The label is constantly searching for new Spanish acts (though they have also worked with foreign bands) and those artists that have something new and interesting to say within the industrial/electronic/dark folk scene. Without Caustic’s perseverance, these artists would certainly not see their works published. Some of the other artists on Caustic's roster include: Der Blaue Reiter, Narsilion, Tannhauser, and HIV+.

Look for the first release in the United States via KGD Media this March. Entitled Electronic Manifesto: French & Spanish Dark Electro Alternative, this double-disc set is compiled by HIV+ and Dogme.

For more information about Caustic Records:
Website: http://www.causticrecords.com/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/causticrecords

The legendary German techno label is back!


The label Harthouse was founded in 1992 in Frankfurt/Offenbach by Matthias Hoffmann, Heinz Roth and the well known Frankfurt DJ, Sven Väth. Harthouse, in the early years from 1992 to 1997, was a sublabel of Eye Q Records and was a platform for young and up-and-coming artists. It was designed for a harder, more minimalist sound, the sound that didn't fit into line with Eye Q Records. Sven Väth commented: “We wanted to create a stage; a playground - even an experimental one - and I think we succeeded.” In the beginning, Harthouse defined a sound that today is well known as the “Sound Of Frankfurt,” a harder but danceable version of trance of hardhouse. In a very short time Harthouse became the “flag-ship” of German Techno. All was to change in 1997 however as artists were not paid and Sven Väth left the label. The firm moved from its vast office in Offenbach to Berlin. Two months later the firm was insolvent, and filed for bankruptcy. The artists could not be paid or were paid off with ridiculously small sums. The managing directors proved unwilling to comment on the reasons for the bankruptcy. However, the tremendous discrepancies between aims and reality are obvious: on one hand they wanted to be an underground German techno label, but on the other, they rented a multi story office that had yet to be paid for; they cut down sales expectations while the managing directors started to jet to their branch-offices in the UK and US. To all parties concerned it was obvious – this could not work out. Expansion was stopped fast enough but the move to a smaller office came little too late. Then in 2004, Daredo Music took over the rights to the Harthouse brand. Armed with a new strategy and new artists, this reincarnation directly follows in the footsteps of the old Harthouse sound and mythos!

The first release via KGD Media on Harthouse will be an artist album from ADJD; better known as Alexi Delano and John Dahlbäck, entitled Chronicles of the Urban Dwellers and to be released in the second half of March '07.

Geneva-based production duo Sumo was founded in 1999 by the Sumi brothers: Fred and Alex. They complement each other well: Fred is a bass player, composes, produces and mixes the music. Alex the guitar player, sings and writes the lyrics. Their music is always funk influenced, very warm and soulful. From 2000 to 2004 they released on their own label Chiz Records four vinyl EPs and their first album Before The Sun. All supported by international press and a wide-range of top international level DJs (Deep Dish, Gilles Peterson, John Digweed, Pete Tong, Roger Sanchez) as well as various tracks on international compilations such as Fashion TV, In House We Trust 4 and The House of Yo released on Yoshitoshi.

Rise is their highly acclaimed second album for Swiss electronic label Mental Groove and was mastered in New York by Tom Coyne (Jamiroquai, Sade, The Roots). More dancefloor oriented, this new album reflects the energy that the band reveals on stage with a funk groove close to their original musical roots while seducing clubs in Paris, London and New-York.

Sumo's Rise is available from the following retailers:

Amazon.com
Best Buy
CDUniverse.com
VirginMega.com

Or whereever fine independent music is sold!