Some Bizzare Records
Some Bizzare Records is a British independent record label owned by Stevo Pearce. It was launched with the 1981 compilation album entitled "Some Bizzare Album".
History
One of the first bands that Some Bizzare worked with was B-Movie. They were touted as the next "New Romantic" act to follow Visage and Spandau Ballet.[1] After working with B-Movie the label achieved notable success with Soft Cell, an electronic duo whose "Mutant Moments EP" Stevo Pearce had championed in Sounds. Pearce went on to manage Soft Cell, got them a deal with Phonogram under the Some Bizzare umbrella, and their cover of "Tainted Love" topped the charts.[2]
In the early eighties Stevo Pearce gained a reputation for being a maverick. He licensed The The's Soul Mining album to three different record labels. After delivering the album to Phonogram he then took it from them and sold it to Warner Bros. Records, then sold it on again to CBS. The one recording was sold three times, each time signed off by the companies mentioned for the best deal.[3] Soul Mining was eventually released in 1983.[4] The The released further albums with Some Bizzare, including "Infected" in 1986. Matt Johnson from The The also recorded with Some Bizzare act Marc and the Mambas.[5] Later acts on the record label's roster included Cabaret Voltaire, Psychic TV, Test Department, Einstürzende Neubauten, Coil, Swans, Scraping Foetus Off The Wheel, and various Soft Cell solo and off-shoot projects.
Some Bizzare built a reputation for madcap behavior. For example, during the nineties Stevo Pearce's offices, based in Mayfair, included a private chapel and confession box for would-be-signings to go through the solemn hand-over of demo tapes.[6]
2001
Some Bizzare released a new compilation album titled "I'd Rather Shout at a Returning Echo than Kid Someone's Listening". It was to include the Soft Cell track “God Shaped Hole”, recorded by the newly reformed band. The compilation also saw the inclusion of two tracks recorded by Cabaret Voltaire's Richard H. Kirk. Between 2001 and 2005 Some Bizzare's output was very minimal. [7]
2006
"Redefining the Prologue" was released in October 2006 to mark the label's 25th anniversary provides an overview of the label's output. This album coincided with a Some Bizzare exhibition at the Horse Hospital arts venue in Bloomsbury, London. The exhibition included original artwork from bands like The The and Marc and the Mambas.[8]
2007
Some Bizzare Records sign some new acts including Risqué, who were a French / Welsh electronic group made up of Nathalie and Huw Williams. Their music comprised of robust driving rhythms and ethereal vocals. They record their music in a studio based in Barcelona. Huw Williams is a well established producer working with bands like “Rubikon” and “Rookie”.[9]
2008
Several new acts were signed to the label including Pedro INF a Portuguese dance music producer and UK artist Kontour who produces dark electronic music.[10]
See also
Current roster of artists
- First Aid 4 Souls
- GL1TCHG0R3 (Currently embattled with label)[11]
- The Grid
- Kontour
- Lucid Sketchmaster Productions
- Meka
- Monkey Farm Frankenstein
- Mainstream Distortion
- Pedro INF
- Risqué
- ZGA Figs
- Farmacia
- The Dark Poets (Also Gary Lucas vs The Dark Poets)
- Guggi
- Satanicpornocultshop
References
- ^ "Stevo: Bizzare after all these years "Independent Online Edition, accessed 22 December 2007
- ^ "Stevo: Bizzare after all these years "Independent Online Edition, accessed 22 December 2007
- ^ "Stevo: Bizzare after all these years "Independent Online Edition, accessed 22 December 2007
- ^ Page 64,Tape Delay, Charles Neal
- ^ Page 64,Tape Delay, Charles Neal
- ^ Page 20, Steve Malins, Depeche Mode Biography
- ^ I'd Rather Shout at a Returning Echo than Kid Someone's Listening booklet
- ^ "Stevo: Bizzare after all these years "Independent Online Edition, accessed 22 December 2007
- ^ Official Some Bizzare Records web page
- ^ Official Some Bizzare Records web page
- ^ Dr.Tedley of Gl1tchG0r3 regarding band's current standing with label