Biography
Hospital Records is an independent record label based in South London. Primarily releasing Drum and bass, the label was started in 1996 by Tony Colman and Chris Goss, and has grown in recent years to become one of the most well known labels within UK dance music. The label is home to artists such as High Contrast, Netsky, London Elektricity, Danny Byrd, Camo & Krooked, Mistabishi, Logistics, Nu:Tone and Cyantific, but also releases tracks from a whole host of other artists across the DnB genre. From its HQ in Forest Hill, South London, Hospital also runs the more experimental label Med School, as well as publishing company "Songs In The Key Of Knife" and their worldwide events brand "Hospitality".
History:
In 1996, London Elektricity was the recording name of Goss and Colman. They released their debut album Pull the Plug in 1999. The first Outpatients compilation (2000) included appearances from Landslide, Marcus Intalex and Aquasky, and a mixture of jazz- and disco-influenced house, UK garage and breakbeat. Goss joined Colman to form the electronica-duo London Elektricity , but parted again in 2002 to focus on managing the label.
Hospital's early drum and bass output earned the label an underground fanbase, but it was London Elektricity's "Song in the Key of Knife", released in Spring 1998, that launched Hospital to the forefront of the scene. As London Elektricity, Tony and Chris' first long player "Pull The Plug" released in the summer of 99, received much critical acclaim and is still widely regarded as a classic album, using Jazz, Latin, and Soul influences far removed from the overlong and pretentious drum and bass albums of the time.
In 2001, Hospital signed Welsh producer High Contrast: he followed his debut with a series of strong releases and a well-received LP, True Colours in 2002, which helped push the label to the forefront of the scene. Although Chris Goss had parted London Elektricity, in 2003 the band released a second album with Tony Colman drawing in a range of musicians and vocalists and turned the project into a live band. Meanwhile, further signings Nu:Tone, Logistics, Landslide, Cyantific and in 2005 Q Project have bolstered their position as one of the biggest players in DJ-oriented liquid funk. In 2007 the label signed Mistabishi with his debut album 'Drop' which dropped in early 2009. Later that year High Contrast released a 'greatest hits' double CD with his tracks on one CD and his best remixes on the other. Hospital's first major compilation since 2007, Sick Music, was released in May 2009 featuring 21 artists. In September Logistics' third studio album 'Crash, Bang, Wallop!' was released. At the end of 2009 Hospital signed the Russian producer Subwave and the Belgium producer Netsky in the same month as the Future Sound of Russia compilation was released.
Podcast:
Tony Colman hosts the Hospital Records Podcast, which is available to download on iTunes. He is occasionally joined by a guest, sometimes a Hospital Records artist or an up-and-coming drum and bass artist. Tony often plays demos from budding producers on the podcast. Produced by Matt Riley at Hospital HQ the podcast has also won the BT Digital Music Award for Best Podcast in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The podcast recently reached 100 episodes which was marked with two special drum and bass request shows. In Early 2010 the podcast reached the top of iTunes UK's music podcast charts.
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