Warp: Labels Unlimited

by Rob Young, Adrian Shaughnessy (Contribution by)

Warp is the first in a series of illustrated volumes under the title Labels Unlimited, surveying record labels whose innovative practices have stamped their identity on musical styles and shaken up the recording industry.

Since its foundation in 1989, Warp Records has become a synonym for futuristic adventures in sound and vision, from ‘intelligent’ techno to progressive hip-hop and adventurous rock. Warp tells the story of how a small Sheffield dance label grew to foster an international range of artists. including Aphex Twin, Autechre, Boards Of Canada, Broadcast, Vincent Gallo, LFO, Nightmares On Wax, Plaid, Prefuse 73, Squarepusher, Jimi Tenor and Tortoise, eventually adding film production to its list of credits with Chris Cunningham, Chris Morris, and Shane Meadows.

Coinciding with the rise of the internet as well as radical new music and multimedia technologies during the 1990s, which placed artistic control directly in the hands of musicians, Warp’s worldwide success had much to do with its unique relationship to its artists and a determination to remain independent and in control of its own destiny. Warp features interviews, unseen photos, documents, press releases and artefacts from the label’s lifespan as well as an essay on Warp’s artwork by Adrian Shaughnessy and a complete discography 1989-2005.

Genres: Music

188 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2005

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent look at the Warp label. To date it's the only decent one too!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pictures are nice, but the book is made up of mini essays that often repeat themselves, making it feel a bit disjointed. Chapters start on one artist but quickly jump to another, only for the next chapter to continue the previous chapters subject for a page and then discard it again. I would have preferred dedicated chapters to the artists rather than the way it jumps around.

As others have mentioned, since the book came out a lot has happened so it's fairly out of date, but it gives a good idea of the early years at Warp and their first ten years or so.

[Nic Margett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book, I'm a big fan of the majority of Warp's output and this has given me plenty more ideas of what to hunt out and listen to. Being written in 2005, this lacks the more recent releases from the label, but there's still plenty of history worth reading about. The artwork and the design layout really add to the appeal too.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have early nineties nostalgia and this book is filling a void within my scope of vision. I heard Squarepusher on NPR in 1995/6. It made my brain explode. I never got into jungle/drum'n'bass, but some of that IDM stuff is OK. I like Beans and Flying Lotus A LOT.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was good and fast. not too exhaustive, just informative enough. good to hold, smelled ok, made me want to be a raver in the early 90s like nothing else.

[Chris S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous book. As a Sheffiled native that grew up on Aphex Twin etc, the book also has a deeper connection to me. Worth it just to see the brilliant label artwork too.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love autechre and i like the 90's. i liked this book

[Gary Fowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but not exactly great either. Very surface, never manages to get to the heart of what makes Warp, Warp. Massively out of date too since it only goes up to 2005.

[Harry]

Would love to read this! If anyone fancies selling for a reasonable price, please get in touch!

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book of this monumental label