A Short Guide to Gomma

With releases from WhoMadeWho, Phenomenal Handclap Band, Telonius, Munk and Peaches, Gomma is a label that know a thing or two about crossover hits. Set up back in 1999 in Munich and specialising in indie and house/disco crossover music, the label has been a big favourite on dancefloors, radio stations and in living rooms in its 13 year history. With a clutch of very exciting newness heading our way in 2012 we asked label bosses, Jonas and Mathias, to take us through a history of the imprint, highlighting some of their most impactful and memorable releases- a Gomma guide to how a successful cross over hit should sound, if you will.

Munk - La Musica



This was probably the most budget video that Gomma made last year but it has a huge charm and compliments what ended up being our biggest tune of 2011 perfectly.  The single comes form from Munk's album "The Bird and The Beat" and was played by everybody last summer- Annie Mac at BBC Radio One, Erol Alkan, Busy P from Ed Banger. The song has been re-released on Kitsune and Bugged Out. Check also the Azari & III remix. Da bomb.

The Phenomenal Handclap Band - 15 to 20

 
The Phenomenals joined the Gomma label two years ago. They're a seven member psychdelic funk group from New York.  As DJ's they have been on the New York scene for years. Some of them were also members of Amy Winehouse's former backing band. Then they formed this band. Their album was released in 2010.

Telonius - Hit Me (Bottin Remix)



Jonas Imbery aka Telonius runs Gomma with Mathias from Munk. Under his alias name he djs around the world and produces selected futuristic house jams. Although heavily influenced by the sound of early 90's New York, 'Hit Me' is produced with the knowledge and feeling of German electronics. This here is a remix by Italian disco fellow Bottin who has done a few releases on Gomma on his own, too.

Moullinex & Peaches - Maniac



This track is brand new in 2012!  The Gomma All Stars have been joined by Peaches for the Casablanca Reworks Project. An EP with four cover versions of old music from the legendary Casablanca label. Stephanie Mills, Skatt Bros, Cameo, Donna Summer, Moroder were on the label. One of the four new songs is this cover version of Michael Sembello's Maniac from Flashdance.

The KDMS - Tonight



The main Gomma band for 2012: London's KDMS are disco diva Kathy Diamond and producer genius Max Skiba. Both have had a few releases on state of the art labels such as Permanent Vacation, Output, Eskimo and Rekids. Now they joined forces and built this band.  Irresistible dirty disco and slow electronica songs that can break your heart.  Album is out in May 2012, including a short guest appearance by Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip.

Munk - Rue de Rome

Parts of the last Munk album have been recorded in Marseille, the dirty port city in the south of France. It was an opportunity to realize a big dream of Mathias from Munk: Doing a real gangster movie in the early 70ies Nauvelle Vague style. He hooked up with some director friends from Paris and the result is this little B movie bandito strip. Watch it all!   Music taken from the "The Bird and the Beat" - album.

Telonius - Last Night

Doesn't this sound like...let's say: Earth Wind & Fire in the studio with Masters at Work and a singer like Sam Sparro?
Anyway, ne more of mighty Telonius' nasty house jams. This one was one of the most successful Gomma releases in 2011. From blogs to MTV, the video was everywhere and was made by Munich design maestro Mirko Borsche.

Esperanza feat. Banjo or Freakout - Sirena



The second big new band on Gomma for 2012 is Esperanza. Three kids from Italy who make quite adult kind of music. Somewhere between 90'ss electronica, the psychedelic of the 70's and sound from other planets. Their album just came out. Everybody loves it. On this single they have been joined by mighty Banjo or Freakout aka Walls from Kompakt.

Munk - Mis Labios

Munk is Mathias Modica. Who runs Gomma along with his mate Jonas Imbery. The last Munk album "The Bird & The Beat" was released one year ago. Recorded in 8 cities with 10 female singers from around the world. This one features Joyce Muniz from Brasil. Video by German illustrator genius PAZE.

Box Codax - Seven Silvers



Franz Ferdinand's "man on the guitar" Nick McCarthy rarely has the time to work on his solo project Box Codax. But in 2011 he finished the second album on Gomma and it included this very special song. 

For more on Gomma and its forthcoming releases, head here

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