There is a treasure trove of small labels across the world who put out great music that isn’t considered financially viable enough for major labels. Great music that has a niche audience of a few thousand (and maybe more – majors generally aren’t interested if the band don’t have the potential to shift 10s of thousands of units). The labels often work closely with artists and designers to produce spectacular results. My friends and I refer to it as the “factory model”, as I’m sure many others do, based on the work on Factory Records. They started small and worked closely with designers such as Peter Saville (who defined the label visually from the very beginning). They were more than a record label, Factory Records produced concepts that helped define a generation, not only of Mancunians but of many Brits as well. A good record label can revolutionise.
With that rather verbose intro over it is my intention to hunt out the record labels that may well be considered a long side Factory Records in the future but for my generation and yours. These labels produce great products in spite of the ease of which they could release something only as an mp3 – the result of which reduces artwork to a 100px x 100px in the corner of a screen. These labels aren’t sticklers for tradition – they’re forward thinking agencies that recognise that the Record or CD itself is all part of the love affair people have with the band.
So to Fool House. A label that seems to ooze style in all aspects. They’re an imprint of infamous french blog Fluokids. Known for posting some of the coolest mp3s on the internet, hosting the coolest parties and after show events: you could blame them for new-rave but that wouldn’t be quite fair. With their set-up it would have been easy to launch an mp3 only download service; it takes about 3 clicks but as stated earlier this is a label that recognises that the product is as important as the music. Instead they’re combining both – physical releases accompanied by digital releases; additional remixes typically.
The artwork that accompanies their releases is a collaborative effort between graphic designer David Lamothe and photographer Gala Collette. Each record is released as a super limited 500 only 12 inch pressing.
Their first EP (pictured above), released back in October, contains four tracks by Mondkopf (including a remix by the legendary I:Cube). The artwork reminds me of something Storm Thorgerson may have come up with in that the artwork draws you in by not telling the whole story.
Their second EP release, released just over a month ago in January, contains two tracks by 33Hz plus a remix by The Shoes and Boombass (one half of Cassius). The artwork, similar in its moment in time snapshot to the first EP, is minimalist in its imagery but appearing to be the same high design a magazine like Wallpaper* is full of.
Their upcoming release is for Delorean, a group based in Barcelona, and is known as the AyrTon Senna EP. I’ve yet to discover what tracks it will contain and as far as I’m aware the artwork has yet to appear but I have little doubt that it will be worthy of owning.
Fool House then, a label with great promise, releasing great music with great artwork in super limited quantities – what’s not to love?
