Bella Union

Infobox record label
name = Bella Union


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founded = 1997
founders = Robin Guthrie and Simon Raymonde
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country = UK
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url = http://www.bellaunion.com/

Bella Union is an independent record label that was started up by Robin Guthrie and Simon Raymonde in 1997.

After releasing records with 4AD for a large part of their career, Cocteau Twins decided to take a step towards independence and started up the Bella Union record label, through which they could release their own work as well as any collaborative efforts. Unfortunately, the band split up not long after, but instead of letting the newly formed label go under, Robin Guthrie, Cocteau Twins' founder and lead guitarist and Simon Raymonde, the band's bassist since 1984, decided to take charge of it. One of the earliest bands to sign on was the Australian trio, Dirty Three, who continue to release under Bella Union to this day. Other early signees include Françoiz Breut and The Czars. The label fosters bands from a variety of musical genres and is notable for the amount of freedom given to its artists. Since 2000, when Guthrie moved to France to concentrate on his own music and Raymonde took the reigns at Bella Union, the label has signed more extraordinary artists like Laura Veirs, Lift To Experience, Explosions In The Sky etc. In 2006 the label had their best year to date with Midlake, The Dears, Howling Bells, Fionn Regan all having great success, and in 2007 as the 10th Anniversary celebrations saw them host two nights at the Royal Festival Hall, with special guests Paul Weller, Romeo and Tom from Editors, the year was capped off by Fionn Regan being nominated for a Mercury Prize Best Album Of The Year. With latest signings, Beach House, Paul Marshall, Our Broken Garden , Fleet Foxes , The Acorn, Abe Vigoda, J Tillman, Peter Broderick, all releasing music in 2008/2009, the future is still very bright for this unique artist-run label. Label founder Simon Raymonde is also in-demand as a producer, mixing Fionn Regan's Mercury-nominated debut, the first two Duke Spirit albums, Stephanie Dosen's stunning 'A Lily For The Spectre', and an eagerly anticipated forthcoming album by Lucas Renney, ex-Golden Virgins singer, featuring members of Midlake and Stephanie Dosen's band.

Artists

ee also

* List of record labels

External links

* [http://www.bellaunion.com/news.php Official site]
* [http://thelineofbestfit.com/2007/07/20/bella-union-week-interview-with-simon-raymonde/ Interview with label boss Simon Raymonde]