Lo Recordings: Label of the Week

Lo Recordings: Label of the Week

13 October, 2007 | 7.08AM

• Written by: Terry Church
• Filed under: Music News: cornwall, jean jacques perry, label of the week, lo recordings, luke vibert, milky disco, milky globe, susumu yakota

We couldn’t help but notice the plethora of music popping out of Cornwall’s Lo Recordings.

And it’s not just the quantity, it’s the sheer quality.

A modern interpretation of disco is presented on the ‘Milky Disco’ compilation, electronic mastermind Luke Vibert collaborates on an album with Jean Jacques Perry, an off-kilter dance journey gets started with Milky Globe and a mesmerizing new collection on its way by Japan’s production master Susumu Yakota brings the point home.

Fortunately, we were able to catch up with Jon Tye, frontman for Lo.

He answered some of our inquiries, and we’re now confident that as good as it is now, the best just might be yet to come.

If you had to choose a motto for your label, what would it be?

Keep calm and carry on.

It’s a poster on the wall in the studio, and when all seems lost it’s the only thing to do.

Lo has released quite a diverse array of albums over the last month or so. What brought you to Susumu Yakota, a modern idea of disco, analogue with Luke Vibert with Jean Jacques Perry, dub and ‘Milky Disco’ all at the same time? They all have a seemingly different feel.

[Susumu Yakota artwork for ‘Skintone Collection’, right]

I think they’re all connected — the connections just might not be that obvious.

They all have a disco connection (in the broadest sense of the word), feature moogs in some shape or form or have a cosmic angle.

It’s all what I call “music for freaks”.

With ‘Milky Disco’ in particular, where did the idea originate of a compilation for Nu Disco?

It’s the most interesting area of electronic dance music at the moment, and crosses over into areas of krautrock and cosmic music, which I’ve been interested in for a long time.

Plus, it’s more fun to play to 2000 people dancing than 50 men stroking their chins in an experimental venue.

I don’t find most experimental music to be experimental any more; it’s just doing the same thing over and over.

How do you choose the artists that you develop and support?

It mostly happens organically, with people we know or who are introduced to us by people we know or who get in touch because they like what we release.

Has there been a release or artist on your label has been under appreciated?

I think they’re all under appreciated!

How do you decide what constitutes a great release?

[Luke Vibert and Jean Jacques Perry ‘Moog Acid’ album artwork, right]

Sometimes, it’s only possible to tell in retrospect.

You can look back and say, “Wow, that was an amazing release that still sounds amazing!”

How do you recommend listening to music from Lo?

Vertical or horizontal is fine, in a state of intense euphoria.

How has the your approach changed since the label’s inception?

There’s less time for personal musical involvement, such as actually recording and producing music; it’s more virtual now.

What’s in store for the future of Lo?

More music, more surprises and deep cosmic vibrations.

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