp Records, a label known for its pioneering electronic music and through which all Autechre albums...
); approximately 100–150 copies are believed to exist. The label followed with two 12" records from a project known as Gescom
Gescom
Gescom is an electronic music project based in England with close ties to the band Autechre. The name is believed to have been derived from Gestalt Communication...
, whose members vary between each release. It is widely believed that Booth and Brown of Autechre
Autechre
Autechre are an English electronic music duo consisting of Rob Brown and Sean Booth, both natives of Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1987, they are one of the most prominent acts signed to Warp Records, a label known for its pioneering electronic music and through which all Autechre albums...
are staple members, however.
Other early Skam releases came from the likes of Freeform
Freeform
The word freeform may refer to:* Freeform , an alias used by experimental/IDM producer Simon Pyke* Freeform Style of Hardcore Techno influenced by trance.* Freeform Five, UK electro-house band...
, Bola
Darrell Fitton
Darrell Fitton is an electronic musician from Manchester, England. Most of his work is recorded under recording monikers Bola and Jello, released primarily on Skam Records. Fitton has also contributed to electronic acts D-Breeze, Brahma and Ooblo, and Autechre's Gescom project...
, Jega
Jega
Jega is the recording name of Manchester-based electronic music artist Dylan Nathan. Nathan has released records on the Planet Mu, Matador and Skam record labels....
, Team Doyobi
Team Doyobi
Team Doyobi are an electronic music duo, Christopher Gladwin and Alexander Peverett , currently signed to the Skam Records label. They began their collaboration by producing electronic soundtracks for self-made video art in the early 1990s...
, E.Stonji, and Boards of Canada
Boards of Canada
Boards of Canada are a Scottish electronic music duo consisting of brothers Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin...
. These first ten label releases are commonly regarded as classic electronic records, during which Skam was at its prime. With exception of the oft reprinted EPs Boards of Canada
Boards of Canada
Boards of Canada are a Scottish electronic music duo consisting of brothers Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin...
's Hi Scores
Hi Scores
Hi Scores is an EP by Boards of Canada. It was released on CD and vinyl in 1996, and subsequently re-released in 1998, 2002, and 2005.-Track listing:# "Hi Scores" – 4:57# "Turquoise Hexagon Sun" – 5:09# "Nlogax" – 6:54# "June 9th" – 5:18...
EP (SKA008) and Gescom
Gescom
Gescom is an electronic music project based in England with close ties to the band Autechre. The name is believed to have been derived from Gestalt Communication...
's Keynell (SKA007), early Skam releases still fetch high prices on the collector's market.
Skam entered the full-length
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
market in 1998 with the releases of Soup by Bola
Darrell Fitton
Darrell Fitton is an electronic musician from Manchester, England. Most of his work is recorded under recording monikers Bola and Jello, released primarily on Skam Records. Fitton has also contributed to electronic acts D-Breeze, Brahma and Ooblo, and Autechre's Gescom project...
(SKALD/P2) and Music Has the Right to Children
Music Has the Right to Children
Music Has the Right to Children is the debut public album of the Scottish electronic music duo Boards of Canada. It was published by Warp Records and released on 20 April 1998 in Europe and 20 August in the United States...
by Boards of Canada
Boards of Canada
Boards of Canada are a Scottish electronic music duo consisting of brothers Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin...
, the latter being jointly released with Warp Records
Warp Records
Warp, commonly referred to as Warp Records, is a pioneering independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, notable for discovering some of the more enduring artists in electronic music....
(SKALD/P1, WARPCD/LP55), both of which have been praised by the IDM community as classic recordings.
A recurring feature on the packaging of Skam releases is the name of the label printed in braille
Braille
The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman. Each Braille character, or cell, is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two...
.
Series releases
Skam is renowned for its multiple series of record releases within the label, all of which are an anagram of "SKAM". Skam's early 12" compilation "MASK" records are now extremely rare and valuable. The first three records were produced in conjunction with Musik Aus Strom, and the latter two by Skam alone.Up until the 2004 release of Mr 76ix's Hits of 76ix, the label has produced a 7" single along with each full-length album; the 7" catalogue numbers begin with the letters "KMAS". Boards of Canada
Boards of Canada
Boards of Canada are a Scottish electronic music duo consisting of brothers Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin...
's rare single for Aquarius, for example, is KMAS001. Skam has since stated on its website that future KMAS releases will feature purely exclusive tracks to complement full-length recordings of the same number.
In 2001, Skam began the "SMAK" series. Each SMAK 12" showcased two artists, one per record side. Some SMAK artists, like Quinoline Yellow
Quinoline Yellow (musician)
Luke Williams creates electronic music under the aliases Quinoline Yellow and Tatamax. He records for Skam Records and for his own label Uchelfa Recordings. The band name is borrowed from a pair of chemical compounds, one of which is Quinoline Yellow SS...
(SMAK09), have gone on to become full Skam musicians. NMB Allstars (SMAK07, "North Manchester Bedroom Allstars") went on to become part of the sublabel 33, which Skam has been known to refer to as "a part of the family." Others, like Ola Bergman
Ola Bergman
Ola Bergman is an electronica musician from Sweden.Ola Bergman runs his own record label New Speak and has appeared on the famous SMAK series on Skam Records.-External links:**...
(SMAK05) and Posthuman
Posthuman (band)
Posthuman is primarily a duo of Richard Bevan and Joshu Doherty. Known mainly for multi-layered electronic music, with heavy emphasis on intricate drum programming...
(SMAK01) went on to set up their own record labels: New Speak and Seed Records
Seed Records
- Seed Records 1972-1981 :Seed Records was a record label started by Paul Clark in 1972. The label ran until circa 1981, when he started Minstrel's Voyage Music...
, respectively. Also, some artists, such as Made (SMAK03), are renowned Skam live acts. In October 2004, Skam gave birth to the "AMKS" series with Supermechamaximegamegablast by Mortal and Chemist, which is, as the catalogue number may suggest, a mix.
External links
- Skam Records – Official site
- Skam discography at Xltronic