DFA Records

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For other uses, see DFA.
DFA Records
Founded 2001
Founder Tim Goldsworthy
James Murphy
Jonathan Galkin
Distributing label EMI
Genre Dance-punk, Electronic
Country of origin United States
Location New York, New York
Official website http://www.dfarecords.com

DFA Records is an independent record label with an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy and mutual friend Jonathan Galkin.

Contents

[edit] History

DFA Records began on a series of 12" single vinyl releases starting with The Rapture's "House of Jealous Lovers" and The Juan Maclean's "By The Time I Get To Venus" (ex Six Finger Satellite member John Maclean). Many of the early releases of DFA's catalog were released in Europe through Trevor Jackson's Output Recordings. The label has grown steadily since, inking distribution deals with EMI/Capitol and Astralwerks, and releasing a handful of full-length albums by its ever-growing roster of artists. Notable releases by the label include The Rapture's debut full length LP Echoes, the twice-Grammy nominated debut of James Murphy's band LCD Soundsystem and two compilations of tracks by LCD Soundsystem, The Rapture, Black Dice, Black Leotard Front and Pixeltan, among others.

As a production team, the DFA have produced and remixed artists including Radio 4, Le Tigre, N.E.R.D., Soulwax, Blues Explosion, Nine Inch Nails, Automato, Gorillaz, UNKLE, and The Chemical Brothers. On their DFA label, Murphy and Goldsworthy have also produced and released music by The Rapture, The Juan Maclean, Black Dice, Shit Robot, Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom, J.O.Y., Pixeltan, Black Leotard Front, Hot Chip, and LCD Soundsystem. The DFA frequently release compilation or remix albums featuring signed artists with the most recent release being The DFA Remixes - Chapter Two in October 2006 and the release prior being the The DFA Remixes – Chapter One.

In 2007 DFA Records started an imprint label entitled "Death From Abroad". This offshot is used to release 12" singles by artists not based in North America, such as Mock & Toof and ALTZ.[1]

The label's original name was Death From Above Records, dating from Murphy's nickname for the soundsystem he had helped build for Six Finger Satellite (whom he ran sound for) and a name which was deemed inappropriate for a New York City-based label after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

[edit] Name dispute

In 2004, DFA Records forced the Canadian duo Death From Above to change their name to Death from Above 1979. Murphy explained his side of the story in a 2005 interview with Pitchfork Media:

“ We knew about them for a long time, the name thing wasn't a big deal. It wasn't until they signed to a major label, which wouldn't release the record until we signed off on the name. That's how this all came about.... [Parent company of Death From Above 1979's label, Vice] Atlantic's not gonna release a record by a band with the same name as another entity in music.... We spent a lot of money because we didn't just wanna be total fucking assholes and just say no. We were trying to find a way for it to actually work.... I was like, "What the hell's wrong with Death From Above 1979?" But the copyright attorney was like, "No, that's not fine." And I said, "If they become a totally different name, and it delays their record, that's something I'm not comfortable with." So we just tried to make it work as well as possible.[2] ”

[edit] Sound and influence

DFA could be seen as the center of the dance-punk genre. As well as Murphy's LCD Soundsystem the label is currently home to The Juan Maclean, Hot Chip (North America only), Shit Robot, Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom, Prinzhorn Dance School, Booji Boy High, Shocking Pinks, Holy Ghost!, Hercules and Love Affair, Still Going and Syclops.

The Dance-punk genre is somewhat of a resurgence of New York's underground scene circa 1978-1982. The influence of bands like Talking Heads, Liquid Liquid, ESG, and Blondie can be heard throughout the DFA catalog. Rather than retread, however, the DFA have taken the live dance music of the time and infused the techniques and themes with a modern aesthetic--alternately faster, heavier, dubbier, noisier, and generally more intense than their influences. The DFA's trend towards live musicians and improvisation in dance music has spread in recent years to artists like Tussle, !!!, Out Hud, Moving Units and Tom Vek, and many established House producers have also begun to follow suit.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Label

[edit] Compilations

[edit] Production

The following outlines production credits to The DFA (Murphy and Goldsworthy), and is not a list of recordings released by DFA Records.

[edit] Remixes

  • "Deceptacon" (DFA remix) for Le Tigre, on Remix (Mr. Lady · 2001)
  • "Orange Alert" (DFA remix) for Metro Area, on "Dance Reaction" (Source · 2002)
  • "Dance to the Underground" (The DFA version) for Radio 4, on "Dance to the Underground" (City Slang · 2002)
  • "Emerge" (DFA version) for Fischerspooner, on "Emerge" (Capitol · 2002)
  • "Destination: Overdrive" (DFA remix) for Chromeo, on "Destination: Overdrive" (Turbo · 2003)
  • "Rise" (DFA remix) for Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom, on "El Monte"/"Rise" (DFA · 2003)
  • "In a State" (DFA remix) for UNKLE, on "In a State" (Mo' Wax · 2003)
  • "Shake Your Coconuts" (DFA mix) and (DFA Instrumental mix) for Junior Senior, on "Shake Your Coconuts" (Atlantic · 2003)
  • "Sister Saviour" (DFA remix) and (DFA remix instrumental), and "Echoes" (DFA remix) for The Rapture, on "Sister Saviour" (Output · 2003)
  • "Sunplus" (DFA remix) for J.O.Y., on DFA Compilation #2 (DFA · 2004)
  • "Get Up/Say What" (DFA remix) for Pixeltan, on "Get Up/Say What" (single) (DFA · 2004)
  • "She Wants to Move" (DFA remix) for N.E.R.D., on "She Wants to Move" (Virgin · 2004)
  • "Mars, Arizona" (DFA remix) for Blues Explosion, on "Crunchy" EP (Mute · 2005)
  • "Dare" (DFA remix) for Gorillaz, on "Dare" (Parlophone · 2005)
  • "Another Excuse" (DFA remix) for Soulwax, on "NY Excuse" (PIAS · 2005)
  • "The Hand That Feeds" (DFA remix) for Nine Inch Nails, on "The Hand That Feeds" (DFA remixes) and "Only" (Interscope · 2005)
  • "Just Like We (Breakdown)" (DFA remix) for Hot Chip, on "Over & Over"/"Just Like We (Breakdown)" (Astralwerks · 2005)
  • "Smiling Off" (DFA remix) for Black Dice, on "Smiling Off" (DFA · 2005)
  • "The Boxer" (DFA Version) for The Chemical Brothers, on "The Boxer" (Virgin · 2005)
  • "(Far From) Home" (DFA remix) for Tiga, on "(Far From) Home" (PIAS · 2006)
  • "Colours" (DFA remix) for Hot Chip, on "Colours" (EMI · 2006)
  • "Slide In" (DFA remix) for Goldfrapp, on "Fly Me Away" (Mute · 2006)
  • "Relevee" (DFA remix) for Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom, on "Revelee" (DFA · 2006)
  • "Springfield" (DFA Remix) for Arthur Russell, on "Springfield" (Audika · 2006)
  • "My Love" (DFA Remix) for Justin Timberlake, on "My Love" (Zomba · 2006)
  • "Frontline" (DFA Remix) for Captain, on "Frontline" (EMI · 2006)
  • "Paper Planes" (DFA Remix) for M.I.A. on Paper Planes (Homeland Security Remixes) - EP (XL - 2008)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ *Maher, Dave. "DFA Spawns New Label: Death From Abroad", Pitchfork, August 8, 2007. 
  2. ^ *Sylvester, Nick. "Jukebox: James Murphy", Pitchfork, May 9, 2005. 

[edit] External links

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