Volume magazine
Encyclopedia
Volume was a magazine in the form of a series of compact disc
compilation albums that were published in the UK
in the early to mid 1990s. The albums typically contained exclusive tracks and remixes from a diverse range of indie
artists. Each album was packaged with a 192-page booklet that contained features on the artists, and original articles. The booklet was the size and shape of a CD jewel case, and was usually packaged with the CD case in a cardboard sleeve. Volume One, the first issue, was published in September 1991. The series came to an end in January 1997, with Volume Seventeen.
Several double-CD
compilations were also released in parallel with the series, including the Trance Europe Express
and Trance Atlantic
series, a mix release called TEXtures
, and two best-of compilations. These special editions were packaged in double-disc jewel cases, in a box with Volume's standard-sized 192-page booklet. Later editions included a CD-ROM, typically with a series of Flash animations and video content. The brand's visual trademark was photographs of tropical fish
, with a different species appearing on the cover of each issue. The collective spines laid end to end of Volume One to Volume 10 formed the image of a shark.
The artists featured in the magazine ranged widely from indie guitar groups such as Curve
, The Wannadies
, and The Cocteau Twins, to ambient
and techno artists such as The Orb
and The Shamen
. Other artists and trip-hop band Massive Attack
, electronic body music
group Nitzer Ebb
, and hip-hop act Cypress Hill
. Electronic music
was featured quite heavily.
The booklet contained interviews and bios of the bands and musical artists, with discographies and "favorite tracks" lists. The tone of many of the articles was irreverent, and much of the filler material was humorous. For example, in the Wasted compilation's companion booklet, several short blurbs entitled "The Diary of Dave Stewart
's Beard" are written from the perspective of a beard
, which pontificates whether it will be shaven, and describes its attempts to hide itself in shame after the poor performance of its owner's latest album.
The Trance... albums concentrated exclusively on electronic music. Of the two "best of" compilations, Wasted rounded up electronic/dance tracks, while Sharks Patrol These Waters concentrated on guitar-based bands.
A 12" and CD single were also released (without a booklet, though the 12" came with a tropical fish poster) to promote the two "Best Of" compilations. The single contained "Belfast/Wasted" by Orbital
from Wasted and "Innocent X" by Therapy?
from Sharks Patrol These Waters.
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
compilation albums that were published in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the early to mid 1990s. The albums typically contained exclusive tracks and remixes from a diverse range of indie
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
artists. Each album was packaged with a 192-page booklet that contained features on the artists, and original articles. The booklet was the size and shape of a CD jewel case, and was usually packaged with the CD case in a cardboard sleeve. Volume One, the first issue, was published in September 1991. The series came to an end in January 1997, with Volume Seventeen.
Several double-CD
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
compilations were also released in parallel with the series, including the Trance Europe Express
Trance Europe Express
Trance Europe Express is a compilation album of European trance artists which was compiled by the publishers of Volume magazine in 1993.The Trance Europe Express series consisted of 5 compilations of various trance artists. Volume also crossed the pond with the Trance Atlantic series, which...
and Trance Atlantic
Trance Atlantic
Trance Atlantic is the first compilation album in the Trance Atlantic series, which was released by Volume magazine in January, 1995.-Disc one:# Spacetime Continuum – "101 South Of Heaven" – 7:22...
series, a mix release called TEXtures
TEXtures
TEXtures is a DJ mix album from Volume magazine which was released in April, 1996. It is a double-CD release of two different sets, composed of material from the first four Trance Europe Express releases...
, and two best-of compilations. These special editions were packaged in double-disc jewel cases, in a box with Volume's standard-sized 192-page booklet. Later editions included a CD-ROM, typically with a series of Flash animations and video content. The brand's visual trademark was photographs of tropical fish
Tropical fish
Tropical fish include fish found in tropical environments around the world, including both freshwater and salt water species.Tropical fish are popular as aquarium fish, due to their often bright coloration...
, with a different species appearing on the cover of each issue. The collective spines laid end to end of Volume One to Volume 10 formed the image of a shark.
The artists featured in the magazine ranged widely from indie guitar groups such as Curve
Curve (band)
Curve was an English music group formed in 1990 chiefly around the collaboration of singer/songwriter Toni Halliday and bassist/guitarist/programmer Dean Garcia.-History:...
, The Wannadies
The Wannadies
The Wannadies were an alternative rock band formed in 1988 in Skellefteå, northern Sweden. The band's initial line-up featured Pär Wiksten , Christina Bergmark , Stefan Schönfeldt and his younger brother Fredrik Schönfeldt with Gunnar Karlsson and Björn Malmquist .Early influences...
, and The Cocteau Twins, to ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
and techno artists such as The Orb
The Orb
Throughout 1989, the Orb, along with Martin Glover, developed the musical genre of ambient house through the use of a diverse array of samples and recordings. The culmination of its musical work came toward the end of the year when the group recorded a session for John Peel on BBC Radio 1...
and The Shamen
The Shamen
The Shamen were an experimental electronic music band, from 1985–1999, initially formed in Aberdeen, Scotland, as a psychedelic-influenced indie rock act. The founding members are Colin Angus , Derek McKenzie and Keith McKenzie...
. Other artists and trip-hop band Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
, electronic body music
Electronic body music
Electronic body music or industrial dance is a music genre that combines elements of industrial music and electronic dance music...
group Nitzer Ebb
Nitzer Ebb
Nitzer Ebb is a British EBM group formed in 1982 by Essex school friends Vaughan "Bon" Harris , Douglas McCarthy , and David Gooday .-Band name:...
, and hip-hop act Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide...
. Electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
was featured quite heavily.
The booklet contained interviews and bios of the bands and musical artists, with discographies and "favorite tracks" lists. The tone of many of the articles was irreverent, and much of the filler material was humorous. For example, in the Wasted compilation's companion booklet, several short blurbs entitled "The Diary of Dave Stewart
David A. Stewart
David Allan Stewart , often known as Dave Stewart, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Eurythmics. He is usually credited as David A. Stewart, to avoid confusion with other musicians named "Dave Stewart".-Early life:Stewart was born in Sunderland,...
's Beard" are written from the perspective of a beard
Beard
A beard is the collection of hair that grows on the chin, cheeks and neck of human beings. Usually, only pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards. However, women with hirsutism may develop a beard...
, which pontificates whether it will be shaven, and describes its attempts to hide itself in shame after the poor performance of its owner's latest album.
Issues
- Volume One - September 1991
- Volume Two - November 1991
- Volume Three - May 1992
- Volume Four - August 1992
- Volume Five - December 1992
- Volume SixVolume SixVolume Six is the sixth issue of Volume, which was published in April, 1993.-Track listing:# Spiritualized – "Smiles" – 6:20# © – "He Was" – 5:29# Ultra Vivid Scene – "Cut Throat" – 5:13# Senseless Things – "Keepsake" – 3:46...
- April 1993 - Volume SevenVolume SevenVolume Seven is the seventh issue of Volume magazine, which was published in July, 1993.-Track listing:# Teenage Fanclub – "Belt" – 2:19# Radiohead – "Stupid Car " – 2:46# The Verve – "South Pacific " – 3:26...
- July 1993 - Trance Europe ExpressTrance Europe ExpressTrance Europe Express is a compilation album of European trance artists which was compiled by the publishers of Volume magazine in 1993.The Trance Europe Express series consisted of 5 compilations of various trance artists. Volume also crossed the pond with the Trance Atlantic series, which...
- September 1993 - Volume Eight - November 1993
- Volume NineVolume NineVolume Nine is the ninth issue of Volume magazine, which was published in March, 1994.-Track listing:# Mark Lanegan – "Wheels" – 4:34# Morphine – "Sharks Patrol These Waters" – 2:25# that dog...
- March 1994 - Trance Europe Express 2Trance Europe Express 2Trance Europe Express 2 is the second release by Volume magazine in the Trance Europe Express series. It was released in May 1994.-Disc one:# Microglobe – "Trust" – 7:38# Speedy J – "The Fun Equations" – 4:33# Paul van Dyk – "Today" – 5:35...
- May 1994 - Volume TenVolume TenVolume Ten is the tenth issue of Volume magazine, which was published in July, 1994.-Track listing:# A.R. Kane – "Deep Blue Breath" – 5:30# Disco Inferno – "Second Language" – 4:44# Scarce – "Naked Freak Shadow" – 3:16...
- July 1994 - Volume Eleven - August 1994
- Trance Europe Express 3Trance Europe Express 3Trance Europe Express 3 is the third release by Volume magazine in the Trance Europe Express series. It was released in October 1994.-Disc one:# Air Liquide – "Chromoplastic" – 5:05# 808 State – "Mondonet" – 4:51# Banco de Gaia – "Kincajou" – 6:34...
- October 1994 - Volume TwelveVolume TwelveVolume Twelve is the twelfth issue of Volume magazine, which was published in December, 1994.-Track listing:# Node – "Olivine" – 7:47# Spiritualized – "Good Times " – 5:41# Goya Dress – "Foetus" – 3:59# Garbage – "Vow" – 4:31...
- December 1994 - Trance AtlanticTrance AtlanticTrance Atlantic is the first compilation album in the Trance Atlantic series, which was released by Volume magazine in January, 1995.-Disc one:# Spacetime Continuum – "101 South Of Heaven" – 7:22...
- January 1995 - Volume ThirteenVolume ThirteenVolume Thirteen, dubbed "The Lucky Issue", is the thirteenth issue of Volume magazine, which was published in 1995.-Track listing:#Krispy 3 – "Listen Up" – 3:56#Whiteout – "Polyesther Blues" – 3:52...
- 1995 - Wasted: The Best of Volume, Part IWasted: The Best of Volume, Part IWasted: The Best of Volume, Part I is a compilation album produced by Volume magazine in early 1995.-Disc one:# The Orb – "Reefer Spin in the Galaxy – 4:56# Cabaret Voltaire – "Low Cool" – 5:22...
- 1995 - Sharks Patrol These Waters: The Best of Volume, Part IISharks Patrol These Waters: The Best of Volume, Part IISharks Patrol These Waters: The Best of Volume, Part II was the second best-of compilation by Volume magazine, which was released in 1995.-Disc one:# Drugstore – "Super Glider" – 1:32# Love Spit Love – "Wake Up" – 3:31...
- May 1995 - Trance Europe Express 4Trance Europe Express 4Trance Europe Express 4 is the fourth release by Volume magazine in the Trance Europe Express series. It was released in July 1995.-Disc one:# Deadstock – "Octarine" – 8:12# Fluke – "Synth Bit" – 5:51...
- July 1995 - Volume Fourteen: Reading 95 - August 1995
- Trance Atlantic 2Trance Atlantic 2Trance Atlantic 2 is the second release by Volume magazine in the Trance Atlantic series. It was released in October 1995.-Disc one:# Jamie Myerson – "Heartsong" – 8:25# K...
- October 1995 - Volume FifteenVolume FifteenVolume Fifteen is the fifteenth issue of Volume magazine. It was published in November, 1995. The package was subtitled Technology Alert!, and included a CD-ROM, it, which contained several short avant-garde Flash animations.-Disc one:...
- November 1995 - TEXturesTEXturesTEXtures is a DJ mix album from Volume magazine which was released in April, 1996. It is a double-CD release of two different sets, composed of material from the first four Trance Europe Express releases...
- April 1996 - Volume SixteenVolume SixteenVolume Sixteen, dubbed "Copulation Explosion!", is the sixteenth issue of Volume magazine, which was published in 1996. The package includes an extra disc, which has a few more music tracks, plus it2, a cross-platform CD-ROM section which contains video files of some animations.-Track listing:#...
- July 1996 - Trance Europe Express 5Trance Europe Express 5Trance Europe Express 5 is the fifth release by Volume magazine in the Trance Europe Express series. It was released in November 1996. This was the last of the Trance Europe Express series.-Disc one:...
- November 1996 - Volume SeventeenVolume SeventeenVolume Seventeen is the seventeenth and final issue of Volume magazine, which was published in January, 1997. It was a double-CD release, and included it3, a cross-platform CD-ROM section.-Track listing:# Alabama 3 – "Woke Up This Morning" – 6:46...
- January 1997
The Trance... albums concentrated exclusively on electronic music. Of the two "best of" compilations, Wasted rounded up electronic/dance tracks, while Sharks Patrol These Waters concentrated on guitar-based bands.
A 12" and CD single were also released (without a booklet, though the 12" came with a tropical fish poster) to promote the two "Best Of" compilations. The single contained "Belfast/Wasted" by Orbital
Orbital (band)
Orbital are a British electronic dance music duo from Sevenoaks, England consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. Their career initially ran from 1989 until 2004, but in 2009 they announced that they would be reforming and headlining The Big Chill, in addition to a number of other live shows...
from Wasted and "Innocent X" by Therapy?
Therapy?
Therapy? is an alternative metal band from Northern Ireland. The band was formed in 1989 by guitarist–vocalist Andy Cairns from Ballyclare and drummer-vocalist Fyfe Ewing from Larne, Northern Ireland. The band initially recorded their first demo with Cairns filling in on bass guitar...
from Sharks Patrol These Waters.
External links and references
- A thorough discography and track listing
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2007/oct/10/guardianobituaries.obituaries1 Obituary: Rob Deacon (Robin Gibson and Sarah Champion, The Guardian, Wednesday 10 October 2007)