We examine Hospital Records.

Potted history
In 1995, Tongue & Groove, the street soul label established by Tony Colman and Chris Goss as a “mini Talkin’ Loud”, was in poor health. Afflicted by the advent of “45bpm head-nodding bedroom music” in Chris’ words – trip-hop to you and me – the pair decided they needed a transplant of energy from the drum ‘n’ bass scene that surrounded them in North London.

Inspired by tunes like Alex Reece’s Pulp Fiction and the infamous Metalheadz’ Sunday Sessions at the Blue Note, the pair established two labels for their own music and art. Despite well-received albums from the Funky Homosapiens, their house-orientated imprint Galactic Disco Music fell by the wayside. But, unlike the NHS, their drum ‘n’ bass label Hospital provided a reliable service to junglist patients.

The release that really made their name was Song In The Key Of Knife from Tony and Chris’ London Elektricity project in 1999. Caned by the likes of Doc Scott and Fabio, it introduced a new depth of musicality to drum ‘n’ bass which reflected the pair’s soul and house backgrounds – Tony as a member of jazz funksters IZIT and Chris’ time behind the counter at Soho’s Soul Jazz. That was carried to its logical conclusion on their debut long-player Pull The Plug and, while Chris then left London Elektricity to focus on the label, Tony transformed the group into a full live band, resulting in 2003’s Billion Dollar Gravy LP and a UK and festival tour.

Chris, meanwhile, sought out acts from across the board for Hospital - signing the ethereal but energetic drum ‘n’ bass DJ High Contrast from Cardiff, and the two-step influenced bossa nova and breakbeats of Landslide, amongst others. The results of this treatment can be seen when the bandages fall away from their Out Patients 3 compilation released in early July.

Chris Goss on the Hospital ethos
“We only put out music we feel is absolutely essential, because it’s very easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you’ve got to release something every month even though your heart’s not in it. There are certain trademark Hospital sounds – a warm feeling, a fat bottom-end and a sense of soul – whether it’s at 95bpm or 190. But the most important thing for us is that it has to be saying something and giving something back to the melting pot of sounds that has inspired Hospital since day one.” Paul Clarke 04 July 03

Out Patients 3, released 07 July 03 on Hospital Records.

useful links: www.hospitalrecords.com