Planet E Communications
Planet E Communications is an independent electronic music recording label that started in 1991 in Detroit, Michigan. The label is the brainchild of DJ/Producer Carl Craig. Evolving from Craig’s desire to have creative independence from the major label industry, Planet E would manage, in a short time, to become one of the most ground-breaking independent labels in the genre. When a number of independent techno camps entered a stage of dormancy, Planet E consistently released music that mutated the conventional arrangements of the genre. Planet E has gained its burgeoning success by persistently experimenting with sound, expanding the genre of electronic music beyond the commonplace landscape it has traveled.
Planet E’s first release was titled “Four Jazz Funk Classics,” which Craig recorded under the moniker 69. This album set the standard for what was to follow. In addition, it set the stage for listeners to prepare themselves for the unique and undeniable sound the label would become synonymous with, a sort of “futuristic funk” that remains true to its techno roots, while redefining the genre as a whole. Initial releases on Planet E would mainly be Craig’s projects under a multitude of monikers, but would later evolve into being home to a myriad of electronic music’s most influential artists such as Kevin Saunderson, Moodymann, Kenny Larkin, and Recloose. In 2001, Planet E celebrated its 10 year anniversary with a celebration at the Detroit Electronic Music Festival.[1] Planet E is continually developing a roster of up-and-coming artists who only facilitate the label in remaining a force in the realm of music, with producers such as Martin Buttrich, Jona, Ican, Glimpse and more.
In addition to remaining a staying power in the studio, Planet E artists regularly appear in clubs worldwide. Planet E has forged a reputation for being a vanguard and a leader in independent recording and producing with respect to the techno genre. It has forged an inimitable identity by presenting a wide array of futuristic electronic dancefloor driven music. In addition, Planet E has given birth to a sister label, Community Projects. Craig developed this label to present music that has always been a muse to him, everything from afro blues to space jazz to world music.
Discography
- 69 - 4 Jazz Funk Classics
- Various - A.R.T. Compilation
- Piece - Free Your Mind
- Florence / Wladimir M - Eevolute
- Various - Intergalactic Beats
- Shop / Innerzone Orchestra - Untitled
- 69 - Sound On Sound
- Quadrant - Infinition
- Connection Machine - Bitflower
- Paperclip People - Throw / Remake (Basic Reshape)
- Various - Elements Of And Experiments With Sound
- Flexitone - Nausicaä
- 69 - Lite Music
- Clark - Lofthouse
- Flexitone - Rotoreliefs EP
- Gemini - A Moment Of Insanity
- 4th Wave - Touched
- Designer Music - Remix Vol. 1
- Fusion - Never Forget It
- Paperclip People - The Secret Tapes Of Dr. Eich
- Psyche / BFC - Elements 1989-1990
- Innerzone Orchestra - Bug In The Bass Bin
- Piece - Free Your Mind [Past] / Free Your Soul [Future]
- Paperclip People - Floor
- Paperclip People - Steam
- Carl Craig - More Songs About Food And Revolutionary Art
- Moodymann - Dem Young Sconies / Bosconi
- Moodymann - Silentintroduction
- Kevin Saunderson - Faces & Phases - The Saunderson Collection
- Chaz Vincent - Dream Zenith
- Recloose - So This Is The Dining Room
- Common Factor - Common Factor EP
- Moodymann - Sunday Morning
- Paperclip People - 4 My Peepz
- E-Dancer - Heavenly
- Common Factor - Expanded EP
- Alton Miller - EP
- Common Factor - Dreams Of Elsewhere
- Jason Hogans - Peter And The Rooster EP
- Various - Intergalactic Beats
- Paperclip People - 4 My Peepz
- Jason Hogans - Peter And The Rooster EP
- Common Factor - Pisces Groove
- Innerzone Orchestra - Programmed
- Recloose - Spelunking EP
- Paperclip People - Throw / Remake (Basic Reshape)
- Various Geology - A Subjective History Of Planet E - Volume One
- Innerzone Orchestra Featuring Paul Randolph - People Make The World Go Round
- Recloose - Can't Take It
- Common Factor + John Redmond - Fascination / World Is Mine
- Innerzone Orchestra - People Make The World Go Round 2
- Agent-X - In The Morning EP
- Designer Music - Problemz / The Truth
- Carl Craig - Designer Music V1
- Ibex - Oasis
- Recloose - Can't Take It (Remixes)
- Various - Geology - A Subjective Study Of Planet E - Volume Two
- Ibex - Macamba
- Various - 2000 Black: The Good Good
- Carl Craig - The Climax
- Various - All Access To Detroit's Music Festivals
- Paperclip People - Clear And Present / Tweakityourself
- Newworldaquarium - Tresspassers / NY
- Recloose - Ain't Changin'
- Recloose - Cardiology
- Todd Sines + Natacha Labelle - Overlap
- Todd Sines + Natacha Labelle - Overlap: C² Mixes
- Carl Craig - A Wonderful Life / As Time Goes By
- Urban Tribe - Covert Action / Low Berth
- Recloose - Cardiology
- Detroit Experiment - The Detroit Experiment
- Niko Marks - Chune / Truly Something
- Tres Demented - Demented
- Designer Music - Good Girls
- Carl Craig - Just Another Day
- 69 - Sound On Sound
- Paperclip People - Throw / The Climax
- Psyche - Elements / Neurotic Behavior
- 69 - 4 Jazz Funk Classics
- Naomi Daniel - Feel The Fire / Stars
- Paperclip People 4 My Peeps
- Carl Craig - Sparkle / Home Entertainment
- Carl Craig - Darkness (Radioslave Re-edit)
- Carl Craig - The Album Formerly Known As...
- Carl Craig - Darkness / Angel
- 69 - Pungtang
- Tres Demented - Shez Satan
- Ican - A Quien
- Martin Buttrich - Full Clip / Programmer
- Vince Watson - Renaissance / Rendezvous
- Carl Craig - From The Vault: Planet E Classics Collection Vol. 1
- Carl Craig - Just Another Day
- Lazy Fat People - Pixelgirl EP
- Carl Craig - Paris Live
- Kevin Saunderson - History Elevate 1
- Attias - Analysis
- Tribe - Livin' In A New Day
- Kevin Saunderson - History Elevate 2
- Sebastien San - Rising Sun
- Tribes - Vibes From The Tribe
- Martin Buttrich - Stoned Autopilot
- Jona - Altiplano
- Kenny Larkin - You Are...
- Ican - Pa' Mi Gente / Chiclet's Theme
- Kenny Larkin - Keys, Strings, Tambourines
note: items in bold are Carl Craig productions or releases containing music by Carl Craig.
References
- Planet E Communications discography at Discogs.
- Planet E inks deal with MTV Urge.
- Japan's Nu-thing Blog Planet E Label Retrospective
- ↑ Corey Moss , "Carl Craig To Celebrate Planet E Label With Compilation, Party, Reissue," MTV.com