disko404

disko404 is a collective from Graz founded in 2004 which after two compilation releases from the year 2012 manifested itself intensively as a label. Disko404 is operated by more than a dozen artists, promoters and Djs. Hence the label’s output reflects what the Austrian collective with their regional events and radio shows on the London station Sub.FM and the Austrian channel Radio Helsinki vouches for: diversity. “We as a crew are musically quite broad based. Therefore everything is available from ambient and experimental approaches, references to jazz and funk up to juke and jungle,” Simon/off explains, who has already released on the vinyl imprint. “Nevertheless, for us it’s along the lines of a common state of mind,” he further explains. Striking however is the closeness to British varieties of electronic music, which may seem surprising at first glance of a label established in Austria. [A big part of disko404 comes from the mid 90’s Jungle as well as Warp-, Planet µ- and Rephlex-styles” Simon/off explains. “This thread simply continues for us. Especially the UK-Hardcore continuum plays an important role.” This is also where some of the most exuberant resonance is coming from. With the first vinyl release, a split 12" between Sun People and Franjazzco, disko404 hooked onto the rising Juke-movement, Simon/off remembers. Positive feedback was heard from Addison Groove to Machinedrum to Chicago’s Teklife-Crew. Despite that the collective doesn’t want to assign itself to a certain genre, which wouldn’t even be possible considering the catchy advertisement-like artwork that ironically breaks with the indie-world’s self-promotion-mechanisms that are featured among others on eclectic releases by Fontarrian. With about a dozen members this would be hard to implement.