Forgemasters (band)

Forgemasters was a British electronic music act composed of Robert Gordon, Winston Hazel and Sean Maher.[1][2] Their single "Track with No Name" was the first release by Warp Records[2][3][4][5][6] and would help define the sound of Warp and bleep techno.[5][7][8]

History

Robert Gordon, Sean Maher and Winston Hazel were colleagues in the FON record shop and studio in Sheffield.[9] Gordon was an engineer at FON Studio and co-founder of Warp Records. The name Forgemasters was taken from a local heavy engineering firm, Sheffield Forgemasters.[5]

Their single "Track with No Name" was the first release by Warp Records. It was of a techno subgenre, the primarily Sheffield based bleep techno, and written in four hours one evening at Gordon's home studio.[3][4][6][7] Dave Simpson, writing in Fact in 2012, described it as "driven by an eerie pulse, a sound which would soon be called a 'bleep' and become the distinctive signature of hardcore northern techno and, for its first two years, the sound of Warp."[5] Matt Anniss, writing for Resident Advisor in 2014, called it "one of the defining records of the era".[8]

Discography

Singles and EPs

  • "Track with No Name" (Warp, 1989) – released in association with Outer Rhythm
  • The Black Steel E.P. (Network, 1991)
  • Quabala EP (Hubba Hubba, 1992)

Singles with contributions by Forgemasters

  • "Network Retro #8: Back 2 Back Classics" (Network, 1993) – "Somebody New" by MK* / "Track with No Name (Communique Mix)" by Forgemasters

Compilation album appearances

  • Pioneers of the Hypnotic Groove (Warp, 1991) – includes "Track with No Name".
  • Warp 10: Influences, Classics, Remixes – Warp 10+2: Classics 89–92 (Warp, 1999) – includes "Track with No Name"
  • Rob Gordon Projects by Rob Gordon (Source, 1996) – includes "Clap Your Hands", "Metalic" [sic] and "Presence"

Remixes

  • "Man Machine (Cyber - Subsonik) mix", Man Machine (Outer Rhythm, 1989) – "Man Machine (Cyber - Subsonik)" and "Man Machine (Elektro - Genetik)" mixed by Forgemasters
  • "15 Inches+" (Rebuilt by Forgemasters) – The Wad (Earth, 1997). Included on 7 Hills Clash – Rebuilt EP
  • "Commercial Rain (Rub-A-Dub Mix)" – Inspiral Carpets (Mute, 1990). Included on "Commercial Rain"/"She Comes in the Fall (Remixes)"

See also

References

  1. ^ Young, Rob (2006). Labels Unlimited: Warp. London: Black Dog Publishing. p. 164. ISBN 1-904772-32-3.
  2. ^ a b Montesinos-Donaghy, Daniel (25 July 2014). "We Spoke to Winston Hazel About the Birth of Forgemasters". Vice Media, Inc. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  3. ^ a b "20 years of the Warp factor". The Independent. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  4. ^ a b Birke, Sarah (2 November 2007). "Label Profile: Warp Records". The Independent. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d "The secret history of Warp Records". Fact (UK magazine). 17 April 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  6. ^ a b Simpson, Dave (17 April 2009). "Bleep of faith". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Warp Special". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Bleep: The story of Britain's first bass revolution". Resident Advisor. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  9. ^ Richard King (2012). How Soon is Now?: The Madmen and Mavericks who made Independent Music 1975-2005. Faber and Faber. ISBN 9780571278329.