This German label started its life in the 80s with the distribution of Italo dance. Later on, they switched to dance music in general. For me, ZYX was one of my favourite labels, because I was mixing CDs in the early-mid nineties.
1. When ZYX released a title on 12 inch, there was also a CD version of it, containing all the tracks the 12 inch had, plus radio versions. Other labels tended to replace one of the tracks of the 12 inch by a radio version, or drastically reduced the number of tracks to keep the total time under a certain limit. Or they simply only released the title on vinyl, not on CD. X Press 2 "London Express" (1993) was only available on CD maxi... in Germany, on ZYX! Not even Junior Boy's Own was eager to release a CD of it, even though the track was a bigger club hit in the UK than it was in Germany.
2. ZYX also released excellent compilations featuring two discs full of DJ friendly, unmixed, full length 12 inch versions. This ranged from commercial Super Dance compilations to the twenty volumes of "Techno Trax", Germany's harder-edged answer to Arcade's "Turn Up The Bass". Sure, there were some filler tracks on them but buying these comps was more cost-effective than just the CD maxi singles of the songs you liked. I also got in touch with tracks I would never have discovered otherwise.
3. ZYX licensed a lot of interesting tracks from non-German labels, most notably New York's Strictly Rhythm and the Italian U.M.M. Some of the German SR releases contain bonus mixes for the German market, not to be found on the original American SR vinyls. As I was following SR those days, this was a dream come true for me.
Sadly enough, it all had to end...:( During the late nineties, the label started to lose focus and the quality of their compilations got worse and worse... although their current Italo Disco Collection series is a sign of hope...
When it comes to electronic dance music. Few labels if not, none can be compared to the Behemoth ZYX Music is. There is a LOT of releases to be explored, even more when you factor in the fact that there are still ZYX releases that haven't been submitted on discogs yet. Quite a number of hidden gems in this label. There are also some labels were their releases were distributed by ZYX. (BOY Records, Planet Love, Techno Drome International to name a few.) Also, if it wasn't for ZYX, many of their issued CD releases licensed from a foreign label would never be released on CD. I depend on them in getting some really obscure tunes on CD from a small label that released all their catalogue in 12" only. It is also a godsend for people that collect styles like Disco and Eurodance. I'll always have a spot for ZYX in my musical heart...
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GoodNF
10 settembre 20151. When ZYX released a title on 12 inch, there was also a CD version of it, containing all the tracks the 12 inch had, plus radio versions. Other labels tended to replace one of the tracks of the 12 inch by a radio version, or drastically reduced the number of tracks to keep the total time under a certain limit. Or they simply only released the title on vinyl, not on CD. X Press 2 "London Express" (1993) was only available on CD maxi... in Germany, on ZYX! Not even Junior Boy's Own was eager to release a CD of it, even though the track was a bigger club hit in the UK than it was in Germany.
2. ZYX also released excellent compilations featuring two discs full of DJ friendly, unmixed, full length 12 inch versions. This ranged from commercial Super Dance compilations to the twenty volumes of "Techno Trax", Germany's harder-edged answer to Arcade's "Turn Up The Bass". Sure, there were some filler tracks on them but buying these comps was more cost-effective than just the CD maxi singles of the songs you liked. I also got in touch with tracks I would never have discovered otherwise.
3. ZYX licensed a lot of interesting tracks from non-German labels, most notably New York's Strictly Rhythm and the Italian U.M.M. Some of the German SR releases contain bonus mixes for the German market, not to be found on the original American SR vinyls. As I was following SR those days, this was a dream come true for me.
Sadly enough, it all had to end...:(
During the late nineties, the label started to lose focus and the quality of their compilations got worse and worse... although their current Italo Disco Collection series is a sign of hope...