4AD
1,072,794 listeners (126,029,832 plays)
The British indie rock record label 4AD Records was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records.
It was originally formed as Axis Records, but this was quickly changed to 4AD when it became apparent that the name Axis was already being used by another music company.
In 1980 Kent left the company to start another label (also funded by Beggars Banquet): Situation Two Records. Shortly afterwards, Watts-Russell invited the graphic designer Vaughan Oliver to create sleeve art for the label and as a result 4AD quickly acquired a visually distinctive identity which complemented the artful and atmospheric music that it was releasing at that time. Its artists like the Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance developed substantial cult followings in the mid-1980s, but 4AD continued to evolve, and, after signing Throwing Muses and Pixies, the label increasingly concentrated on underground American rock music. At the same time, 4AD somehow had a freak UK Number One hit in the early days of house music with the collaged and influential “Pump Up The Volume” by M/A/R/R/S.
In the 1990s, 4AD established an office in Los Angeles and enjoyed success with bands such as The Breeders, Red House Painters, Unrest, and His Name Is Alive. In 1999, Watts-Russell sold his share in 4AD back to the Beggars Group (as it had by then become), but the label continued to release music and add new artists to its roster.
It was originally formed as Axis Records, but this was quickly changed to 4AD when it became apparent that the name Axis was already being used by another music company.
In 1980 Kent left the company to start another label (also funded by Beggars Banquet): Situation Two Records. Shortly afterwards, Watts-Russell invited the graphic designer Vaughan Oliver to create sleeve art for the label and as a result 4AD quickly acquired a visually distinctive identity which complemented the artful and atmospheric music that it was releasing at that time. Its artists like the Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance developed substantial cult followings in the mid-1980s, but 4AD continued to evolve, and, after signing Throwing Muses and Pixies, the label increasingly concentrated on underground American rock music. At the same time, 4AD somehow had a freak UK Number One hit in the early days of house music with the collaged and influential “Pump Up The Volume” by M/A/R/R/S.
In the 1990s, 4AD established an office in Los Angeles and enjoyed success with bands such as The Breeders, Red House Painters, Unrest, and His Name Is Alive. In 1999, Watts-Russell sold his share in 4AD back to the Beggars Group (as it had by then become), but the label continued to release music and add new artists to its roster.
Top Albums
Weekly Top Tracks
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Pixies – Where Is My Mind?
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Shouts
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JessWithSound wrote:
4AD3DCD
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girl_from_oz wrote:
Hey 4ad we want the Pixies back please
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lizzyling wrote:
d'où ça vient ce nom de label ?
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Prophetic_Dream wrote:
Hi everyone! You can download promo-track of Prophetic Dream - Beautiful Events here - http://www.lastfm.ru/music/Prophetic+Dream/_/Beautiful+Events and http://propheticdream.net/download/Prophetic_Dream_-_Beautiful_Events.mp3
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tomat_ok wrote:
http://www.last.fm/music/On+Wave
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[deleted-user]
wrote:
HI, LISTEN OUR MUSIC AND TELL US WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT. FREE DOWNLOAD SONGS http://www.lastfm.es/music/rebery
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Eyrion wrote:
Why the hell did they remove every track preview?! That was a stupid move.
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thebufferzone wrote:
HEY GUYS AND GIRLS CHECK OUT A NEW COLL ELECTRONIC ARTIST FROM ISRAEL ALL FULL LENGTH AND FREE !! http://www.last.fm/music/thebufferzone/ ENJOY!!
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Violetdusk wrote:
throwing muses no. 14? travesty! Great label though...
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[deleted-user]
wrote:
!!!
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VerbanaDarvell wrote:
hey everyone come check out my bands new album. thanks www.myspace.com/verbanadarvell www.purevolume.com/verbanadarvell
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djexplain wrote:
One of the greatest labels EVER! Thank you Ivo :-)
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germs wrote:
I am in love with almost every release on this label. You should be too. Look for new Beirut album coming out soon!
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Hermes666 wrote:
:)
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shorelinedream wrote:
hello hello
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BlueWook wrote:
Added a description
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noviKorisnik wrote:
heh, what's this? all about pixies :-))) where are other bands in top album pick???
Listeners
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The_Urban_Fox
Top Listener
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TyreseGibson
Top Listener
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Noir_6
Top Listener
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a_l_a_n
Top Listener
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kaliphoon
Top Listener
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knibbel
Top Listener
Events
- Nov 21 Crossing Border (Fri 21 Nov only) Koninklijke Schouwburg, 's-Gravenhage, Netherlands
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Nov
21
Brainwaves
Regent Theatre, Boston, United States
25 shouts
| 97 attendees -
Nov
22
Piano Magic
The Luminaire, London, United Kingdom
4 shouts
| 29 attendees
Recent Activity
- Cl_Cl_ connected 4AD to the group Guts Of Darkness. yesterday afternoon
- neo-shaman connected 4AD to the group Lepakkoluola. Thursday evening
- alancm connected 4AD to the group taste. Wednesday morning
- jaroz connected 4AD to the group suchar.net. Tuesday morning
- Katz_the_cat connected 4AD to the group Radiobutt. last week
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