Octobers Label of the Month: 31337 records

These are exciting times for Berlin based label, 31337. Formed only in 2007 they have been steadily building up an excellent profile with solid releases and apperances from some from big names too like Someone Else and Remute. Their 2008-09 schedule promises to be a busy one with Dubkult amongst others lined up.They launched their dubby, minimal sound with the excellent compilation We are 31337! in may 2007 and the label is run by Stefan Klaas, Sebastian Guth and Philip Steger. We catch up with Stefan to ask him some questions....


First things first, is the name to be pronounced as numbers or as leet/elite?

Its meant as "leet" or "elite", but many people use the numbers as they probably don't know the meaning.

You seem to have taken a sensible route to starting a label by starting digital and then moving towards vinyl. was that always your intention or is it more that there was a demand for the vinyl releases?

I guess both. Of course we always thought of vinyl, but without any reputation its hard to compete in the music business. since many people get more involved in social networking we thought its best to start off digital. This was cost effective as we didn't have a big budget to start with and it was good enough to get the name out. Also the netlabel scene is a very interesting place to meet new talented artists, label contacts and the like. There is a very strong community behind it and we will always keep supporting it, even when we go for vinyl, there will still be free mp3 releases.

Putting out vinyl is a risky business these days? Are you worried?

Not really worried, but very excited. We just think positive and go for it. Lets see what happens.

Getting artists like Remute and Someone Else to release on the label must have been amazing. Did you know them previously or was it just through other releases that you got in touch with them?

We knew all artists before the actual releases. Especially Denis (Remute) was really open minded to our project even tough we were a new label basically without any reputation. One year later we finally made it! We had several changes in the remixes so we kept delaying it. Sean (Someone Else) was also very kind and provided a great track for our very first release. We also planned the first vinyl with him as we love his music.

Who is the one artist that you would love to put out a record for?

I guess we all agree that would be Miskate or Cabanne.

Do you have any advice for someone starting out a netlabel?

Yes, avoid collecting agencies (such as GEMA in Germany) by all means and be sure to make contracts for every release!

Things seem to be going really well, do you have plans for the future or are you taking things one day at a time?

Indeed we get so much great support from all over the world, its really amazing and cool to see that people appreciate our efforts since we built this label not because of capitalism, but to have a platform for music that we personally love. Great to see that people enjoy our music!

What other labels or net labels do you like at the moment?

There are just too many good labels but i guess our favorites are still (un)Foundsound, Hello?Repeat, Perlon, Lessismore, Echocord, Scape, Multivitamins, Op.Disc or Minibar to name a few and as for netlabels we always like the Archipel stuff from our friend Pheek or Textone from Jay Haze.

What about the future of techno and dance music?

That's not up to us really and we couldn't care less. Some people already say minimal is dead, but we don't go for the current hypes, we keep releasing what we like.

...and long may it continue. You can download or listen to lots of their tracks from their website below and also keep an eye out for their future releases as these promise to be very exciting times for this interesting label.

http://www.31337records.com/
http://www.31337records.com/releases.html
http://www.myspace.com/31337records

Label: Teorema
Artist: Dejersey
Release: Mas Que Humo EP (tr012)
URL: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=201053590&blogID=415658577
Rating: 5.6/10


Interesting Ponteverda based techno label Teorema bring us their 12th release, a high energy four tracker from Dejersey. Its his first full release for the label after providing an good twist on B.E.R.E.s "Yo Tenia Una Idea" for the labels 'VA-Remixes Compilation pt.1' (tr010).

The opener LEloois initially striking for two reasons. Firstly the main hook is a little too similar in feel to Heartthrob's major hit from a few summers ago Baby Kate, and secondly is how compressed the record is. Its pretty crushed, and could do with the lost dynamics back. Its similarity to the afformentioned tracks synthline, for this listener, detracted from the song considerably, and i couldn't really shake it off. Following that, Sigue Igual is more successful and a straight forward melody is surrounded by shakers and lots of atmosphere. The track is really club focused but it doesn't vary wildly over its 6 minutes and maybe doesn't maintain interest for long enough.

But its the 3rd track, Brilla, that saves this EP. A very short looped bell like melody drives the song supremely, snappy hats and snips of vocal samples push it on, before a really emotional synth takes over a break in the drums. Its euphoric, but not in a cheap sentimental way and really perfect for a late night set. The fourth track like the third, moves a little away from the more M_nus influenced sound of the first half. Its quite similar in composition to the other tracks, but has perhaps more going on, even the hats seem to play a part in the melodic content of the song.Its initially more laid back than the previous tracks but features a great moment around the 3 minute mark where it all just sort of comes together, and leads into a beautiful clear moment for the last third of the track that's got lots and lots of groove.

Overall all, the compression issue does effect the impact of this EP a lot. The quest for ever louder and louder tracks is a well documented problem and sometimes it can be a real curse as you feel that with productions like this, with short hypnotic riffs essentially the key to much of the tracks, that over emphasising loudness at the cost of dynamics is the wrong tack and stops you getting really involved in them. It also strays a little too near the spate of M_nus alike techno that seems to be everywhere over the last few years and has become a little tired to say the least.

However it would be small minded not to see the distinctive elements and positive points of this 4 tracker, namely, that the tracks here are of good quality, the programming is precise and often quite intricate and interesting rhythmically in the last two tracks especially, and most importantly, it should be well received on any dance floor.

Koloni 001 & Koloni 002 - Vivianne (Roxy) and Jacob Adler (Adlers Unter Dem Plattenteller)

Label: Koloni
Artist: Vivianne and Jacob Adler
Release: Roxy (Vivianne) and Unter Dem Plattenteller (Jacob Adler)
Url: http://www.kolonirecords.com/
Rating: 6/10
Release Date: September '08

Stockholm based Koloni records kicks off what promises to be a busy winter schedule with two debut releases from producers Vivianne and Jacob Adler. Vivianne (aka Roland Nylin) supplies KOL 001, Roxy. First things first, Beatport pulls its old trick of incorrectly classifying the tracks by lumping it in the deep house section. From the start of the A-sides thin filtered organish pad, and shuffley house hats and soft melodic stabs, through to the introduction of a bass line so infectiously disco that you don't really have a choice but to be pulled along with the track, its quite clearly not deep house. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing of course. And while, for all intents and purposes it's a disco track its definitely not without heart. There is something really melancholy but optimistic about it that makes me think it would make a very useful track to have in any record bag. The second track, Stevie Nicks, an acknowledgment of the influence of Fleetwood Mac, isn't an all together comfortable b-side. Once again the focus is much less on rhythm and more on emotive synth lines and has a popier feel to it. The main melody is quite insistant but its a little anti-climactic compared to the a-side. By the time an arpeggiated lead comes in over some light plucks the track doesn't seem to be as focused. A rising string melody towards the end is pleasant, but its hard to escape the feeling that the track seems a little too static.

KOL002, Jacob Adler's Unter Dem Plattenteller, is a markedly different prospect but does makes sense as a follow up release. The a-side, once again, is very synth driven, theres lots of resonanted atmospheric noise that flies around a bleepy arp and fitlered organ chords until a 303ish bass lifts the track into life. After that there is a straight forward but kind of creppy delayed melody thats nicely complimented by some claves. The track competently varies those elements without too much rhythmic surprises. The bside which gives the EP its name is similar but much more effective. Once again, melody driven, it however features a really, really beautiful and unique chord break down which could only be the work of a man in love with the warmth of analogue synths. The main melody, a kind of pitch-bent descending hook, makes much more sense for the breakdown and the track comes back in with the dance floor focus that perhaps the A was missing. The percussion is quite clean and good but still takes second place to the melodic elements of the track. This culminates in a big drop near the end where the main melody drives the track, making it suitable for a peak time set.

All in all, these are a very interesting offering from a new label from two debut acts who both underline their potential with very clear, precise and uncluttered production. More releases from both are to follow this winter and in the case of Vivianne an LP. This is an interesting prospect because i can't help but feel that without the pressure of a club focused output the b-side would work perfectly well on an album. It will also be interesting to see how the label evolves its sound with its releases and whether its still fixated on more synth driven material.