Ten From 2014 #1: Labels

Great labels often go under-appreciated at this time of year as countless records are arranged into lists, debated and rearranged, so in the first part of our year in review series we’ve picked out 10 that have excelled in the last 12 months, outlined their best releases and delved into why they deserve their place in the mix…

Editions Mego

Notable Releases In 2014: Kevin Drumm – ‘Trouble’, Fennesz – ‘Bécs’, LCC – ‘d/evolution’

Peter Rehberg’s label is always reliable, but 2014 may have been Mego’s most prolific year to date, with Oren Ambarchi, Angel., Kevin Drumm, Fennesz and LCC among those to have new efforts released. One of the label’s strengths has always been to mix established experimentalists with new names and that has continued this year, with LCC’s debut full-length being a particular highlight. Russell Haswell & PAIN JERK’s collaboration, meanwhile, left me scarred.

Erased Tapes

Notable Releases In 2014: Douglas Dare – ‘Whelm’, Kiasmos – ‘Kiasmos’, A Winged Victory for the Sullen – ‘Atomos’

‘Atomos’, the follow up to A Winged Victory for the Sullen’s emotive debut, may well be the finest thing released this year and Erased Tapes deserve plenty of credit for giving them a home. Douglas Dare’s debut was also an impressive addition to their output, as was the Kiasmos self-titled LP, a collaboration between Olafur Arnalds and Janus Rasmussen. A lovely EP from Lubomyr Melnyk was a nice way to end 2014, too.

The Flenser

Notable Releases In 2014: Have a Nice Life – ‘The Unnatural World’, Mamaleek – ‘He Never Spoke a Mumblin’ Word’, Work & Reference – ‘Want’

The Flenser has really delivered the goods this year. Have a Nice Life’s long-awaited follow up to ‘Deathconsciousness’ was an impressive start but only the first of many. Botanist, Planning for Burial, Mamaleek and Wreck & Reference had all put out great albums on the imprint before the bizarrely brilliant new Kayo Dot effort emerged recently. More great things expected next year.

Jagjaguwar

Notable Releases In 2014: Foxygen – ‘… And Star Power’, Angel Olsen – ‘Burn Your Fire for No Witness’, Sharon Van Etten – ‘Are We There’.

Jagjaguwar in 2014 was all about two very special releases by two very special singer-songwriters. First, in February, came Angel Olsen’s (pictured, main) sublime ‘Burn Your Fire for No Witness’. Then, three months later, Sharon Van Etten delivered her finest effort to date in the shape of the tremendous ‘Are We There’. Those two releases aren’t all the label have delivered in 2014 – there have been fine efforts from Foxygen and Pink Mountaintops as well – but they earn Jagjaguwar a place on this list.

Kranky

Notable Releases In 2014: Anjou – ‘Anjou’, Grouper – ‘Ruins’, Loscil – ‘Sea Island’

Kranky has been in fantastic form this year. The two key highlights arrived late in the year, with Loscil’s finest to date, ‘Sea Island’, following hot on the heels of ‘Ruins’, the latest dose of bleak ambient heartbreak from Grouper. Records by Anjou, Christopher Bissonette and Tara Jane O’Neil also stood out from the crowd. Another excellent year by a label that consistently releases some of the finest experimental music around.

Mute

Notable Releases In 2014: Ben Frost – ‘A U R O R A’, Liars – ‘Mess’, Swans – ‘To Be Kind’

Legendary independent label Mute has had a great 2014. Snapping up the new Swans album alone probably earned them a place on this list, but when you add in the quantity of other great records they have put out this year it becomes clear that the label has enjoyed a new lease of life. Diamond Version, Ben Frost, Land Observations, Liars and Yann Tiersen are just some of those to have also released good things on Mute in 2014.

Planet Mu

Notable Releases In 2014: Ekoplekz – ‘Unfidelity’, Ekoplekz – ‘Four Track Mind’, Ital – ‘Endgame’

Yes, there are two Ekoplekz releases here, but the guy has been in such fine form that it would be churlish to deny Planet Mu a place on this list purely because one man dominated their 2014. Nick Edwards aside, there have also been excellent records from Heterotic and Ital on Mu this year, as well as a return to form (of sorts) from Venetian Snares.

Profound Lore

Notable Releases In 2014: Old Man Gloom – ‘The Ape of God’, Pallbearer – ‘Foundations of Burden’, Wold – ‘Postsocial’

Profound Lore should be in every best label list every year. That’s how good they are at picking their releases and any label that puts out Avichi, Monarch, Old Man Gloom, Pallbearer and Wold in one year deserves a big pat on the back. That’s without mentioning the viciously brilliant new Full of Hell & Merzbow collaboration, and Artificial Brain, and… oh, you get the picture. The home of aural ferocity.

Southern Lord

Notable Releases In 2014: Baptists – ‘Bloodmines’, Earth – ‘Primitive and Deadly’, Electric Funeral – ‘Total Funeral’

A doom claw to Greg Anderson. Southern Lord have done great business in 2014. The horrifically violent Electric Funeral discography release may have been a highlight but new material has also been in good supply. Baptists and Matryrdöd brought the typical Southern Lord sound to the table, alongside Earth’s return and an excellent new effort from Today is the Day. There was also ‘Terrestrials’, the slightly underwhelming Sunn O))) & Ulver collaboration, which was a disappointment only as a huge fan of both bands. But at least Scott Walker wasn’t on it…

Warp

Notable Releases In 2014: Aphex Twin – ‘Syro’, Clark – ‘Clark’, Flying Lotus – ‘You’re Dead!’

So, Boards of Canada returned last year and this time around it was Aphex Twin who came back from the ether with ‘Syro’. It was a disappointing comeback, on a personal level, but thankfully Clark came in towards the end of the year and decimated most of the competition in the IDM sphere with his self-titled masterclass. Flying Lotus also returned with the so-so ‘You’re Dead!’, while Brian Eno & Karl Hyde also released two intriguing LPs on Warp.

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