Warp Records is a pioneering independent
UK record label, founded in
Sheffield in
1989, notable for discovering some of the most enduring artists in
electronic music.Founded by Steve Beckett and Rob Mitchell, from their experiences working at the FON record store, and producer Robert Gordon, the label (whose name was chosen because the original name, 'Warped Records' was difficult to distinguish over the telephone) and store soon became home to artists who would be highly influential in shaping the future of music. The first release (WAP1) was by Forgemasters (produced by Robert Gordon), whose limited 500 copy pressing of "Track With No Name" was financed by an Enterprise Allowance grant. It set a trend for the early releases both in terms of sound and the use of purple sleeves. This was followed up by
Nightmares on Wax's "Dextrous" and with WAP5 the label had its first top twenty chart success with
LFO and their eponymous single selling 120,000 copies. The first album released was
Sweet Exorcist's C.C.E.P. in
1991. Robert Gordon left
Warp acrimoniously in 1991 around the time of their Tomas release "Mind Song".
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