Diagonal, the experimental electronic music label run by Oscar Powell and Jaime Williams, is set to mark 13 years since its founding later this year with the release of an extensive 4xLP box set.
Spanning 19 tracks, 13 aims to reflect the evolution of the imprint, which is now more than 70 releases deep. It takes in new tracks by the likes of Russell Haswell, Jim O’Rourke, Sote, Not Waving, Dale Cornish and EVOL. There is also a Kae Tempest-featuring cut from label co-founder Powell, a remix by Regis of Powell’s track ‘Nomad’, and remixes from Autechre and James Ruskin of tracks by Haswell.
In addition to the compilation, the label will be putting out a book with photos and writings by sound artist Sue Tompkins and HTRK’s Jonnine Standish, as well as an interview with Powell written by tQ contributor Jennifer Lucy Allan.
A label tour of the UK will also take label figures such as Powell, Not Waving, Russell Haswell and Sote – as well as special guests including Regis and Gescom – to venues in Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool, Glasgow and Manchester starting in late October and ending in late November.
In a statement about Diagonal’s anniversary plans, Powell said: “The label was established as a group of friends; like-minded people from all over the world. We have grown up, and in doing so, the label has become a sort of family, at the same time as some of us have started our own.
“13 brings it all together and makes a physical tangible connection – the elastic bands are what we can throw around ourselves to keep us together. I still see the label as a reflection of our own interests/There are always so many forces at play; questions over whether we should continue under pressure from changing tastes, the decline of the music press and other pressures.
“We realised some time ago that we needed to find a different way of operating; a different source of strength: it’s got to be about the music; about the family. We’re putting something out there, and one day I’ll show this all to my son, to show him what we did — what we all made together.”
You can listen to three tracks from the compilation ahead of the full release below.
Diagonal will release 13 on October 18, 2024.
