For a record label to last 15 years it has to have something, right? Some continuity or lasting appeal that stretches beyond that simple artistic need for a base to release music from. For Dial that might be the stability of the roster it has slowly, carefully built itself. Lawrence, John Roberts, Carsten Jost, Efdemin, Panthu Du Prince, Pawel. This is a stable of house and ambient lovers that have tended to remain deep, well composed and artistic in terms of their approach as well as their output, and the continual curatorial concern has always translated into work that can be taken as a long-term investment. With the right mood classy, continental deep house is always a relevant currency, and few have done it so well for so long.
DJ Richard, Roman Flügel, John Roberts, Lawrence and more feature on the Hamburg label’s 15th anniversary compilation.
For an artist that has been prolific since the 90s from underground experiments to chart topping festival bangers, it was remarkable how much Roman Flügel’s first album under his own name, 2011’s Fatty Folders, affirmed his reputation amongst the upper echelons of electronic auteurs. It was perhaps one of the first chances to hear the German mainstay cut free of specific conceptual motives (from the refined minimal house of Roman IV to the rabble-rousing techno of Alter Ego) and deliver an album that seemed to come from a more personal artistic mindset. There was still a strong narrative to latch on to, but the expression within the music seemed to come from a more heartfelt place.
The much loved German producer will release Happiness Is Happening through Dial in September.
It’s hard to argue that John Roberts has enjoyed something of a runaway success since he broke through with his Glass Eights debut album back in 2010. Prior singles on Feel Music and Dial had been well received, but the adulation heaped upon that first long player was nigh on unanimous, and deservedly so. That’s not to say that Roberts has in anyway been seen to cynically capitalise on such an achievement, far from it.
John Roberts will release his second album Fences through regular haunt Dial Records in May.
We have a pair of tickets to give away to Broken & Uneven’s forthcoming Dial Records showcase, featuring Pantha Du Prince, John Roberts, Efdemin and Roman Flugel.
Great news: John Roberts will return to the release fray with the Paper Frames EP, due out next month on regular haunt Dial.
The Buzzin’ Fly imprint overseen by Ben Watt has delivered unto us a pair of tickets for their forthcoming Christmas party at a SE London venue which features the Dial Records cognoscenti and Dalston fixtures Disco Bloodbath.
Efdemin (aka Phillip Sollmann) made a stunning return to the production fold this year with his Chicago LP, the follow up his eponymous 2007 debut. Released on the generally excellent Hamburg imprint Dial, it was a fine exploration of jazz, minimalism, deep house, and, erm, Bart Simpson samples. We caught up with the German producer to find out what was in his record bag this month, and were highly impressed with what we found. Actress, Moodymann, Jus-Ed and more feature…
German producer Pantha Du Prince, the first ever techno act to be signed to the inimitable Rough Trade label, will release an album on the imprint in February 2010.