Kompakt Records celebrates 500 releases

5 Minute Read

7856d650-be4e-4340-9cfe-c50503563882_1613520000

Music

The prolific German label is celebrating a significant milestone with the release of a compilation and book.

Kompakt Records has announced it will be celebrating its 500th release. The longstanding German label was founded in 1993 and has been at the forefront of dance and electronic music culture for more than thirty years having released some of the genres most definitive records across over three decades.

To celebrate the milestone the label has announced the release of an expansive compilation which features some of the most significant records to emerge on the label. It will be accompanied by a 144-page book that tells the story of Kompakt from 1993 to today with detailed text and images.

Kompakt Records was co-founded in 1998 by Wolfgang Voigt, Jürgen Paape, Reinhard Voigt, and Michael Mayer. The label emerged from the Delirium record store, which they opened in Cologne in 1993.

Michael Mayer has discussed the significance of the occasion for the record label.

“Fundamentally, Kompakt’s story is one of friendship, DIY ethics and courage. When we started out, we wanted to add a unique dialect to the universal world language that is electronic dance music. Family spirit and an unwavering curiosity to explore the spaces between the sacred 4 kickdrums laid the foundation for a modern subcultural fairy tale that has endured for more than three decades. Reaching catalogue number 500 is a milestone rarely reached in our fast-paced culture and calls for a deep look back at what we and all the great artists we’ve had the honour of working with have created. And what a journey it has been..”

Alongside the release of the compilation and book Kölnischer Kunstverein museum has invited the label to mark the occasion by showcasing the visual representation of the label in house as part of a special display.

More details and a full tracklist can be seen HERE.