Crammed Discs

Crammed Discs is an independent record label whose output blends world music, rock, pop, and electronica. Based in Brussels, Belgium, Crammed was founded in 1980 by Marc Hollander of Aksak Maboul and has since released over 300 albums and 250 singles, working with artists from all over the world (from the Balkans to North and Central Africa, from South America to the Middle East as well as the more regular musical pastures of the US and Europe). Crammed Discs is run by Marc Hollander (A&R) with Hanna Gorjaczkowska (marketing, distribution & art direction) and Vincent Kenis (producer, director of the Congotronics Series).

Marc Hollander and Crammed Discs received the WOMEX award in 2004 at the World Music Expo international music trade fair, for being "one of the seminal players on the world music field." Crammed Discs won the WOMEX Top Label Award in 2007 and 2009.

Crammed Discs' latest signings include Chicago band Allá, folk-pop-cabaret act Lonely Drifter Karen (from Vienna and Barcelona), London-based Moroccan electronic artist U-cef, Congolese band Staff Benda Bilili, musician/composer/producer Mocky, Belgian band Hoquets, Belgo-Congolese rapper Baloji, Belgian-Colombian band La Chiva Gantiva, French-American artist Maïa Vidal, as well as US bands Akron/Family, Skeletons and Megafaun (which are handled by Crammed in Europe).

Sub-labels

• Ziriguiboom

Launched in 1998 in collaboration with Brazilian A&R/Producer Béco Dranoff and dedicated to "new Brazilian sounds". Ziriguiboom's aim is to present original and as-yet-unexposed aspects of Brazilian music to international audiences. It has brought Crammed its biggest commercial success to date with Bebel Gilberto's debut album Tanto Tempo (which sold one million units worldwide). Ziriguiboom also signed and released albums by such artists as: Celso Fonseca, Cibelle, Zuco 103, Trio Mocotó, Bossacucanova, DJ Dolores, Apollo Nove and the late Suba.

• SSR Records

Releases ranging from early new beat to downtempo, techno, house and hip hop, by artists such as Snooze, Juryman, Carl Craig, Tek 9, DJ Morpheus and Telex. SSR is short for: Sampler & Sans Reproche.

• Made To Measure

Specializing in ambient music, soundtracks and specially commissioned works. Notable artists are: Hector Zazou and Fred Frith.

• Language

This 'avant dance' label was headed by Tony Thorpe. The last Language record was released in 1999.

Crammed also had several specialized and one-artist sub-labels:

• Cramworld (for contemporary and archival world music releases)
• Selector (specialized on drum and bass)
• Cramboy (for Tuxedomoon's releases)
• Furax (released Belgian comedians Les Snuls)

Discography

• Aksak Maboul, Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine (LP 1981, CD 2003, originally released LP 1977)
• Aksak Maboul with Chris Cutler and Fred Frith, Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits (LP 1980, CD 1995)
• The Honeymoon Killers (Les Tueurs de la Lune de Miel, 1982)
• Surfin Dave and The Absent Legends, "In Search of a Decent Haircut" (LP released 1986)
• Minimal Compact (various albums from 1981 to 1988)
• Colin Newman, Commercial Suicide (1986)
• John Lurie (3 albums, including the original soundtracks to Jim Jarmusch's movies Stranger Than Paradise, 1986, and Down By Law, 1987)
• Mahmoud Ahmed, (2000) Ethiopiques Volume 7—Ere Mela Mela (originally released 1975-76, released on Crammed Discs in 1986, and re-issued as part of the Ethiopiques series)
• Hector Zazou (11 albums, between 1983 and 2008)
• Sussan Deyhim (3 albums, in 1987, 2000 and 2002)
• Bel Canto (3 albums, 1987 to 1992)
• Zap Mama Zap Mama (retitled Adventures In Afropea for the US, 1991), Sabsylma (1994)
• Carl Craig More Songs About Food And Revolutionary Art (1997)
• Freezone (7 compilations of downtempo electronic music, curated by DJ Morpheus)
• 4hero Parallel Universe (1995)
• Tek 9 and 4hero (1996 to 2000)
• Snooze (2 albums, 1996 and 2001)
• Juryman (aka Ian Simmonds, aka Wise In Time, 4 albums (1997 to 2006)
• Bebel Gilberto Tanto Tempo (2000), Bebel Gilberto (2004), Momento (2007)
• Bossacucanova (3 albums, in 1998, 2001 and 2004)
• Zuco 103 (3 albums)
• Suba (Mitar Subotić) São Paulo Confessions (1999) and Tributo (2002)
• Taraf de Haidouks, 5 albums and a DVD
• Kocani Orkestar, 3 albums
• Electric Gypsyland (2003 and 2006)
• Tartit Abacabok (2006)
• Tuxedomoon, 14 albums, the latest being Vapour Trails (2007)
• Mahala Rai Banda (2004)
• Cibelle, Cibelle (2003), The Shine Of Dried Electric Leaves (2006)
• Konono Nº1 Congotronics (2004), the Grammy-nominated Live At Couleur Cafe (2007)
• Kasai Allstars In The 7th Moon, The Chief Turned Into A Swimming Fish... (2008)
• Balkan Beat Box Nu Med (2007), Nu-Made (2008), Blue Eyed Black Boy' (2010)
• Shantel Disko Partizani! (2007), Planet Paprika (2009)
• Allá Es Tiempo (2008)
• Lonely Drifter Karen Grass Is Singing (2008), Fall Of Spring (2010)
• Staff Benda Bilili Tres Tres Fort (2009)
• Mocky Saskamodie (2009)
• Akron/Family Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free (2009)
• Megafaun Gather, Form & Fly (2009) and Heretofore (2010)
• Zeep People & Things (2009)
• Konono N°1 Assume Crash Position (2010)
• Cibelle Las Venus Resort Palace Hotel (2010)
• Axel Krygier Pesebre (2010)
• Tradi-Mods vs Rockers: Alternative Takes on Congotronics (2010)
• Skeletons: "People" (2011)
• Taraf de Haidouks & Kocani Orkestar: "Band of Gypsies 2" (2011)
• Hoquets: "Belgotronics" (2011)
• Various Artists: "The Karindula Sessions" (CD+DVD, 2011)
• Megafaun: "Megafaun" (2011)
• The Real Tuesday Weld: "The Last Werewolf" (2011)
• La Chiva Gantiva: "Pelao" (2011)
• Maïa Vidal: "God is my Bike" (2011)

External links

• Official site
• The Ziriguiboom imprint
• The Congotronics Series
• Crammed Discs Week, a series of acoustic live videos with several Crammed bands, shot in 2007 by Vincent Moon as part of the Take-Away Shows