unterm durchschnitt

unterm durchschnitt was a German independent record label founded in 1999 in Göttingen and later based in Cologne until its dissolution. The label took its name from a former Hamburg record shop located at the lower end of a street called "Durchschnitt" in Hamburg-Rotherbaum. It gained recognition for its political and stylistic pioneering work, with its bands predominantly associated with emo, screamo and post-hardcore. Artists such as Katzenstreik, Captain Planet and Jet Black are considered pathbreakers for many subsequent bands in these styles. Label operator Andreas Wildner rejected stylistic pigeonholing. The label saw itself as one that reflected critically on its own activities alongside releasing music, publishing culture-critical statements online. In 2010 it criticised fanzines and magazines for their consistently benevolent but ultimately unsatisfying record reviews, arguing that they highlighted the same at the expense of the new, whereas artistic intention manifests in progress. In an interview with Unclesally*s, the label distinguished itself from other record companies: "There is no party series, no merchandise and no other diversionary tactics. My business card is the artists themselves." At the Pop Up Messe in Leipzig, the company presented itself with a quote from philosopher Theodor W. Adorno: "The audience has a right not to be cheated, even if it insists on being cheated." Despite sometimes relatively high print runs, the first releases were partly handmade. Cover and label printing, booklets, and the folding and gluing of cover sleeves were done without industrial manufacturing. Until 2004 the label distributed its releases itself. From October 2004 there was a supplementary deal with Broken Silence-Independentdistribution GmbH, as well as via RecRec in Switzerland, Ixthuluh in Austria and Interpunk in the USA. Through Zebralution GmbH, releases were also offered worldwide as digital albums in download shops. The label's own edition "The Mensch Gap" was administered by Freibank Musikverlage. CD and vinyl served as release formats, notable for special packaging. The release I Can't Relax in Germany, for example, is a bound, 60-page book-CD on the theme "Pop Culture and Nationalism", to which authors such as Martin Büsser, Roger Behrens and the group sinistra! contributed texts and bands such as Tocotronic, Kante, Kettcar, Die Goldenen Zitronen, Mouse on Mars, Muff Potter, Die Sterne and many more contributed partly exclusive songs. The initiative was discussed in the nationwide press (Kulturzeit, Frankfurter Rundschau, Taz, Visions and others) as a counterpoint to the "Du Bist Deutschland" campaign launched shortly afterwards. The label dissolved on 31 December 2011.

unterm durchschnitt was founded in 1999 in Göttingen, Germany, by Andreas Wildner. The label's name was borrowed from a former Hamburg record shop of the same name, which was located at the lower end of the street "Durchschnitt" in Hamburg-Rotherbaum. The label gained recognition for its political and stylistic pioneering work, with its bands predominantly associated with emo, screamo and post-hardcore. Bands such as Katzenstreik, Captain Planet and Jet Black are considered pathbreakers for many subsequent bands in these styles. Label operator Andreas Wildner rejected stylistic pigeonholing. The label saw itself as one that reflected critically on its own activities alongside releasing music, publishing culture-critical statements online. In 2010 it criticised fanzines and magazines for their consistently benevolent but ultimately unsatisfying record reviews, arguing that they highlighted the same at the expense of the new, whereas artistic intention manifests in progress. In an interview with Unclesally*s, the label distinguished itself from other record companies: "There is no party series, no merchandise and no other diversionary tactics. My business card is the artists themselves." At the Pop Up Messe in Leipzig, the company presented itself with a quote from philosopher Theodor W. Adorno: "The audience has a right not to be cheated, even if it insists on being cheated." Despite sometimes relatively high print runs, the first releases were partly handmade. Cover and label printing, booklets, and the folding and gluing of cover sleeves were done without industrial manufacturing. Until 2004 the label distributed its releases itself. From October 2004 there was a supplementary deal with Broken Silence-Independentdistribution GmbH, as well as via RecRec in Switzerland, Ixthuluh in Austria and Interpunk in the USA. Through Zebralution GmbH, releases were also offered worldwide as digital albums in download shops. The label's own edition "The Mensch Gap" was administered by Freibank Musikverlage. CD and vinyl served as release formats, notable for special packaging. The release I Can't Relax in Germany, for example, is a bound, 60-page book-CD on the theme "Pop Culture and Nationalism", to which authors such as Martin Büsser, Roger Behrens and the group sinistra! contributed texts and bands such as Tocotronic, Kante, Kettcar, Die Goldenen Zitronen, Mouse on Mars, Muff Potter, Die Sterne and many more contributed partly exclusive songs. The initiative was discussed in the nationwide press (Kulturzeit, Frankfurter Rundschau, Taz, Visions and others) as a counterpoint to the "Du Bist Deutschland" campaign launched shortly afterwards. The label dissolved on 31 December 2011.

• 2015

  Planned release of Captain Planet's 'Wasser Kommt Wasser Geht' for Record Store Day cancelled at band's request.

• 2014

  Adolar split on December 1st.

• 2013

  Released a compilation with several other labels to support the Antifascist Press Archive in Berlin.

• 2012

  Adolar performed at Berlin Music Week and on German TV ARD.

• 2011

  Label dissolved on 31 December 2011.

• 2010

  Label criticised fanzines and magazines for their record reviews.

• 2004

  Until 2004 the label distributed its releases itself; from October 2004 a supplementary deal with Broken Silence-Independentdistribution GmbH was made.

• 1999

  Label founded in Göttingen by Andreas Wildner.

Independent label with political and DIY ethics, rejecting the 'independent' or 'DIY' labels while reflecting critically on its own role within capitalism; known for handmade packaging and culture-critical statements.

• I Can't Relax in Deutschland

  A bound, 60-page book-CD on the theme 'Pop Culture and Nationalism', with texts by authors such as Martin Büsser, Roger Behrens and the group sinistra!, and songs by bands such as Tocotronic, Kante, Kettcar, Die Goldenen Zitronen, Mouse on Mars, Muff Potter, Die Sterne and many more.

• Captain Planet – Wasser kommt Wasser geht

  Planned for release on 18 April 2015 for Record Store Day, but cancelled at the band's request.

• Adolar – Zu Den Takten Des Programms

  Latest release listed on the label's website.

• Adolar – Ungelenk Und Einstudiert

  Latest release listed on the label's website.

1. 1Start. Unterm Durchschnittunterm-durchschnitt.de
2. 2About unterm durchschnitt. Unterm Durchschnittunterm-durchschnitt.de
3. 3unterm durchschnittwikidata.org
4. 4Unterm durchschnittde.wikipedia.org