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Presse-Information
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Future Groove is the club imprint of Mute, the world famous independent record label, home to Moby, Depeche Mode, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Erasure, Goldfrapp and Add N To (X). Initially set up to release the Yazoo sampling record Transonic by Wired in January 1999 (which charted in the UK top 75 incidentally!), the imprint lay dormant until later that year, when the newly appointed marketing manager was asked to revive it.
"Over the last few years I had worked with and helped out hundreds of dance labels of all genres, and it was always in my mind to start a label. When I started at Mute, Daniel Miller encouraged me to start up a label for underground club tracks. I liked the name "Future Groove" and it was sort of there doing nothing, so it seemed obvious to start the label up properly. The first two releases on the label were things I had lying around following a couple of studio sessions: I played them to Daniel and he suggested releasing them…"
These releases were Aircom and Tungsten, both released at the end of 1999. They both set the template for the label by featuring strong original material back with a remix from prominent and respected underground producers. Aircom featured interpretations from the established progressive duo Amethyst, and the up-and-coming Natious, whose harder sound had found favour with Sasha. Aircom picked up some excellent reviews, and even found its way onto a Ministry of Sound covermount.
Tungsten "Carbine" featured a remix from the legendary Evolution aka Escape, and the release went on to figure in John Digweed’s Top 10 of the year, as well as receiving plays on national radio, single of the month reviews in the national music press and countless compilation requests.
"Aircom was a sort of collaborative project with the remixers, and although it did well, it was Tungsten that really set the vibe for the label. I did it one hot summers day, it came out really well, and when Barry and John from Evolution heard it, they wanted to sign it to their label, Fluid, but I talked then into remixing it instead!!"
The initial reaction to the label, from DJ’s and record buyers alike, was very positive. The next step was to develop the label profile and reputation with good solid club tracks, while looking for suitable artists to work with on a long-term basis. The next release came from Mike Wells in March 2000. Already the veteran of over 40 releases and almost as many remixes under his renowned Force Mass Motion moniker, "Supercell" was in fact the first track he’d released under his own name. It came with a remix from the acclaimed Swiss producer, DJ Gogo, himself a big fan of Force Mass Motion, and led to a friendship which has now established Mike Wells as a resident at Gogo’s monthly club night in Zurich.
"A friend of mine introduced me to Mike, and we hit it off immediately. He was looking for a new label after his previous one, Rabbit City had finished, and I was looking for a couple of artists to work with on album projects. I wanted someone talented, focussed, hard working and committed – Mike is all of these. He has an international appeal, which is very important for Mute, and his productions are very respected all around the world"
The next releases came in the summer months of June and July, from Inertia and Polaris, and both continued to increase the profile of the label. Inertia was a collaboration between Justin Drake of Peace Division and Dr of Zoology Mike Cant, both old friends. A deep and trippy track, it came backed with a superb remix from Florida’s Bill Hamel; John Digweed and Paul Van Dyk hammered it. The release picked up national radio plays too, including Pete Tong, and was also licensed to several compilations, including ones in South East Asia and Japan. Dave Seaman licensed it to his Global Underground compilation.
"Bill’s mix typified exactly the kind of records I want to release; Twisted but funky. Tracks that would stand up to repeated listening in a few years time. It also got the label noticed in the States too – I started getting lots of e-mails through..!"
Polaris was another track from the studio of Mike Wells, a tough but uplifting house flavoured track, based around simple but infectious riffs and vocal samples, and one that found support in some big record boxes, such as Deep Dish, Sasha, Pete Tong, Seb Fontaine, Dave Seaman and Steve Lawler.
The releases at the start of 2001 have continued to extend the profile of Future Groove into new areas, and have also seen the expansion of the sound of the label output. The first release of the year, Lucid by long standing Bristol house DJ Grayson Shipley, came backed with a Kevin Swain remix, a producer who first found fame via his groundbreaking D.O.P. releases in the early 90’s on Guerilla Records. The following release – Vic20 & Sinclair "Nikita" came with a remix from Jamez, the Dutch producer well known for Trancesetters, Jark Prongo, Tatabox Inhibitors and Goodmen, as well as the international chart hit, Chocolate Puma. Lucid was one of Darren Emerson’s favourite records of 2000, the Jamez mix of Nikita has been heavily supported round the world by the likes of Tall Paul, Mr C, Chris Fortier, John Digweed and Josh Wink.
"I was really into the material that Guerilla was releasing around ‘93 & ‘94, as well as the Dutch techno thing in the mid 90’s, so getting the sounds of Kev Swain and Jamez onto the label makes it more personal for me. It is also an important way to broaden the sound of the label and give it it’s own feel too. I have worked with dance music for years, and like all styles. I have no intention of just releasing one style or sound of music, it just doesn’t appeal to me, I want all flavours to be represented"
The main aim of the label this year is to release a constant stream of consistent club tracks and to put the label firmly into the consciousness of DJ’s, record buyers and the media alike. Releases are scheduled for 3-4 weeks, and include tracks and mixes from the likes of Lottie, Joystick, Oscar G, Desert, Thomas Heckman, Fade, Force Mass Motion, Tatabox Inhibitors, Steve Porter, Trisco, King Unique, Doc Martin, Jamez & Dobre and Powder Productions – a real cross section of styles.
"It’s going to be a really busy year for Future Groove, and I think a lot of people will be surprised by some of the stuff we put out. We’re looking to really consolidate the initial buzz with some very strong material, and also set a strong foundation and fan base for next year when we will start releasing artist albums. We’ll be doing some club nights around the world throughout the year too, which will involve our own artists such as Force Mass Motion and Cream residents, Desert, plus top local DJ’s."
Howard Corner
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