Since it was
formed in 1996 by founder Tony Colman, Hospital Records has gone on to become one
of the biggest movers and shakers in the world of bass music. Independently launched
with the vision of becoming the hub of the bass genre, the label is now home to
some of the most recognisable names within the Drum and Bass with High Contrast,
Camo and Krooked and Netsky to name but a few. The music has always been at the
centre of a project, which now contains franchises such as the successful ‘Med
School’ which budding artists are invited to sign to. Then there is the
infamous Hospitality club night which has torn up dance floors from its original
home of Brixton Academy to the surreal surroundings of Manchester’s Warehouse
Project. Fifteen years have passed by since Tony Colman had the enterprising
idea of launching
the label, so what next?
Fans of the
Drum and Bass genre will be aware of the impact that Hospital have had, whether
that be from giving artists access to studio space or the platform to perform
at Hospitality. Even in the early days of Goss and Colman, the vision was to
make the label the premiere destination for fans. With early influences of soul
and jazz giving listeners something they were not used to, the summer of 1999
saw the label pushed to the forefront of the scene following the release of
long player “Pull the Plug” by London Elektricity that really got heads
turning. Listeners now had a label that was ready to push the boundaries of a
genre that was dwindling
in popularity and was bored of constant pretentious
releases.
By 2002, Hospital
had signed High Contrast and with early releases and a strong debut in ‘True
Colours’ the label finally had the fan base that it required to take on an
industry that was increasingly in need of fresh talent. 2005 saw the signings
of Nu:Tone, Logistics, and Cyantific, they all become pioneers of the
sub genre of liquid funk. 2007 saw the release of a compilation album for the
first time and it was not until two years later that the label made their next
move in signing fresh Austrian and Belgian talent (Netsky and Camo).
To celebrate the 15 years that have passed since the label began,
a special anniversary compilation has been released that contains fresh remixes
and new songs from the artists who are signed to Hospital. After the amount of success
you could probably imagine that Goss and Colman would rest on their laurels, but
this
next year promises to be just as important as any that he presided it.
2012 is a
year that will no doubt be as frantic and successful as any other before it.
With major label players High Contrast, Netsky and Camo and Krooked all due to
release full albums in the first half of the year expect this to be the year
that the label breaks into the mainstream. Following the highly successful collaboration
with Tiesto, High Contrast has dropped his much anticipated single The Agony
and the Ecstasy which is a wonderful journey of both pain and joy that makes up
the wonderfully weird Welsh producers mind. Orchestral numbers, followed by dark
and meaningful sounds make for one hell of a single. This is one record label that is in it for the long haul and certainly won't be going anywhere quickly.
