Dark Companion

Dark Companion is an Italian independent record label founded in 2015 by music journalist and producer Max Marchini, the Associazione Novecento APS, and the Studi Elfo recording facility in Tavernago, Piacenza. The label was conceived as a companion venture to the reactivated Manticore Records — the historic imprint of Emerson, Lake & Palmer — in order to release niche, high-level, experimental music that was too alternative for Manticore's editorial line. Its name was reportedly chosen during a car journey with Greg Lake of ELP, when a radio broadcast of the Tuxedomoon song "Dark Companion" prompted the two to adopt it for the new label. The label's stated mission is to bring together musical excellence from a wide range of genres — from songwriting to folk, from contemporary classical to jazz, from experimental to classical music of both Western and Eastern traditions — with sound quality placed at the centre of the musical experience. Dark Companion releases both vinyl and CDs, aiming for the most vibrant, realistic and high-end sound possible. Alongside Dark Companion, a second imprint, Unifaun Productions, was founded to handle productions that are not strictly avant-garde. Dark Companion quickly established a collaboration with Massimo Orlandini and Maracash Records, which took care of executive aspects and international distribution and became a partner in the project. Italian distribution is now handled by Self, while some productions — especially vinyl or very limited editions — are sold directly by the label at artists' concerts or through the Ma.Ra.Cash website. The label's catalogue has drawn considerable interest and praise from international critics, including Riccardo Bartoncelli, Gino Dal Soler and Federico Guglielmi, as well as from international magazines such as Prog Magazine and Record Collector. Many of its artists are "old lions" of the alternative scene — Keith Tippett, Ron Geesin, John Greaves, Lino Capra Vaccina, Blaine L. Reininger of Tuxedomoon, Paolo Tofani of Area, Paul Roland, Michael Mantler and Markus Stockhausen, among others. Dark Companion has also discovered and launched new talents such as Jeanette Sollén, the Jugalbandi Trio, Priska and, notably, Annie Barbazza. Recent releases highlighted on the label's website include "Brighton Rock" by Paul Roland (UP011), "Popurì" by Priska (UP013), "To The Cloud-Cuckoo Land Of Color Wheels" by Malesh (UP015), "Between Earth and Sky" by Markus Stockhausen (DC032), "Then Again" by Henry Now (DC030 / DCLP030), "Chansons d'Automne" by John Greaves (DC031) and "Empty Vessels" by Craig Fortnam and Laurent Valero (DC029). The label remains active and continues to publish music in uncompromising sound quality.

Dark Companion was founded in 2015 by Max Marchini, a music journalist and producer associated with Rockerilla, together with the Associazione Novecento APS and the Studi Elfo recording facility located in Tavernago, Piacenza, Italy. The label's origin is tied to a long car journey during which Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer convinced Marchini — who had recently recovered from a serious illness — to found a label that would serve as the "dark companion" to Manticore Records, ELP's historic imprint, which the two also decided to reopen during the same journey. As they drove and discussed the matter, the radio happened to play the song "Dark Companion" by the American band Tuxedomoon, and the two immediately chose it as the name of the new label. Dark Companion was therefore created to publish and promote niche, high-level, experimental music that was too alternative for Manticore's editorial line. Alongside it, a second label, Unifaun Productions, was founded to accommodate other types of production that were not strictly avant-garde. A collaboration was quickly established with Massimo Orlandini and Maracash Records, which, in addition to handling executive aspects and international distribution, became a partner in the project. Italian distribution is now entrusted to Self. Some productions, especially on vinyl or in very limited pressings, are sold directly by the label at artists' concerts or through the Ma.Ra.Cash website. The label's recording activity has attracted considerable interest and praise from international critics, in particular from Riccardo Bartoncelli, Gino Dal Soler and Federico Guglielmi, and from international magazines such as Prog Magazine and Record Collector. Many of Dark Companion's artists are "old lions" of the alternative scene — Keith Tippett, Ron Geesin, John Greaves, Lino Capra Vaccina, Blaine L. Reininger of Tuxedomoon, Paolo Tofani of Area, Paul Roland, Michael Mantler and Markus Stockhausen, among others. The label has also discovered and launched new talents such as Jeanette Sollén, the Jugalbandi Trio, Priska and, above all, Annie Barbazza. The label's catalogue spans genres from songwriting to folk, from contemporary classical to jazz, from experimental to classical music of both Western and Eastern traditions. Dark Companion releases both vinyl and CDs, with a stated dedication to ensuring its records offer the most vibrant, realistic and high-end sound quality possible. Recent releases featured on the label's website include "Brighton Rock" by Paul Roland (UP011), "Popurì" by Priska (UP013), "To The Cloud-Cuckoo Land Of Color Wheels" by Malesh (UP015), "Between Earth and Sky" by Markus Stockhausen (DC032), "Then Again" by Henry Now (DC030 / DCLP030), "Chansons d'Automne" by John Greaves (DC031) and "Empty Vessels" by Craig Fortnam and Laurent Valero (DC029).

• 2015

  Dark Companion founded by Max Marchini, Associazione Novecento APS and Studi Elfo in Tavernago, Piacenza, Italy.

• 2015

  Second label Unifaun Productions founded alongside Dark Companion for non-avant-garde productions.

• Collaboration established with Massimo Orlandini and Maracash Records for executive aspects and international distribution.

• Italian distribution entrusted to Self.

• Release of 'Brighton Rock' by Paul Roland (UP011).

• Release of 'Between Earth and Sky' by Markus Stockhausen (DC032).

• Release of 'Chansons d'Automne' by John Greaves (DC031).

High-end independent label focused on uncompromising sound quality and niche, experimental, avant-garde music across genres.

• Brighton Rock

• Popurì

• To The Cloud-Cuckoo Land Of Color Wheels

• Between Earth and Sky

• Then Again

• Chansons d'Automne

• Empty Vessels

1. 1Dark Companion Records – Exploring music in uncompromising sound qualitydarkcompanion.com
2. 2Dark Companion – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Dark Companion – Wikipedia (Italian)it.wikipedia.org