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vex'd
planet mu label profile
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Planet of sound

Mike Paradinas’ Planet Mu imprint was born in 1998, at the height of the electronic music gold rush that saw anybody with a synth and a drum machine fancying themselves as the next Aphex Twin. Rather than adding to that era’s avalanche of sub-Autechre noodling, however, Paradinas took the high road with Planet Mu, sporadically releasing music from the cream of the electronic crop. Artists such as Capitol K, Jega, Leafcutter John, Luke Vibert and, of course, Paradinas himself, in his Kid Spatula, Tusken Raiders and Mu-Ziq guises. Alongside Skam and Warp, Planet Mu became a beacon of quality in an oversubscribed scene.


Label boss Mike Paradinas aka Mu-Ziq; Venetian Snares

Back to the streets

The last couple of years, however, have seen Paradinas guide his label in a somewhat different direction, steadily moving Planet Mu away from the hardcore electronica that made its name and towards a more (for want of a better word) urban sound, with drum’n’bass and dubstep now key elements in the imprint’s DNA. “That’s just the way my personal taste has gone, to be honest,” explains Mike. “And the change was perhaps also informed by the amount that certain things were selling. The electronic stuff just wasn’t that exciting to me and a lot of other people any more; there didn’t seem to be anything particularly new happening. So I was looking for new and exciting sounds, and, luckily, a lot of the new signings have been doing quite well.”

The new breed

These new Mu recruits include darkside dubstep duo Vex’d, Mancunian grime crew Virus Syndicate and psychedelic junglist Exile, all of whom have released astonishing albums in the last 12 months to widespread critical acclaim. And already there’s a new generation hot on their heels: big things are expected of Pinch, whose Qawwali single has been the from-nowhere dubstep hit of 2006, and Toronto’s 0=0, an experimental drum’n’bass artist who’s arrived at Planet Mu after wowing the jungle scene with a string of boundary-trashing 12-inches.


Uniform, Planet Mu 100: Sacred Symbols Of Mu

The big 100

“It’s good that we’re starting to be successful, after eight or so years,” says Mike. “We’re actually starting to make money at a time when a lot of other labels seem to be failing.” The upturn in Planet Mu’s fortunes has coincided with the label’s 100th release, the dizzyingly eclectic, budget-priced compilation Sacred Symbols Of Mu, featuring contributions from Mu associates both old and new. If you’re already a fan of this fearless, irreverent label, then it’s an essential purchase – and if you’ve yet to pay a visit to Planet Mu, here’s your one-way ticket. You’ll never look back.


Joe Madden 20 July 06

Five important tracks in the label's development

Jega - DMC (Spectrum ZIQ002)
Capitol K - Pillow (Island Row ZIQ018)
Rude Ass Tinker - U Can't Touch This (ZIQ025)
Venetian Snares - Defluxion (off ZIQ029)
Vex'd - Angels (Degenerate ZIQ115)

Five Planet Mu artists to watch out for

Tom Burbank - crunked out instrumental glitch hop from LA
Pinch - dubstep darkness from Bristol
The Doubtful Guest - acid doomcore
Mileece - wonderful organic natural compositions
Boxcutter - cosmic vibes with dub undertow

Various Artists – Sacred Symbols Of Mu - Tracklisting

Disc One
1. Unbearable Phatness Of Being - Dykehouse
2. That Track - Shitmat
3. Gnats – Tom Burbank
4. Chinaski RIP - Venetian Snares
5. Lesson - Leafcutter John
6. Neva - Virus Syndicate
7. Clikilik – Luke Vibert
8. Dumbfound - Daedelus
9. Punisher - Pinch
10. 9th Hand - Breakage
11. Traffic - Distance
12. More Than Anything - 0=0

Disc Two
1. 3rd Choice - Vex'd
2. Wergle The Proud - Mu-Ziq
3. Aerodynamic - Jega
4. Trampoline 4 - Gasman
5. Toronto VIP - Soundmurderer & SK-1
6. Chiral - Boxcutter
7. Luton Aiport Parkway - Chevron
8. Acid Rain VIP - Equinox
9. Cognac - Milanese
10. Lives With Angel - Last Step
11. Joyce Lang – Julian Fane
12. Tau – Mileece
 comments
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---continued from the previous-- post 2
comment by flyingtwinkle    Jul 21, 2006

Profile: Planet Mu was started in 1995 as an imprint on Virgin Records on which to release µ-Ziq and other, similar artists
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Profile: Planet Mu was started in 1995 as an impri post 1
comment by flyingtwinkle    Jul 21, 2006
Planet Mu is becoming one of the most respectful & exciting label in Electronic music (especially breakcore) releasing masterpieces such as recent Venetian Snares records
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boxcutter
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venetian snares
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