Skam Records

infobox record label
name = Skam


founded = 1990
founder = Andy Maddocks
country = flagicon|UK United Kingdom
location = Manchester, England
genre = Electronic Drum'n'bass
Glitch
Illbient IDM
url = http://www.skam.co.uk/

Skam Records is an independent Electronic and IDM record label based in Manchester, England, founded by Andy Maddocks around 1990. Skam also runs a smaller sub-label called 33.

History

Skam's first 12-inch single is rumored to have never been officially released, only distributed as a promo. This 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 and Boards of Canada. These first ten label releases are commonly regarded as classic electronic records, during which Skam was at its prime.Fact|date=April 2007 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.Fact|date=April 2007

A recurring feature on the packaging of Skam releases is the name of the label printed in braille.

eries 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'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.

See also

* List of record labels
* List of independent UK record labels

External links

* [http://www.skam.co.uk Skam Records – Official site]
*
* [http://www.xltronic.com/discography/advanced.php?show=releases&label%5B%5D=3&format=all&B1=VIEW+RESULTS&type=label&sort= Skam discography] at Xltronic