Readers Poll 2012- Best Label –
readers-poll-2012-best-label
December 26, 2012
ready
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# Readers Poll 2012- Best Label –
\[15.07.2021. Content warning: an [*article*][1] published by
J.-H. Kabuiku on July 9th 2021 points out Dominick Fernow's consistent
links with metal and noise artists, bands, labels and productions using
pedophilia and sexual violence imagery, listing a number of regular
collaborators explicitly affiliated with National Socialism and white
power ideology. More on this [*here*][2]*\]*
{: .p1}
The music industry is over, they said. The labels are dead, they said.
Well, they were wrong. However, to be a successful label in 2012 meant
you had to hold your balance on shifting sands, to diversify and reflect
how people engage with music in the 21st century and
also---crucially---possess flawless curatorial chops. The latter was
abundant in vanguard label [**4AD**][3], our Readers' Poll 2012 winner
for Best Label. One of the year's bigger surprises came when
they** **signed Miami's **[SpaceGhostPurrp][4] **for his debut
full-length, *Mysterious Phunk:* *Chronicles of SpaceGhostPurrp*, a
departure for a label more associated with forward-thinking guitar music
and art pop (but hey, Zomby's also on their roster, so... ) It was a
inspired acquisition---the inky murk of SpaceGhostPurp's sordid and
black-draped hip-hop meets a label who helped defined the baroque end of
post-punk. Such brave acquisitions were also bolstered by one of the
most impressive release schedules we've seen in a long while: **Scott
Walker**, **Purity Ring**, **Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti**, **Twin
Shadow**, **David Byrne and St Vincent**... All put out records through
4AD this year.
Second was another label with experience on their side. **[Ninja
Tune][5] **were responsible for introducing **Slugabed** to a wider
audience with the oozing boogie of *Time Team*, while **Lorn**'s second
album *Ask the Dust *quietly won 'heads over and south London
trio The Invisible upheld the label's reputation as
London's finest purveyor of leftfield electronica.
It won't surprise anyone to see Kiran Sande's **[Blackest Ever
Black][6] **making the cut. This label, perhaps more than any other,
summed up the gnawing atmosphere of bleakness and severity. Going
clubbing became a place of emotional purging; industrial, techno and
noise became indistinct as we were caught up in the death imperative: we
needed it harder and noisier and so very, very serious. It's hard to
counter how young the label is (Sande set it up in 2010) when this year
alone saw material coming from **Raime**, **[Cut Hands][7],** **Black
Rain** and Dominick Fernow's [Vatican Shadow][8] project. Incredible.
**[Tri Angle][9] **kept the momentum that they'd build up in 2011 right
through to 2012. They powered into the new year with new signing
Evian Christ and the Tri Angle showcase, part of CTM,
in Berghain last February was one of our favorite gigs of the
year. While the internet remains Tri Angle's primary dominion (see the
decision to keep *Kings and Them* available as a [free download][9],
even after its official vinyl release) the last 12 months also saw the
NY/London label edging into the mainstream: **AlunaGeorge** pierced the
BBC Radio 1 playlist and have made the [BBC Sound of '13 poll][10]. Can
they make it three years in a row?
Finally, we were overjoyed to see you enjoying the output of
[**PAN**][11] as much as we did. [Bill Kouligas][12]' boutique label was
responsible for some of our favorite releases including Heatsick's
Déviation EP and [Lee Gamble][13]'s double whammy of *Dutch
Tvashar Plumes *and the conceptual *Diversions 1994 -- 1996*. The
emphasis placed on sleeve design and production values, these were truly
records as artefacts, was a timely reminder of the importance of the
physical release.
**Electronic Beats Readers' Poll 2012 --- Best Label:**
1\. [4AD][14]
2. [Ninja Tune][5]
3. [Blackest Ever Black][6]
4. [Tri Angle][9]
5. [PAN][11]
6. [Young Turks][15]
7. [Mute][16]
8. [Planet Mu][17]
9. [Hotflush][18]
10. Hippos in Tanks
**The 5th** [prize][19]---a copy of Pet Shop Boys' exclusive "Winner'"
7inch single plus special catalogue---goes to **Meri Lehtinen, Tampere,
Finland.**
*Your favorite mixtape, compilation or DJ set of 2012 will follow on
Friday, December 28. Find [all poll results][20] in here.*
[1]: https://jeanhugueskabuiku.substack.com/p/about-vatican-shadow-link-with-the
[2]: https://www.electronicbeats.net/on-vatican-shadow-and-the-far-right/
[3]: http://4ad.com/
[4]: http://www.electronicbeats.net/2012/12/20/blackest-ever-god-daniel-jones-recommends-spaceghostpurrps-b-m-w-ep/
[5]: http://ninjatune.net/
[6]: http://blackesteverblack.blogspot.co.uk/
[7]: http://www.electronicbeats.net/2012/12/11/post-subcultural-noise-tomas-hemsted-recommends-cut-hands-black-mamba/
[8]: http://www.electronicbeats.net/2012/12/17/hate-techno-daniel-jones-recommends-hospital-productions/
[9]: http://tri-anglerecords.com/
[10]: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20607499
[11]: http://www.pan-act.com/
[12]: http://www.electronicbeats.net/2012/10/25/interview-bill-kouligas/
[13]: http://www.electronicbeats.net/2012/11/30/im-not-nostalgic-im-not-bleary-eyed-its-done-its-gone-an-interview-with-lee-gamble/
[14]: http://www.4ad.com/
[15]: http://theyoungturks.co.uk/
[16]: http://mute.com/
[17]: http://www.planet.mu/
[18]: http://www.hotflushrecordings.com/
[19]: http://www.electronicbeats.net/2012/12/01/readers-poll-your-best-of-2012/
[20]: http://www.electronicbeats.net/tag/eb-readers-poll-2012/ "ElectronicBeats.net: EB Readers’ Poll 2012"
---
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blueprint: article
title: 'Readers Poll 2012- Best Label –'
date: 2012-12-27T00:01:58+01:00
wp_id: '38258'
slug: readers-poll-2012-best-label
teaser_image: legacy/readers-poll-2012-best-label/Spaceghostpurrp-Mysterious-Phonk-electronic-beats.jpeg
contents:
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type: text
text: |-
<p class="p1"><i>[15.07.2021. Content warning: an </i><a href="https://jeanhugueskabuiku.substack.com/p/about-vatican-shadow-link-with-the"><i>article</i></a><i> published by J.-H. Kabuiku on July 9th 2021 points out Dominick Fernow’s consistent links with metal and noise artists, bands, labels and productions using pedophilia and sexual violence imagery, listing a number of regular collaborators explicitly affiliated with National Socialism and white power ideology. More on this </i><a href="https://www.electronicbeats.net/on-vatican-shadow-and-the-far-right/"><i>here</i></a><i>]</i></p><p>The music industry is over, they said. The labels are dead, they said. Well, they were wrong. However, to be a successful label in 2012 meant you had to hold your balance on shifting sands, to diversify and reflect how people engage with music in the 21st century and also—crucially—possess flawless curatorial chops. The latter was abundant in vanguard label <a href="http://4ad.com/"><strong>4AD</strong></a>, our Readers’ Poll 2012 winner for Best Label. One of the year’s bigger surprises came when they<strong> </strong>signed Miami’s <strong><a href="http://www.electronicbeats.net/2012/12/20/blackest-ever-god-daniel-jones-recommends-spaceghostpurrps-b-m-w-ep/">SpaceGhostPurrp</a> </strong>for his debut full-length, <em>Mysterious Phunk:</em> <em>Chronicles of SpaceGhostPurrp</em>, a departure for a label more associated with forward-thinking guitar music and art pop (but hey, Zomby’s also on their roster, so… ) It was a inspired acquisition—the inky murk of SpaceGhostPurp’s sordid and black-draped hip-hop meets a label who helped defined the baroque end of post-punk. Such brave acquisitions were also bolstered by one of the most impressive release schedules we’ve seen in a long while: <strong>Scott Walker</strong>, <strong>Purity Ring</strong>, <strong>Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti</strong>, <strong>Twin Shadow</strong>, <strong>David Byrne and St Vincent</strong>… All put out records through 4AD this year.</p><p>Second was another label with experience on their side. <strong><a href="http://ninjatune.net/">Ninja Tune</a> </strong>were responsible for introducing <strong>Slugabed</strong> to a wider audience with the oozing boogie of <em>Time Team</em>, while <strong>Lorn</strong>‘s second album <em>Ask the Dust </em>quietly won ‘heads over and south London trio<strong> The Invisible</strong> upheld the label’s reputation as London’s finest purveyor of leftfield electronica.</p><p>It won’t surprise anyone to see Kiran Sande’s <strong><a href="http://blackesteverblack.blogspot.co.uk/">Blackest Ever Black</a> </strong>making the cut. This label, perhaps more than any other, summed up the gnawing atmosphere of bleakness and severity. Going clubbing became a place of emotional purging; industrial, techno and noise became indistinct as we were caught up in the death imperative: we needed it harder and noisier and so very, very serious. It’s hard to counter how young the label is (Sande set it up in 2010) when this year alone saw material coming from <strong>Raime</strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.electronicbeats.net/2012/12/11/post-subcultural-noise-tomas-hemsted-recommends-cut-hands-black-mamba/">Cut Hands</a>,</strong> <strong>Black Rain</strong> and Dominick Fernow’s <a href="http://www.electronicbeats.net/2012/12/17/hate-techno-daniel-jones-recommends-hospital-productions/">Vatican Shadow</a> project. Incredible.</p><p><strong><a href="http://tri-anglerecords.com/">Tri Angle</a> </strong>kept the momentum that they’d build up in 2011 right through to 2012. They powered into the new year with new signing <strong>Evian Christ </strong> and the Tri Angle showcase, part of CTM, in Berghain last February was one of our favorite gigs of the year. While the internet remains Tri Angle’s primary dominion (see the decision to keep <em>Kings and Them</em> available as a <a href="http://tri-anglerecords.com/">free download</a>, even after its official vinyl release) the last 12 months also saw the NY/London label edging into the mainstream: <strong>AlunaGeorge</strong> pierced the BBC Radio 1 playlist and have made the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20607499">BBC Sound of ’13 poll</a>. Can they make it three years in a row?</p><p>Finally, we were overjoyed to see you enjoying the output of <a href="http://www.pan-act.com/"><strong>PAN</strong></a> as much as we did. <a href="http://www.electronicbeats.net/2012/10/25/interview-bill-kouligas/">Bill Kouligas</a>‘ boutique label was responsible for some of our favorite releases including Heatsick’s <em>Déviation </em>EP and <a href="http://www.electronicbeats.net/2012/11/30/im-not-nostalgic-im-not-bleary-eyed-its-done-its-gone-an-interview-with-lee-gamble/">Lee Gamble</a>‘s double whammy of <em>Dutch Tvashar Plumes </em>and the conceptual <em>Diversions 1994 – 1996</em>. The emphasis placed on sleeve design and production values, these were truly records as artefacts, was a timely reminder of the importance of the physical release.</p><p><strong>Electronic Beats Readers’ Poll 2012 — Best Label:</strong></p><p>1. <a href="http://www.4ad.com/">4AD</a><br>
2. <a href="http://ninjatune.net/">Ninja Tune</a><br>
3. <a href="http://blackesteverblack.blogspot.co.uk/">Blackest Ever Black</a><br>
4. <a href="http://tri-anglerecords.com/">Tri Angle</a><br>
5. <a href="http://www.pan-act.com/">PAN</a><br>
6. <a href="http://theyoungturks.co.uk/">Young Turks</a><br>
7. <a href="http://mute.com/">Mute</a><br>
8. <a href="http://www.planet.mu/">Planet Mu</a><br>
9. <a href="http://www.hotflushrecordings.com/">Hotflush</a><br>
10. Hippos in Tanks</p><p><strong>The 5th</strong> <a href="http://www.electronicbeats.net/2012/12/01/readers-poll-your-best-of-2012/">prize</a>—a copy of Pet Shop Boys’ exclusive “Winner’” 7inch single plus special catalogue—goes to <strong>Meri Lehtinen, Tampere, Finland.</strong></p><p><em>Your favorite mixtape, compilation or DJ set of 2012 will follow on Friday, December 28. Find <a title="ElectronicBeats.net: EB Readers’ Poll 2012" href="http://www.electronicbeats.net/tag/eb-readers-poll-2012/">all poll results</a> in here.</em></p>
---
Chunk #1 (Position: 0)
# Readers Poll 2012- Best Label – \[15.07.2021. Content warning: an [*article*][1] published by J.-H. Kabuiku on July 9th 2021 points out Dominick Fernow's consistent links with metal and noise artists, bands, labels and productions using pedophilia and sexual violence imagery, listing a number ...
Chunk #2 (Position: 1)
Kabuiku on July 9th 2021 points out Dominick Fernow's consistent links with metal and noise artists, bands, labels and productions using pedophilia and sexual violence imagery, listing a number of regular collaborators explicitly affiliated with National Socialism and white power ideology. More o...
Chunk #3 (Position: 2)
Such brave acquisitions were also bolstered by one of the most impressive release schedules we've seen in a long while: **Scott Walker**, **Purity Ring**, **Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti**, **Twin Shadow**, **David Byrne and St Vincent**. All put out records through 4AD this year. Second was...
Chunk #4 (Position: 3)
It's hard to counter how young the label is (Sande set it up in 2010) when this year alone saw material coming from **Raime**, **[Cut Hands][7],** **Black Rain** and Dominick Fernow's [Vatican Shadow][8] project. Incredible. **[Tri Angle][9] **kept the momentum that they'd build up in 2011 r...
Chunk #5 (Position: 4)
The emphasis placed on sleeve design and production values, these were truly records as artefacts, was a timely reminder of the importance of the physical release. **Electronic Beats Readers' Poll 2012 --- Best Label:** . 1\. [4AD][14] 2. [Ninja Tune][5] 3. [Blackest Ever Black][6] 4. [...
Chunk #6 (Position: 5)
Hippos in Tanks **The 5th** [prize][19]---a copy of Pet Shop Boys' exclusive "Winner'" 7inch single plus special catalogue---goes to **Meri Lehtinen, Tampere, Finland.** *Your favorite mixtape, compilation or DJ set of 2012 will follow on Friday, December 28. Find [all poll ...