His third album, which reached number 24 in the UK Charts, was celebrated by critics for his growth as an artist, with NME calling it "a set of immense maturity that never rubs your nose in its thematic complexity, compositional innovation and thunderous thump-beats". The Cinematic Orchestra scored a new soundtrack, Man with a Movie Camera, for a screening of the visionary 1929 Russian silent feature, Man with a Movie Camera, for the 2000 Portuguese Film Festival Fantasporto.
Fatboy Slim, then of Beats International, the label lifted its moniker and aesthetic from the Japanese TV shows of the 1950s and 1960s based on the Ninja.
With Flexistentialism, Ninja was described as devising "a term that perfectly expresses the antitheses between chaos and order" Amon Tobin, meanwhile, was building groundbreaking drum and bass from 1950s big band drum battles.
Fatboy Slim, then of Beats International, the label lifted its moniker and aesthetic from the Japanese TV shows of the 1950s and 1960s based on the Ninja.
] Bush's speech into a pop hook ('Regrettably, we now believe/ That only force will make him leave') and interspersing quotes from Jello Biafra ('don't hate the media, become the media!') and Mario Savio's famous 1964 address to the Berkeley Free Speech Movement". Between 1994 and 1997 Ninja explored and defined the instrumental hip hop beats sound further (often known as trip hop).
Ninja artists especially looked beyond the normal sampling sources of old funk records into jazz, epitomised by Ninja act The Cinematic Orchestra. Coldcut's contribution to Britain's flourishing scene was solidified by their Solid Steel show on London's Kiss FM, on airwaves since 1988.
These arrangements of textures in different colorways were then sent to Bicep, who would select their highlights from each. The artwork for Young Fathers' 2018 album Cocoa Sugar was created by photographer Noni Julia & creative director Tom Hingston. == Partnerships == ===Solid Steel=== Pre-dating Ninja Tune is the radio show Solid Steel, which Coldcut set up in 1988 and joined at a later date by DJ Food and DK.
It was founded by Matt Black and Jonathan More, better known as Coldcut and managed by Peter Quicke and others. Inspired by a visit to Japan, Black and More primarily created Ninja Tune in 1990 as a means to escape the creative control of major labels, and to act as a vehicle to release music of a more underground nature, free from the restraints that were put on them via their brief stints with Arista and Big Life.
It has signed a diverse range of artists, and has created its own publishing company, Just Isn't Music, and finds innovative uses of software. The label's first releases—the first five volumes of DJ Food's Jazz Brakes—were produced by Coldcut in the early 1990s, and celebrated by the music press and beat aficionados.
With their first releases in the early 1990s, Ninja Tune went on to, according to Pitchfork, "usher in trip-hop/instrumental hip hop". After Coldcut's success with their first label, Ahead of Our Time, contractual issues prevented them from releasing anything under their own name.
DJ Krush, Silent Poets and Kid Koala, creating an album that flows without a hitch through the darkest hip hop and beat exploration. Throughout the 1990s, Matt Black began exploring his own interests in burgeoning computer and audio/visual technologies, to experiment with the VJ software and hardware that was already changing the Coldcut DJ performances.
His Hex collective – also featuring artist Robert Pepperell and programmer Miles Visman – produced video games and multimedia CD-Roms in the early 1990s, along with subsequent projects that further affirmed Ninja Tune's alliance with A/V disciples.
He soon became heralded for his unique delivery, which Pitchfork claimed one of the "addictive, compelling, and, above all, heartfelt". Having worked as an intern in the Ninja Tune office in the mid 1990s, Jason Swinscoe became an instrumental part of the team, and by 1998 he released his first 12" as The Cinematic Orchestra, Diabolus, shortly followed by the full length Motion.
DJ Food's Jazz Brakes series were intended as musical "food" or, in other words, source material for DJs and producers who worked with breaks and beats. In 1992, Peter Quicke stepped aboard as label manager, as did Patrick Carpenter, a.k.a.
] Bush's speech into a pop hook ('Regrettably, we now believe/ That only force will make him leave') and interspersing quotes from Jello Biafra ('don't hate the media, become the media!') and Mario Savio's famous 1964 address to the Berkeley Free Speech Movement". Between 1994 and 1997 Ninja explored and defined the instrumental hip hop beats sound further (often known as trip hop).
The title 70 Minutes of Madness was a nod to Coldcut's earlier Eric B & Rakim remix, and included sounds from Depth Charge, DJ Food, Plastikman, Mantronix, Harold Budd and the Doctor Who theme. In 1994, Matt Black's close friend Mixmaster Morris introduced Matt to Openmind – a DJ & design collective in Camberwell – at the Telepathic Fish chill-out club they were running.
Around the same time, Ninja Tune began organizing its first package tours across the UK and Europe. With their two 1994 albums, Paradise Blown and Electric Lazyland, 9 Lazy 9 helped spawn the funky, subterranean sound for which Ninja Tune would earn its early acclaim, combining hip hop and funk breakbeats with jazz-influenced sound.
It was the arrival of Kevin Foakes as in-house designer in 1994 that developed the logo to its current international recognition, and became largely responsible for some of the label's most iconic artwork.
Actress, Ben Casey and Gavin Weale in the early 2000s,[11] Werkdiscs released their first record in the summer of 2004. ===Ntone=== In 1994, Ninja Tune's first sister imprint was Ntone, a label that initially specialised in avant-garde music and in more electronically inclined ambience.
Its pioneering influence on the genre became more prevalent with the label's first compilation, Funkjazztical Tricknology, in 1995.
The show's 'everything but the kitchen sink' approach continued through Coldcut's "utterly brilliant" Journeys by DJ series of mix compilations in 1995.
Matt Black also invited Foakes to Ninja's recording studio, where he eventually joined the many hands at work on DJ Food's 1995 album, Recipe for Disaster (which also included Patrick Carpenter a.k.a.
The album was called a "whirlwind of beats put through the blender" and proved a good cross-selection of the group's various styles. In 1995, The Herbaliser, one of the more purely hip-hop oriented acts on Ninja Tune's roster at that point released their debut album Remedies.
Remedies brought both the group and the label much attention. Also in 1995, an album launch party for DJ Food's Recipe for Disaster was the beginning what would become a regular club night, Stealth.
As Funki Porcini, Braddell released Hed Phone Sex in 1995, which ran through a gamut of genres, from dub to drum and bass.
Stealth was named Club of the Year by NME in 1996, with guests including Kruder & Dorfmeister, Squarepusher, Ashley Beedle, James Lavelle, Kid Koala and the label roster.
Braddell continued to explore sonic territories on 1996's Let's See What Carmen Can Do EP and the Love, Pussycats and Car Wrecks album from the same year. DJ Vadim, a Russian born turntablist from London, who'd already released EPs on his own Jazz Fudge label, further expanded the vocabulary of instrumental hip hop with his 1996 album U.S.S.R.
The label's current website ninjatune.net was developed by the following year. Also in 1996, Ninja Tune expanded across the ocean, opening its Montreal office to manage distribution across North America.
on the 1996 Ninja 12" One Track Mind, Fin Greenall subsequently signed to the label as a solo artist, under the name Fink.
] Bush's speech into a pop hook ('Regrettably, we now believe/ That only force will make him leave') and interspersing quotes from Jello Biafra ('don't hate the media, become the media!') and Mario Savio's famous 1964 address to the Berkeley Free Speech Movement". Between 1994 and 1997 Ninja explored and defined the instrumental hip hop beats sound further (often known as trip hop).
His 1997 Ninja Tune debut, Bricolage, contains influences from drum and bass, hip hop, blues, jazz and samba, all digitally processed to create a sense of the bricolage suggested by the title.
The following year's immensely complex album, Permutation, saw Tobin creating electronic experimentation that retools d'n'b's basic structures to a practically surreal extent. In 1997 Stealth finished at the Blue Note (in Hoxton), and Ninja Tune's sister label Big Dada was launched.
Coldcut's fourth album Let Us Play! was released in September 1997, making its way to the Top 40, reaching No.
Being a freestyle eclectic mix, the weekly two-hour show was described by The Quietus as being "the past mashed with the present plus a dash of the future". In addition to Solid Steel, Ninja Tune has conducted regular podcast interviews with their roster under the name The Ninja Tune Podcast. ===Big Dada=== Hip hop label Big Dada was set up by journalist and writer Will Ashon in 1997.
The name came up in reference to Ashon's love of Kool Keith, who he'd described in print as the "Mac Dada", as a combination of mac daddy and Dadaism. Big Dada began releasing 12"'s in the summer of 1997, the first couple of which were produced by Luke Vibert.
Reconstruction followed in 1998, a remix album filled with hip hop that The Wire claimed "turns the air into molasses".
He soon became heralded for his unique delivery, which Pitchfork claimed one of the "addictive, compelling, and, above all, heartfelt". Having worked as an intern in the Ninja Tune office in the mid 1990s, Jason Swinscoe became an instrumental part of the team, and by 1998 he released his first 12" as The Cinematic Orchestra, Diabolus, shortly followed by the full length Motion.
Hex later evolved the software into the engine that was used on the Let Us Play! world tour. In 1999, Let Us Replay! was released, a double-disc remix album where Coldcut's classic tunes were remixed by Cornelius (the opener of the album, which was heralded as a highlight of the album), Irresistible Force, Shut Up and Dance, Carl Craig and J Swinscoe.
The CD-Rom of the album, which also contained a free demo disc of the VJamm software, was one of the earliest audiovisual CD- Roms on the market, and Muzik claimed deserved to "have them canonized...it's like buying an entire mini studio for under $15". In March 1999, Big Dada introduced Rodney Smith, a.k.a.
Scruff's Keep It Unreal was released in the summer of 1999.
Scruff?" At some point in 1999, the U.S.
The decision ended up in court in 2002, where arguments were advanced for freedom of speech, freedom of expression and to argue the double standards of the ban and fine. ===2000–2010=== In 2000, Ninja Tune celebrated its first decade of music with Xen Cuts, a three CD, 6 x LP box set that provided a collection of their artists.
The mostly downtempo affair featured the likes of Latyrx (Lyrics Born and Lateef), The Herbaliser, Kid Koala and Luke Vibert, Clifford Gilberto, Amon Tobin and Funki Porcini. Also in 2000, Kid Koala released Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, "a playfully arranged montage of quirky sound bites, rhythmic scratching and fluid hip hop beats".
His third album, which reached number 24 in the UK Charts, was celebrated by critics for his growth as an artist, with NME calling it "a set of immense maturity that never rubs your nose in its thematic complexity, compositional innovation and thunderous thump-beats". The Cinematic Orchestra scored a new soundtrack, Man with a Movie Camera, for a screening of the visionary 1929 Russian silent feature, Man with a Movie Camera, for the 2000 Portuguese Film Festival Fantasporto.
First releasing Fresh Produce – an atmospheric set of downtempo instrumental hip hop tracks – on sister label Ntone in 2000, it was 2006's Biscuits for Breakfast album that set Fink officially on Ninja Tune.
Known to construct some of the most energetic breakbeats of the late 2000s, the vinyl version of the album comes as four super-heavy platters, weighing nearly a kilogram. In 2008, an international group of party organisers, activists and artists – including Coldcut – received a grant from the Intelligent Energy Department of the European Union, to create a project that promoted intelligent energy and environmental awareness to the youth of Europe.
Actress, Ben Casey and Gavin Weale in the early 2000s,[11] Werkdiscs released their first record in the summer of 2004. ===Ntone=== In 1994, Ninja Tune's first sister imprint was Ntone, a label that initially specialised in avant-garde music and in more electronically inclined ambience.
Kid Koala cut two further highly acclaimed albums for Ninja, 2003's Some of My Best Friends Are DJs and 2006's Your Mom's Favorite DJ. In 2001, Roots Manuva delivered his second album, Run Come Save Me, which was deemed one of the albums of the year by The Independent, and "not just a landmark UK hip hop album, but a landmark hip hop album period" by Mojo.
Run Come Save Me won a nomination for the 2002 Mercury Music Award, and was called by The Times "Too maverick, too brilliantly original a talent to be tethered by mere genre or geography."missing ref Also in 2001 Cornwall's Luke Vibert joined Ninja Tune.
The decision ended up in court in 2002, where arguments were advanced for freedom of speech, freedom of expression and to argue the double standards of the ban and fine. ===2000–2010=== In 2000, Ninja Tune celebrated its first decade of music with Xen Cuts, a three CD, 6 x LP box set that provided a collection of their artists.
Run Come Save Me won a nomination for the 2002 Mercury Music Award, and was called by The Times "Too maverick, too brilliantly original a talent to be tethered by mere genre or geography."missing ref Also in 2001 Cornwall's Luke Vibert joined Ninja Tune.
Scruff's second album on Ninja Tune, Trouser Jazz, was released on 9 September 2002.
The material written for this film score laid the groundwork for what would be The Cinematic Orchestra's second full-length, Every Day, released in May 2002, and one of Ninja's best-selling albums.
Working as Openmind, Foakes has designed many of Ninja's album sleeves, including memorable covers for Amon Tobin, Coldcut and Funki Porcini's 2002 album Fast Asleep.
Kid Koala cut two further highly acclaimed albums for Ninja, 2003's Some of My Best Friends Are DJs and 2006's Your Mom's Favorite DJ. In 2001, Roots Manuva delivered his second album, Run Come Save Me, which was deemed one of the albums of the year by The Independent, and "not just a landmark UK hip hop album, but a landmark hip hop album period" by Mojo.
It charted at 29 on the UK Chart. In 2003, Simon Green, a.k.a.
The Bug's second album in 2003, Pressure, demonstrated a fully formed aesthetic – stark spaces, gleefully subsonic bass – holding collaborations with vocalists such as Toastie Taylor, Wayne Lonesome and Daddy Freddy.
Since then, Big Dada has become home of some of the most maverick, forward-thinking and innovative artists in hip hop and beyond, including essential British hip hop artist Roots Manuva (Mercury Prize nominee), Mercury Prize winner Speech Debelle, UK hip hop artist TY (whose 2003 Upwards album was also Mercury nominated).
A live version of Bonobo soon took to the road, which seeped into the production of 2006's Days to Come, an album that blurs the line between a programmed and live sound and created "a daydream vibe embedded within its moodiness". Blurring lines further, Coldcut collaborated with American video mashup artist TV Sheriff in 2004 to produce their cut-up entitled Revolution USA.
Actress, Ben Casey and Gavin Weale in the early 2000s,[11] Werkdiscs released their first record in the summer of 2004. ===Ntone=== In 1994, Ninja Tune's first sister imprint was Ntone, a label that initially specialised in avant-garde music and in more electronically inclined ambience.
The music used was composed by Coldcut, with "Revolution '08" featuring a remix by The Qemists. Roots Manuva climbed back into the limelight at the beginning of 2005, with his deft album Awfully Deep.
In 2005, Ninja released Keep in Time: A Live Recording, a CD/DVD package that included remixes from King Britt, Oh No, J Rocc and AmmonContact. Back in London, having previously scored a place with his college band E.V.A.
Kid Koala cut two further highly acclaimed albums for Ninja, 2003's Some of My Best Friends Are DJs and 2006's Your Mom's Favorite DJ. In 2001, Roots Manuva delivered his second album, Run Come Save Me, which was deemed one of the albums of the year by The Independent, and "not just a landmark UK hip hop album, but a landmark hip hop album period" by Mojo.
A live version of Bonobo soon took to the road, which seeped into the production of 2006's Days to Come, an album that blurs the line between a programmed and live sound and created "a daydream vibe embedded within its moodiness". Blurring lines further, Coldcut collaborated with American video mashup artist TV Sheriff in 2004 to produce their cut-up entitled Revolution USA.
Roots Manuva featured on the track "All Things to All Men", which later soundtracked the final scenes of 2006 movie Kidulthood.
It was followed in 2006 by their fifth studio album Sound Mirrors, which was quoted as being "one of the most vital and imaginative records Jon More and Matt Black have ever made", and saw the duo "continue, impressively, to find new ways to present political statements through a gamut of pristine electronics and breakbeats".
First releasing Fresh Produce – an atmospheric set of downtempo instrumental hip hop tracks – on sister label Ntone in 2000, it was 2006's Biscuits for Breakfast album that set Fink officially on Ninja Tune.
The Cinematic Orchestra's albums grew increasingly ambitious over the years, with 2007's Ma Fleur album marking a move away from beats, and embracing folk influences.
Two subsequent full lengths – 2007's Distance and Time and 2009's Sort of Revolution (which featured song-writing collaborations with John Legend) have seen Fink further develop this new sound. On the topic of sound, noise manipulator Amon Tobin came back around at the beginning of 2007 with Foley Room, his sixth studio album, and a long player that was called his "darkest work yet".
While 2007's Well Deep multimedia package shed light on Big Dada, Ninja Cuts drew a healthy cross-section from all three Ninja associated labels. 2008 also marked Daedelus' first official Ninja album, Love to Make Music To, after his previous albums Exquisite Corpse and Denies the Day's Demise had been licensed by Ninja Tune.
Additionally that year (a year after their 2007 Stompbox 12"), The Qemists released their debut album, Join the Q.
The multivocal, spoken-sung, collaborative album has enjoyed recent cult success, appearing in many outlets' Best of 2008 lists. The year 2008 launched Ninja Tune's You Don't Know, their sixth official label sampler, and, like its predecessors, contained high quality picks from their major releases, with select remixes and a few rarities.
Known to construct some of the most energetic breakbeats of the late 2000s, the vinyl version of the album comes as four super-heavy platters, weighing nearly a kilogram. In 2008, an international group of party organisers, activists and artists – including Coldcut – received a grant from the Intelligent Energy Department of the European Union, to create a project that promoted intelligent energy and environmental awareness to the youth of Europe.
In April 2010, Sheffield-born producer and DJ Toddla T (who'd originally arrived at Ninja having produced parts of Roots Manuva's 2008 album, Slime & Reason, which reached number 22 in the UK Charts) also signed his Girls Music record label to Ninja Tune for distribution, manufacturing and marketing, in addition to signing a three-album deal.
In the words of The Guardian, "heaven help the music hack who tries to pigeonhole Big Dada's output". ===Brainfeeder=== Brainfeeder is an independent record label based in Los Angeles, California, founded by Warp Records recording artist Flying Lotus in 2008, focusing on electronic music and instrumental hip hop amongst other styles of music. ===Werkdiscs=== Werkdiscs (formerly spelt as Werk Discs) is a British independent record label based in London.
Two subsequent full lengths – 2007's Distance and Time and 2009's Sort of Revolution (which featured song-writing collaborations with John Legend) have seen Fink further develop this new sound. On the topic of sound, noise manipulator Amon Tobin came back around at the beginning of 2007 with Foley Room, his sixth studio album, and a long player that was called his "darkest work yet".
Energy Union toured 12 EU countries throughout 2009 and 2010, completing 24 events in total.
In presenting new ideas for climate, environmental and energy communication strategies, the Energy Union tour was well received, and reached a widespread audience in cities across the UK, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Spain and the Czech Republic.missing reference Speech Debelle's debut album, 2009's Speech Therapy, finally scored Big Dada a Mercury Prize, after prior nominations for Roots Manuva's Run Come Save Me and Ty's Upwards.
The "refreshingly outspoken" album went on to "trounce all expectations" and was awarded CD of the week by Evening Standard. In 2009, Ninja's longest-serving artist, DJ Food a.k.a.
Strictly Kev, released the 2009 EP 'One Man's Weird Is Another Man's World,' and its 2010 follow up 'The Shape Of Things That Hum' made up two-thirds of a forthcoming album.
The trio's self-titled debut album (produced by Matthew Herbert) in 2009 was nominated for the Mercury Prize and selected as critics choice for iTunes album of the year.
Energy Union toured 12 EU countries throughout 2009 and 2010, completing 24 events in total.
With the album, NME called her: "one to seriously watch". ===2010–present=== In 2010, Ninja Tune celebrated 20 years of releasing music.
A book entitled Ninja Tune: 20 Years of Beats and Pieces was released on 12 August 2010, and an exhibition was held at Black Dog Publishing's Black Dog Space in London showcasing artwork, design and photography from the label's 20-year history.
In February 2010, LA-based producer Flying Lotus, a.k.a.
In April 2010, Sheffield-born producer and DJ Toddla T (who'd originally arrived at Ninja having produced parts of Roots Manuva's 2008 album, Slime & Reason, which reached number 22 in the UK Charts) also signed his Girls Music record label to Ninja Tune for distribution, manufacturing and marketing, in addition to signing a three-album deal.
In June 2012, Ninja announced a partnership with underground artist Actress and his Werkdiscs imprint, home to Zomby's Where Were U in 92?, Actress's Hazyville, and various records by Lukid and Lone. Also in 2010, Bonobo's own Black Sands album marked his fourth full-length.
The album was "sure-footed and big-hearted, accessible and yet cerebral". Jaga Jazzist returned in 2010 with their strongest release to date, One-Armed Bandit, which featured new members within Jaga Jazzist's ranks and included "tropical polyrhythms, modernist patterns, and even techno-inspired synth sequences". Another release that pushed Ninja to new sonic territories came from London-based artist Floating Points at the end of 2010 with 'Post Suite / Almost in Profile'.
The double A-side 10" vinyl single featured two tracks by the full Ensemble, recorded and mixed at Abbey Road Studios for the Ninja Tune XX twentieth anniversary celebration. In 2010, a sound designer from Berlin (by way of Bristol), Emika, brought a new sound to the label, with her melodic, R&B tinged bass-heavy 'Double Edge.' Her self-titled debut was later released in 2011, bridging the "minimalist menace of Bristol dubstep to breathy accessible vocals and classical piano".
Strictly Kev, released the 2009 EP 'One Man's Weird Is Another Man's World,' and its 2010 follow up 'The Shape Of Things That Hum' made up two-thirds of a forthcoming album.
The cover of his 2010 album Black Sands was designed by design studio Oscar & Ewan and features an image taken by Crépin.
In February 2012, Ninja followed up with a remix album, Black Sands Remixed, which featured re-imaginings from producers such as Lapalux, Mark Pritchard, Machinedrum and FaltyDL. A couple months before, in November 2011, New York producer FaltyDL had made his debut on the Ninja roster with his Atlantis EP, a "smoother and shufflier" ride than most of his earlier work.
The double A-side 10" vinyl single featured two tracks by the full Ensemble, recorded and mixed at Abbey Road Studios for the Ninja Tune XX twentieth anniversary celebration. In 2010, a sound designer from Berlin (by way of Bristol), Emika, brought a new sound to the label, with her melodic, R&B tinged bass-heavy 'Double Edge.' Her self-titled debut was later released in 2011, bridging the "minimalist menace of Bristol dubstep to breathy accessible vocals and classical piano".
On her 2013 follow-up, 'DVA,' Emika beefed up her songwriting, focusing on political and personal themes. In March 2011, another exploratory bass cadet – Dorian Concept – released his first Ninja EP, Her Tears Taste Like Pears.
The demise of Sony DADC warehouse in Edmonton (destroyed during the London riots in the summer of 2011), left many independent labels ravaged.
In June 2012, Ninja announced a partnership with underground artist Actress and his Werkdiscs imprint, home to Zomby's Where Were U in 92?, Actress's Hazyville, and various records by Lukid and Lone. Also in 2010, Bonobo's own Black Sands album marked his fourth full-length.
In February 2012, Ninja followed up with a remix album, Black Sands Remixed, which featured re-imaginings from producers such as Lapalux, Mark Pritchard, Machinedrum and FaltyDL. A couple months before, in November 2011, New York producer FaltyDL had made his debut on the Ninja roster with his Atlantis EP, a "smoother and shufflier" ride than most of his earlier work.
His work for Ninja was deemed "calm and focused, a trend that continued on his third album", Hardcourage, released in January 2012.
In 2012, ISAM Live returned with a larger tour, starting at Coachella and traveling to Sydney Opera House, London's Brixton Academy, New York's Hammerstein Ballroom, Greek Theatre (Los Angeles), Sonar (Barcelona), as well as full European and US tours throughout summer and fall.
In May 2012, Ninja Tune released an Amon Tobin box set (7 × CD, 2 × DVD, 6 × Vinyl, 10"). At the beginning of 2012, Speech Debelle returned to Big Dada, after much critical speculation about leaving the label.
In January 2012, 'The Search Engine' was released as the first DJ Food album in 11 years.
Kev adapted his content to fit Montreal's Satosphere in July. In mid 2012, The Bug announced that after "London Zoo," he set out a new genre and sub-label with Ninja Tune: Acid Ragga.
The "Ganja Baby" 7-inch released shortly afterwards, featuring Daddy Freddy, followed by the 2 x 10" Filthy EP featuring rapper Danny Brown and long time collaborator Flowdan. In August 2012, London-based band The Invisible dropped their second album, the "cerebral yet instantly accessible" 'Rispah,' on Ninja Tune, having been recorded in Brighton – with producer Richard File.
The band's tongue-in-cheek definition of their style of music is 'Experimental Genre-Spanning Spacepop'. In 2012, Ninja Tune also struck a deal with game developer United Front Games and their publisher Square Enix for their game Sleeping Dogs.
On her 2013 follow-up, 'DVA,' Emika beefed up her songwriting, focusing on political and personal themes. In March 2011, another exploratory bass cadet – Dorian Concept – released his first Ninja EP, Her Tears Taste Like Pears.
The station featured a select group of works by the real life Ninja Tune record and their then artist lineup, including works by Bonobo, Lorn, Emika, Stateless, Two Fingers, and Cinematic Orchestra among others, for a total of 18 tracks. Ninja Tune scored well at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards 2013, with Brainfeeder winning "Label of the Year" – and Ninja Tune scoring 2nd – with the public vote.
Invisible's Rispah also won album of the year. In typical pioneering fashion, in February 2013, Ninja Tune spearheaded the launch of Beat Delete – a new service for out of press vinyl.
Ninja Tune launched a website Beat Delete as a pledge scheme enabling fans to partially fund the release of rare collectibles. In April 2013, Coldcut released Ninja Jamm, an iOS music remix app, in collaboration with London-based arts and technology firm Seeper.
To date over 20 tunepacks have been released, including Amon Tobin, Bonobo, Coldcut, DJ Food, Martyn, Emika, Machinedrum, Raffertie, Irresistible Force, Falty DL. In March 2013, Bonobo unleashed his highly anticipated follow-up to Black Sands, the triumphant and revelatory The North Borders.
The following November, Bonobo released his contribution to the Late Night Tales series with a 21-track selection, which Bonobo described as ranging "from neo-classical to more abstract electronic pieces to spiritual jazz." Bonobo's popularity in the live spectrum continues to grow, having sold out a Roundhouse Ninja Tune festival in 2013 and Sydney Opera House.
NYC/Berlin artist Machinedrum signed up with the label in 2013, first releasing Eyesdontlie that July, a single which XLR8R donned "quite possibly deeper and more ambitious than anything we've heard from Stewart to date".
After releasing a second 12" ("Gunshotta Ave") the following month, Machinedrum released his full LP Vapor City at the end of September 2013.
In May 2013, golden ticket holders for Bonobo's Camden Roundhouse gig in London were given a limited edition 12" for Bonobo's "Cirrus", which came in gatefold plastic cover with "zoetrope" viewer stand and art print, with picture disc art by Cyriak.
The abstract cover for Bonobo's 2013 follow-up album The North Borders was created by Leif Podhajsky using a polaroid image of a wave.
Solid Steel is also the name of a series of DJ mix CDs from the label and various club nights showcasing the talents of the Solid Steel DJ's and a number of Ninja Tune artists. The show, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2013, showcases a varied blend of left field tunes, the broadest beats and forward-thinking selections.
He has a live performance scheduled at Alexandra Palace in November 2014. Another popular Ninja Tune artist, Travis Stewart, a.k.a.
Machinedrum claimed it was his biggest and boldest project to date. In January 2014, Big Dada released a deluxe European edition of Killer Mike and El-P's Run the Jewels album, featuring new artwork, a new colour vinyl LP + 12" release plus deluxe CD and download editions. Ninja Tune also released Actress' fourth album, Ghettoville in January 2014.
The exquisite In April 2014, new Ninja Tune signing Kelis released a raw soul record entirely produced by TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek.
This is the album I've wanted to make for a long time." In May 2014, "UK festival favorite" Mr Scruff released his fifth LP on Ninja Tune, entitled Friendly Bacteria.
Meanwhile, The Bug is continuing his series of "Acid Ragga" singles throughout 2014, leading up to his next full length later in the year, Angels & Devils.
In January 2014, Werkdiscs boss Actress released a boxset for a collection of photos presented by Hard Format, which included Ghettoville as vinyl and CD, as well as—for the first time on vinyl—a 2 LP white vinyl edition of Hazyville and CD.
Podhajsky also provides the artwork for Bonobo's Flashlight EP in 2014, its cover art is a gold lava effect forming the inside sleeve glimpsed through tiny holes in a dark grey die-cut cover for the vinyl product.
Leif Podhajsky again collaborated with Ninja Tune on the artwork for Kelis' 2014 album Food. For the release of Bonobo's sixth album Migration in January 2017, the album artwork was designed by Neil Krug.
Other notable artists include Diplo, cLOUDDEAD, Juice Aleem, DELS, Young Fathers (Mercury Prize Winner 2014) and Spank Rock, with a roster that's as prolific as it is varied.
It appeared on numerous 'Best of 2015' lists, including publications such as NPR Music, The Guardian, Pitchfork, Vice's Noisey, MOJO, Uncut, Rolling Stone and many more. Bonobo released his sixth album, Migration, in January 2017.
It was announced on 3 November 2016 with the release of the single "Kerala" and an official video. The official video for the single is directed by Bison (Jon Hopkins/London Grammar/Rosie Lowe), featuring lead Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace/Inside No.
Originally performed at the Barbican in February 2016, the project was curated by Boiler Room and London Contemporary Orchestra with support from Arts Council England and Ninja Tune. In December 2017, Ninja artist Helena Hauff became the first ever female DJ to be named BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix of the year.
It appeared on numerous 'Best of 2015' lists, including publications such as NPR Music, The Guardian, Pitchfork, Vice's Noisey, MOJO, Uncut, Rolling Stone and many more. Bonobo released his sixth album, Migration, in January 2017.
In 2018, Bonobo's "Migration" album also won Album of the Year at the 2017 Electronic Music Awards and Bonobo was also nominated for Live Act of the Year.
Around the release of the album, Bonobo performed sold-out shows at venues such as Brixton Academy and Alexandra Palace. On 19 May 2017, Ninja Tune Founders Coldcut and Adrian Sherwood released their collaborative debut album Outside The Echo Chamber via Ninja imprint Ahead of our Time.
They went on to play a sold-out show at London's Roundhouse. A Moment Apart, ODESZA's third studio album was released on 8 September 2017 on Ninja Tune imprint Counter Records.
The duo were also nominated for Producer of the Year at the 2017 Electronic Music Awards. Young Fathers' third studio album, Cocoa Sugar, was announced with the single "In My View" on 17 January 2018.
Originally performed at the Barbican in February 2016, the project was curated by Boiler Room and London Contemporary Orchestra with support from Arts Council England and Ninja Tune. In December 2017, Ninja artist Helena Hauff became the first ever female DJ to be named BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix of the year.
She was also rated number 1 in Crack Magazine's "50 Most Exciting DJs Right Now" 2017.
Leif Podhajsky again collaborated with Ninja Tune on the artwork for Kelis' 2014 album Food. For the release of Bonobo's sixth album Migration in January 2017, the album artwork was designed by Neil Krug.
The LP was accompanied by a special edition booklet containing meditations on themes from the album, the deluxe version housed in a gold-embossed PVC sleeve. In 2017, Belfast based duo Bicep released their debut album Bicep, with artwork created by design team Royal Studio in partnership with AnaTypes Type, Xesta Studio and Lyft Studio.
In 2018, Bonobo's "Migration" album also won Album of the Year at the 2017 Electronic Music Awards and Bonobo was also nominated for Live Act of the Year.
It was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album, with "Line of Sight" also nominated for Best Dance Recording, at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in 2018.
The duo were also nominated for Producer of the Year at the 2017 Electronic Music Awards. Young Fathers' third studio album, Cocoa Sugar, was announced with the single "In My View" on 17 January 2018.
The album was released to critical acclaim on 9 March 2018.
Due to their support of Palestinians through the BDS movement, the band was dropped from the 2018 Ruhrtriennale line-up. Berlin based South Korean Dj and Producer Peggy Gou released her EP Once in March 2018, with lead single "It Makes You Forget (Itgehane)", on which she sings in Korean, receiving widespread radio play on stations like BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music and more.
This earned Peggy a place on publication Dazed's top 100 artists of the year. Following the release of the 'Audio Track 5' EP and live performances at the Strelka Institute (Moscow), Barbican Centre and the Tate Modern, electronic producer and musician Darren Cunningham AKA Actress and the London Contemporary Orchestra released a full album of their collaboration on 25 May 2018 entitled 'LAGEOS'.
On 3 August 2018 the Hamburg-based Techno producer and DJ released her album "Qualm".
These arrangements of textures in different colorways were then sent to Bicep, who would select their highlights from each. The artwork for Young Fathers' 2018 album Cocoa Sugar was created by photographer Noni Julia & creative director Tom Hingston. == Partnerships == ===Solid Steel=== Pre-dating Ninja Tune is the radio show Solid Steel, which Coldcut set up in 1988 and joined at a later date by DJ Food and DK.
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