Electric Tones

Electric Tones is an independent record label based in Amsterdam and established in 2000 by British composer and producer Tim Simenon. The label was created as a focused outlet for electronic-based compositions, particularly music associated with electronica, experimental production, dub-influenced sound design, and adjacent forms that sometimes overlap with dance music. Its catalogue is notable for emphasizing limited physical editions, emerging artists, aliases, and exploratory collaborations rather than pursuing a conventional high-volume commercial release model. The label's first release was Electric Tones 1234, a four-track compilation EP issued as two 7-inch singles. The release introduced the Danish musician Thomas Knak under the name Opiate and also included Club Off Chaos, a project led by Can drummer Jaki Liebezeit, alongside material credited to Flow Creator. Flow Creator was subsequently identified as one of Simenon's own experimental aliases. This opening release established several recurring characteristics of the label: electronic composition, unusual artist identities, crossovers between established musicians and new acts, and a willingness to treat the record label as a curated creative project. Electric Tones continued its compilation-oriented approach with Electric Tones 5678 and Electric Tones 9101112. These releases brought together Opiate, Amsterdam musician Ricardo Avocado, Soul Circuit, Noriko, and a return of Simenon's Bomb the Bass identity through a Christian Kleine remix of “Clear Cut” featuring Lali Puna. The physical editions were deliberately restricted, with the compilation EPs reportedly pressed in runs of 500 individually numbered copies. Simenon described the limited-edition approach as a way of preserving the label's hobby-like character rather than maximizing scale. Alongside compilations, the label issued individual releases by A.P.E., Wiseintime, Ricardo Avocado, and Kumo. The catalogue connected futuristic blues, dub-inflected electronica, programmed composition, and experimental electronic music. Several releases also used aliases associated with musicians who had worked in broader or more established music scenes. Wiseintime was an alternative identity of Ian Simmonds, also known as Juryman, while Soul Circuit represented the occasional collaboration of Adrian Corker and Paul Conboy, otherwise associated with A.P.E. Kumo was the recording name of producer and programmer Jono Podmore. The label later collected material from its early compilation releases on the digital and CD compilation Jukebox, catalogued as its seventh release. The catalogue numbering subsequently reached e-tones 009 with Kumo And Friends. A planned or proposed e-tones 010 release was associated with Bomb the Bass's album Future Chaos. In February 2008, Simenon announced that Bomb the Bass would return to more active mainstream activity, and promotional material for “Butterfingers” appeared on the project's Myspace page. The available reference material does not establish whether Future Chaos was ultimately released by Electric Tones, distributed through an outside partner, or issued under another arrangement. Electric Tones occupies a specialist position within independent electronic music. Its identity is tied less to a broad consumer-facing product range than to carefully selected recordings, short runs, physical formats, artist aliases, and the creative direction of Simenon. Publicly documented information is concentrated in the label's early catalogue and activity through the late 2000s; its current ownership structure, release activity, operating status, and contemporary distribution arrangements are not established by the supplied sources.

Electric Tones was founded in Amsterdam in 2000 by British composer and producer Tim Simenon. It was established as an independent outlet for electronic-based compositions, with a catalogue generally situated within electronica and related experimental forms. Because electronica shares production and editing techniques with some forms of dance music, the label's releases occupy a boundary between specialist experimental listening and more rhythm-oriented electronic culture. The label debuted with Electric Tones 1234, a four-track compilation EP presented as two 7-inch singles. Its contributors included Opiate, the alias of Danish musician Thomas Knak; Club Off Chaos, a project led by Can drummer Jaki Liebezeit; and Flow Creator, later recognized as one of Simenon's own aliases. Knak later gained wider recognition through his collaborative work on Björk's Vespertine. The debut therefore combined an emerging electronic artist, a musician connected to an influential experimental rock group, and a project linked to the label's founder. Electric Tones subsequently developed a numbered-release concept. Electric Tones 5678 brought together Opiate and Amsterdam-based musician Ricardo Avocado, whose work explored relationships between electronica and dub aesthetics. Electric Tones 9101112 included two tracks by Soul Circuit, an occasional identity associated with Adrian Corker and Paul Conboy, plus an abstract contribution from Noriko, the recording name of Newcastle DJ James Postlethwaite. The set also included a Christian Kleine remix of Bomb the Bass's “Clear Cut,” featuring Lali Puna. The compilation releases were issued as individually numbered limited editions, with the relevant 12-inch compilations produced in runs of 500 copies. This approach reflected Simenon's stated intention to preserve a hobby-oriented spirit. The label also issued records outside the compilation sequence. A.P.E.'s “Blind” was a 7-inch single described as a futuristic blues recording. Wiseintime's “Slowfall” and “Meltdown” appeared on a 10-inch release; Wiseintime was an alternative name used by Ian Simmonds, also known as Juryman. Ricardo Avocado made a further contribution with The Bridge Ends EP, a numbered 10-inch release built around “Checkpoint Fender” and “Left of Legzira.” Kumo And Friends, the label's ninth listed release, presented three tracks by producer and programmer Jono Podmore, who had previously worked under the name Kumo and had collaborated with artists from several different electronic and alternative music contexts. The seventh release, Jukebox, gathered material from the earlier compilation records and made it available in digital and CD form. The published catalogue then listed Kumo And Friends as e-tones 009 and Future Chaos by Bomb the Bass as e-tones 010. However, the status of Future Chaos as an Electric Tones release is not fully confirmed in the available reference material. In 2008, Simenon announced renewed activity for Bomb the Bass and promotional material for “Butterfingers” appeared online, but the supplied sources do not establish the final release pathway. Electric Tones is consequently best understood as a small, curator-led independent label whose documented activity centered on the 2000s. Its distinguishing features were limited physical pressings, experimental electronic music, compilation formats, and the use of aliases by both Simenon and participating artists. Information about releases, ownership, headquarters, and activity after the documented period is limited, so the label's current operational status cannot be confirmed.

• 2008

  Jukebox consolidates earlier releases

  [1]Electric Tonesen.wikipedia.org

  The label issues Jukebox in digital and CD form, collecting material from its earlier compilation releases.

• 2008

  Bomb the Bass activity is renewed

  [1]Electric Tonesen.wikipedia.org

  Tim Simenon announces renewed Bomb the Bass activity and promotes “Butterfingers” ahead of the proposed Future Chaos album.

• 2007

  The numbered compilation series expands

  [1]Electric Tonesen.wikipedia.org

  Electric Tones 5678 and Electric Tones 9101112 extend the label's limited-edition compilation program and introduce additional aliases and collaborators.

• 2002

  Ricardo Avocado releases The Bridge Ends

  [1]Electric Tonesen.wikipedia.org

  Ricardo Avocado makes his Electric Tones recording debut with a limited 10-inch EP centered on “Checkpoint Fender” and “Left of Legzira.”

• 2000

  Electric Tones is founded

  [1]Electric Tonesen.wikipedia.org

  Tim Simenon establishes the independent label in Amsterdam to release electronic and experimental compositions.

• 2000

  Electric Tones 1234 begins the catalogue

  [1]Electric Tonesen.wikipedia.org

  The label debuts with a four-track compilation EP issued as two 7-inch singles and featuring Opiate, Club Off Chaos, and Flow Creator.

A specialist independent label for limited-edition electronica, experimental composition, dub-influenced production, and artist-led projects.

• Compilation EP · 2000

  Electric Tones 1234

  The label's four-track debut compilation, released in 2000 as two 7-inch singles. It introduced Opiate, featured Club Off Chaos, and included tracks credited to Flow Creator, an alias of Tim Simenon.

• Compilation EP

  Electric Tones 5678

  A limited 12-inch compilation pairing Opiate with Amsterdam musician Ricardo Avocado. The release explored electronic composition and dub-related aesthetics and formed part of the label's numbered compilation sequence.

• Compilation EP

  Electric Tones 9101112

  A 12-inch compilation featuring Soul Circuit, Noriko, and a Christian Kleine remix of Bomb the Bass's “Clear Cut” featuring Lali Puna. It continued the label's practice of assembling new, experimental, and alias-based projects.

• Compilation album · 2008

  Electric Tones Jukebox

  The label's seventh listed release, collecting tracks from its earlier compilation EPs and making them available in CD and digital formats.

• Electronic EP · 2002

  The Bridge Ends EP

  Ricardo Avocado's limited release for the label, built around “Checkpoint Fender” and “Left of Legzira.” Its music continued the artist's exploration of contemporary electronica combined with dub sensibilities.

• Electronic EP

  Kumo And Friends

  A three-track release by producer and programmer Jono Podmore under the Kumo name. It highlighted Podmore's progressive electronic composition and his experience across experimental and alternative music projects.

• Electronic album · 2008

  Future Chaos

  A proposed Bomb the Bass album associated with the label's e-tones 010 catalogue number. The available reference material documents its promotion and intended release but does not conclusively establish its final Electric Tones release status.

• 2008

  Expand the catalogue beyond compilationsStrategy

  Background

  After establishing the numbered compilation series, the label developed a parallel stream of releases by individual artists.

  Action taken

  Electric Tones issued individual records by A.P.E., Wiseintime, Ricardo Avocado, and Kumo, broadening its catalogue across futuristic blues, dub-influenced electronica, and programmed experimental music.

  Aftermath

  The label maintained a varied but coherent catalogue centered on exploratory electronic production and artist-led projects.

  Source

• 2008

  Plan the Future Chaos releaseProduct launch

  Background

  Tim Simenon announced renewed mainstream activity for Bomb the Bass after a lengthy absence, alongside preparations for a new album.

  Action taken

  Future Chaos was associated with the e-tones 010 catalogue number, while promotional communication for “Butterfingers” was placed on the Bomb the Bass Myspace page.

  Aftermath

  The supplied sources do not confirm whether the album was ultimately released by Electric Tones or through an external distribution arrangement.

  Source

• 2000

  Adopt a limited-edition release modelStrategy

  Background

  Electric Tones was designed as a small independent label focused on specialist electronic music rather than mass-market scale.

  Action taken

  The label issued selected records in restricted, individually numbered physical runs, including compilation releases reportedly limited to 500 copies.

  Aftermath

  The approach reinforced the label's collector-oriented, hobbyist identity and helped distinguish its catalogue from conventional commercial dance releases.

  Source

1. 1Electric Tonesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Electric Tones official websiteelectrictones.com