Major Records
Encyclopedia
Major Records is a music label from Hamburg, Germany, focussing on electronic pop music. Currently, their most popular artists include Ladytron
, IAMX, X-Perience
and Boytronic
.
, U96
) wanted to give talented electro pop acts a chance by making their music available, and therefore founded Major Records.
In July 2004, Major Records released the double album Maxi by Boytronic
, a best-of including new tracks and remixes. Concurrently, they released the album Words Once Said by Celluloide
from France.
In 2005, the company signed further bands and projects and thus broadened their profile. The group Ultrafox
, formed by two members of the Sneaker Pimps
and two German vocalists, released their album Ice Skating on Major Records, the Irish duo Eden their CD Desolate Shores, and Leeloo Kobayashi (former Propaganda
member Andreas Thein) his album Playthings.
In 2006, Major Records kicked off the compilation series elektrisch!, in collaboration with the online music magazine re-flexion. Popular bands in Synth- and Electropop such as Alphaville
, Erasure
or Goldfrapp
, as well as newcomers contribute with exclusive or rare songs and remixes. elektrisch! 1 was released in March 2006, elektrisch! 2 in February 2007.
In spring 2006, the label signed Chris Corner
aka IAMX, head of the Sneaker Pimps
. They released his second solo album, The Alternative, as well as the debut Kiss + Swallow as a re-release. Also, pop trio X-Perience
from Berlin, who had some hits during the 90s, joined Major Records for their comeback album Lost in Paradise, including a duet with Midge Ure
called Personal Heaven.
In 2007, Major Records signed the British band Ladytron
. They released their album Witching Hour as a new, extended edition with a bonus CD. Also in 2007, Major Records released the debut album Eins by Purwien, the new band of Second Decay frontman Christian Purwien.
Looking for newcomers, the label discovered Indiepop band Yuno from Hamburg, whose first album Satellite was released in 2007, as well as the Gothic Pop/Rock band Pearls of Dew, who came up with their debut album Alpha the same year.
Also in 2007, label boss Hayo Lewerentz founded the subsidiary Major Digital, by which the artists’ songs are released as downloads only.
New signings include British bands Mechanical Cabaret
, Scarlet Soho, and The Promise from Hamburg.
Planned physical releases in 2008:
DIGITAL RELEASES
Ladytron
Ladytron are an English electronic band formed in 1999 in Liverpool, Merseyside. The group consists of Helen Marnie , Mira Aroyo , Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu .Their sound blends electropop with New Wave and shoegazing elements. Ladytron described their sound as "electronic pop"...
, IAMX, X-Perience
X-Perience
X-Perience is a eurodance band from Berlin, Germany. Their music style varies between synthpop, trance and ethnopop. The band members are Manja Wagner , Matthias Uhle and Alexander Kaiser . Singer Claudia Uhle, Matthias' sister, left the band in 2007 and was replaced by Manja.-History:X-Perience...
and Boytronic
Boytronic
Boytronic is a German music group that plays electropop. It was founded in 1983 by Holger Wobker and Peter Sawatzki in Hamburg, Germany as Kapitän Sehnsucht . The original Boytronic released two synthpop albums: "The Working Model" and "The Continental"...
.
History
The label was founded in March 2004. While the music business was struggling with a crisis, producer Hayo Lewerentz (e. g. BoytronicBoytronic
Boytronic is a German music group that plays electropop. It was founded in 1983 by Holger Wobker and Peter Sawatzki in Hamburg, Germany as Kapitän Sehnsucht . The original Boytronic released two synthpop albums: "The Working Model" and "The Continental"...
, U96
U96
U96 is a dance music project formed by the German DJ and producer Alex Christensen and a team of producers called Matiz , known for a number of 1990s Eurodance hits.-Biography:...
) wanted to give talented electro pop acts a chance by making their music available, and therefore founded Major Records.
In July 2004, Major Records released the double album Maxi by Boytronic
Boytronic
Boytronic is a German music group that plays electropop. It was founded in 1983 by Holger Wobker and Peter Sawatzki in Hamburg, Germany as Kapitän Sehnsucht . The original Boytronic released two synthpop albums: "The Working Model" and "The Continental"...
, a best-of including new tracks and remixes. Concurrently, they released the album Words Once Said by Celluloide
Celluloide (band)
-Biography:Celluloide's debut album 'Naive Heart' sees the day in 2002: twelve pure synthpop songs with delicate female vocals.This first CD marks also the experimental attitude of Celluloide, with a numbered limited edition of the CD presenting the same 12 tracks in experimental re-constructed...
from France.
In 2005, the company signed further bands and projects and thus broadened their profile. The group Ultrafox
Ultrafox
Ultrafox is an electropop band formed by German twins Claudia and Connie Holzer. Liam Howe and Joe Wilson of Sneaker Pimps were also involved in the band's creation. The band was formed in 2001, and their only album, Ice Skating, was released in June 2004...
, formed by two members of the Sneaker Pimps
Sneaker Pimps
Sneaker Pimps were a British trip-hop band formed in Hartlepool, England in 1994. They are best known for their first album Becoming X and particularly the singles "6 Underground", "Spin Spin Sugar", and "Tesko Suicide" from the same album...
and two German vocalists, released their album Ice Skating on Major Records, the Irish duo Eden their CD Desolate Shores, and Leeloo Kobayashi (former Propaganda
Propaganda (band)
Propaganda is a German synthpop group, formed in 1982. They were one of the initial roster of acts signed to Trevor Horn's ZTT label, between 1984 and 1986, during which they released the critically acclaimed album A Secret Wish....
member Andreas Thein) his album Playthings.
In 2006, Major Records kicked off the compilation series elektrisch!, in collaboration with the online music magazine re-flexion. Popular bands in Synth- and Electropop such as Alphaville
Alphaville (band)
Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold , Bernhard Lloyd , and Frank Mertens Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold (real name Hartwig Schierbaum,...
, Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
or Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp are an English electronic music duo, formed in 1999 in London, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory ....
, as well as newcomers contribute with exclusive or rare songs and remixes. elektrisch! 1 was released in March 2006, elektrisch! 2 in February 2007.
In spring 2006, the label signed Chris Corner
Chris Corner
Chris Corner is an English musician and songwriter. He was a founding member of the band Sneaker Pimps and is now active with the IAMX solo project.He has been living in Berlin since 2006, where he has set up his new IAMX studio for music and visual work....
aka IAMX, head of the Sneaker Pimps
Sneaker Pimps
Sneaker Pimps were a British trip-hop band formed in Hartlepool, England in 1994. They are best known for their first album Becoming X and particularly the singles "6 Underground", "Spin Spin Sugar", and "Tesko Suicide" from the same album...
. They released his second solo album, The Alternative, as well as the debut Kiss + Swallow as a re-release. Also, pop trio X-Perience
X-Perience
X-Perience is a eurodance band from Berlin, Germany. Their music style varies between synthpop, trance and ethnopop. The band members are Manja Wagner , Matthias Uhle and Alexander Kaiser . Singer Claudia Uhle, Matthias' sister, left the band in 2007 and was replaced by Manja.-History:X-Perience...
from Berlin, who had some hits during the 90s, joined Major Records for their comeback album Lost in Paradise, including a duet with Midge Ure
Midge Ure
James "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
called Personal Heaven.
In 2007, Major Records signed the British band Ladytron
Ladytron
Ladytron are an English electronic band formed in 1999 in Liverpool, Merseyside. The group consists of Helen Marnie , Mira Aroyo , Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu .Their sound blends electropop with New Wave and shoegazing elements. Ladytron described their sound as "electronic pop"...
. They released their album Witching Hour as a new, extended edition with a bonus CD. Also in 2007, Major Records released the debut album Eins by Purwien, the new band of Second Decay frontman Christian Purwien.
Looking for newcomers, the label discovered Indiepop band Yuno from Hamburg, whose first album Satellite was released in 2007, as well as the Gothic Pop/Rock band Pearls of Dew, who came up with their debut album Alpha the same year.
Also in 2007, label boss Hayo Lewerentz founded the subsidiary Major Digital, by which the artists’ songs are released as downloads only.
New signings include British bands Mechanical Cabaret
Mechanical Cabaret
Mechanical Cabaret are a British synthpop project founded by the musician Roi Robertson, based in North London, and signed to the German record label Major Records Medien GmbHand published by Warner/Chappell Entertainment GmbH....
, Scarlet Soho, and The Promise from Hamburg.
Planned physical releases in 2008:
- ELEKTRISCH Vol. 3 (Compilation including Moby, Kim Wilde, Ladytron, Yazoo,Apotygma Berzerk, Covenant, IAMX and many more.
- LADYTRON "Velocifero" (Album)
- MECHANICAL CABARET - tba
- SCARLET SOHO - tba
- OBSCENITY TRIAL - "That night"
Artists
- BoytronicBoytronicBoytronic is a German music group that plays electropop. It was founded in 1983 by Holger Wobker and Peter Sawatzki in Hamburg, Germany as Kapitän Sehnsucht . The original Boytronic released two synthpop albums: "The Working Model" and "The Continental"...
- CelluloideCelluloide (band)-Biography:Celluloide's debut album 'Naive Heart' sees the day in 2002: twelve pure synthpop songs with delicate female vocals.This first CD marks also the experimental attitude of Celluloide, with a numbered limited edition of the CD presenting the same 12 tracks in experimental re-constructed...
- EdenEdenEden may refer to:* Garden of Eden, a place described in the biblical book of Genesis-Film and television:* Eden , a character from the Aladdin television series...
- IAMX
- LadytronLadytronLadytron are an English electronic band formed in 1999 in Liverpool, Merseyside. The group consists of Helen Marnie , Mira Aroyo , Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu .Their sound blends electropop with New Wave and shoegazing elements. Ladytron described their sound as "electronic pop"...
- Mechanical CabaretMechanical CabaretMechanical Cabaret are a British synthpop project founded by the musician Roi Robertson, based in North London, and signed to the German record label Major Records Medien GmbHand published by Warner/Chappell Entertainment GmbH....
- Nitzer EbbNitzer EbbNitzer Ebb is a British EBM group formed in 1982 by Essex school friends Vaughan "Bon" Harris , Douglas McCarthy , and David Gooday .-Band name:...
- Obscenity Trial
- Scarlet Soho
- The Promise
- Purwien
- X-PerienceX-PerienceX-Perience is a eurodance band from Berlin, Germany. Their music style varies between synthpop, trance and ethnopop. The band members are Manja Wagner , Matthias Uhle and Alexander Kaiser . Singer Claudia Uhle, Matthias' sister, left the band in 2007 and was replaced by Manja.-History:X-Perience...
DIGITAL RELEASES
- Flummi*
- MinkMinkThere are two living species referred to as "mink": the European Mink and the American Mink. The extinct Sea Mink is related to the American Mink, but was much larger. All three species are dark-colored, semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, which also includes the weasels and...
- Motus
- Teamleiter
- Maria Helen
- Opera Electrique
- Neongrau
- Radio PragueRadio PragueRadio Prague is the official international broadcasting station of the Czech Republic.Radio Prague broadcasts in six languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Czech and Russian. It broadcasts programmes about the Czech Republic on shortwave, satellite and on the Internet...
- Anne Zengel
- C.J. Nelson
- El-Vira
- Stromschlacht
- Luxury Stranger