Planet Mu was started in 1995 as an imprint on Virgin on which to release µ-Ziq and other, similar artists.
When it turned out that Virgin didn't do well in marketing this kind of music, Mike Paradinas set up the label independently in 1998. This is where the ZIQ... catalog numbers start.
Planet Mu walks the same way as Warp Records and Ninja Tune did - from home of great artists which establishes scene standards and trends to a mediocrity when you don't wait for a new release, often skip some, and if stop by occasion high chances it's gonna be a disappointment.
Crystal-clear this is one of those great labels in electronic music, full featured material in electronic music. I am a great fan of this label and the man behind it, a master in all wits.
Their issues never stop astounding me. A huge gratitude goes to the artists on this label and on all Electronic Labels whom without their help, music like this would never be snooped. Thanks, get pleasure from Music!!!
I think it's quite interesting how Planet Mu has appropriated dubstep as its new protege of sorts. Whereas Mu's contemporary Rephlex packaged up the sound in its 'Grime' compilations, and Warp dipped its toe in with Something J & DJ Maxximus' 'Mercedes Bentley Vs. Versaci Armani' - Planet Mu has gone all out of late.
Hawerchuck's first ep 'Camel Toe/Caned Peas' in 2004 appears to be the starting point of Mu's daliance with dub/grime sub sonics, albeit in an experimental manner. But since that time they have added act upon act to their rosta of dubaholics.
Now we get to experience the bass weight sonics of some of dubsteps heaviset hitters: Distance, Pinch, Benga, Mark One (Mu's first major dubstep signing, along with his Virus Syndicate project),Vex'd and even Loefah and Skream who provide remixes for Pinch's sub aqueous wobbler 'Punisher'.
Alongside these maestros we also bear witness to those producers who use dubstep as an influence upon their musical output such as: Boxcutter - Squarepusher style skitteriness meets dubstep, Milanese - glitchy-breakwhore- dubwise-grime and Neil Landstrumm - wobbly fuct-techno uberlord meets electrostep (interestingly enough Landstrumm has already had his ear to the sublow ground as can be heard on his own Scandanavia imprint release 'The Life Of Grime EP').
I think it's great that one of the most respected electronic music labels in existence is pushing this 'sound' forward. I suppose it is yet another example of Mike Paradinas' label being at the cutting edge of high quality electronic(a) experimentation.
They might not have been there at dubstep's infancy, but they are making a hell of an effort to be there for its formative years.
Definitely a rockin label, I'm no DJ or huge follower of EDM (my roots are more in mid-90s "IDM" if any electronic music), but Planet Mu looks to be playing quite excellently to both the experimental and dance crowds. From the recent Boxcutter and Vex'd (absolutely brilliant) releases, and the compendium of Remarc's classic works to their continually-issued license for Venetian Snares and Shitmat to do whatever they want, this label makes floorshaking releases as much as tasty & dense slabs for the indie kids to feed their brains. Gotta love their consistent packaging design, too, who ever cared about a little monotony for a solid feel.
Since about two years ago now, Planet Mu is becoming one of the most respectful & exciting label in Electronic music (especially breakcore) releasing masterpieces such as recent Venetian Snares records (Rossz Csillag Alatt Született, Meathole), first Exile album (Pro Agonist) or the fresh Frog Pocket disc (Gonglot) mixing incredible ambient melodies within manic noisy breaks.
thesub_jet
March 3, 2018