Pips and Blanks

Domino Special on RBMA Radio

The Domino Recording Company has been doing things their way for over 15 years now – and it just so happens their way sets the bar pretty darn high.

Founder Laurence Bell started the label from very scant beginings, and from the get-go established his own set of principles on how to run things. Champions of outsiders like Will Oldham, Bill Callahan, Steve Malkmus, and Elliot Smith, they've never compromised their vision, and have been awarded commercial and critical acclaim because of it. Now synonymous with the zeitgeist, the Domino roster is one of the most varied whilst maintaining its own signature output of exciting, searching music. Red Bull Music Academy Radio and Domino have been shaking up the radio waves for time now, and have racked up plenty of shows in the process.

Two of our most-listened shows have been from Baltimore's psych-folk-drone wanderers Animal Collective, whose Headphone Highlights thread together a mix we could never have expected, while a Fireside Chat with the guys gives us a rare glimpse of what it's like to be in one of the most sought-after groups anywhere at the moment. Another group repping the East Coast are Dirty Projectors, the brain child of David Longstreth. With a sound cherry-picked from a wide array of different sources, they bring to mind several open-minded experimentalists, such as Elvis Costello, Edwyn Collins, and Bob Dylan, as well as recent collaborator David Byrne.

Domino has also been home to Kieran Hebden aka Four Tet, whose consistent explorations into electronic sound and collaborations with the likes of Steve Reid and Burial have produced startling results. Similarly Max Tundra blends ideas together like breakfast smoothies, pulling together his eclectic taste in music to make a different flavour for every song.

Sometimes Domino acts as an umbrella to protect an artist from showering accolades, such as multi-talented producer, composer, and songwriter Jon Hopkins. Jon not only has a keen ear for a melody, but also fro how it should sound, and has been called-upon by the likes of Herbie Hancock, Coldplay, and David Holmes to help bring the magic to their studio sessions. His musical mind also complimented fellow label mates King Creosote, whose trip through Scottish folk and thunderous ‘80s pop dramas has thrown up some bitter-sweet beauties... and the journey's not over yet.

But we couldn't talk about Domino and not mention Franz Ferdinand. These Scots not only racked up rave reviews from critics, and top slots in singles and album charts, but they also ushered in a new era for the label. Forerunning a new wave of art rock party-starters, the Franz found their penchant for crafty lyrics and no-nonsense riffs taking them all round the world. On a similar party vibe, if sounding quite different, Sinden and Hervé’s mix of electronic beats with rave attitude has thrust just as many hands in the air.

There's plenty of other shows from the Domino roster, so take a moment to scan the selection. Seems all the dominoes are falling up!

Not Not Fun
Smooth as silk on RBMA Radio

Martial Law
A Ninja Tune Special on RBMA Radio

2011 Round-Up
Rewind the past twelve months with some of our favourite music from Academy alumni around the globe

Springtime in Fall
Highlights from Primavera Club 2011

15 years of Versatile Records
The quintessential Paris label celebrates its anniversary

Gracias Por Todo, Madrid
Total Recall: Red Bull Music Academy 2011

Merry Go Sound
Madrid 2011 - Term One

Más Matadero
Red Bull Music Academy 2011 - Week One

Amplified Beyond The Beat
Radio highlights from the RBMA World Tour 2011

Deep Fried Dap
Highlights from the Daptone family tree on RBMA Radio

Under The Westway
RBMA x Major Lazer sets from Notting Hill Carnival now on air

No Sleep Till Olganitz
Highlights from Germany's Nachtdigital fest on RBMA Radio

In The City
Festivalwatch: Stadtmusik.FM, Basel

LA Parklife
RBMA Radio goes HARD Summer

Neo Neo
Neopop Festival special on RBMA Radio

Croatia Calling
Hartera special on RBMA Radio

Sète You Free
RBMA Radio goes Worldwide

Another Place, Another Time
Sónar in review on RBMA Radio

Move, D!
Movement Detroit highlights on RBMA Radio

Heatmakers
Boiler Room one-year anniversary and special on RBMA Radio

Nuits Up
Les Nuits Sonores Special on RBMA Radio

Les Yper Sound
Festivalwatch #2: La Villette Sonique, May 27 - June 1

Making Wavves
Young Turks special on RBMA Radio

Far East Movement
Highlights from SónarSound Tokyo on RBMA Radio

The Royal Catalonian
An audio recap of the A Taste of Sonár event in London

Hörvergnügen
A German Sound Exploration

The Devil's Dancers
New Wave + Industrial highlights on Red Bull Music Academy Radio

Crossing The Border
James Holden opens his record box for RBMA Radio

Kind Of Blue
Brand new shows from Hercules and Love Affair, and interview with band producer Patrick Pulsinger

Ginga Beat
Portuguese show on RBMA Radio turns 100

Word On The Street
Chairman Mao navigates through old and new on RBMA Radio

In The Moog For Love
Moog music on RBMA Radio

Elevator Music
Elevate Festival on RBMA Radio

Year-End Closing!
The year 2010 in Academyworld

Boogie Wonderland
Boogie past, present and future on RBMA Radio

Night Skanking
Night Slugs Special with Bok Bok on RBMA Radio

Circle Of Dub
RBMA Radio & Tectonic Recordings launch dubstep into outer space

Dusty Fingers
A special selection for vinyl lovers and dollar bin kingpins

Frequency Modulation
RBMA Radio Pop-Up Studio @ Amsterdam Dance Event

Concrete Jungle
RBMA Radio Pop-Up Studio @ Amsterdam Dance Event

Basement Boys
Red Bull Music Academy x Dommune

Flashback
2010 festival highlights on RBMA Radio

Another Revolution
Kirk Degiorgio's Sound Obsession turns fifty

Heat Wave
Major Lazer x Notting Hill Carnival session on RBMA Radio

Lights Down Low
Four hour set from Theo Parrish on RBMA Radio

The Hundreds In The Hands
PanamériKa turns 100

On The Double
Hyperdub Special on RBMA Radio

Green Professors
RBMA Radio at Oxegen Festival

Cabride Reveries
SonarDome x RBMA Radio

Parclife
Primavera Sound Special on RBMA Radio

Move With It
Movement Festival Detroit on RBMA Radio

future roots experiments
dublab focus on RBMA Radio

D10
Dissonanze special on RBMA Radio

Rappin’ All Over
New hip hop shows on RBMA Radio

Zombie Nation
RBMA residency at Fabric kicks off with Brainfeeder

Tech The High Road
RBMA and RA hit the Royal Festival Hall

Sublime Frequencies
RBMA Culture Clash feat. Trojan, Soul ll Soul, Metalheadz and DMZ

Hitek House
Future Garage Special on RBMA Radio

Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah!
Disco special on RBMA Radio

Bubble Metropolis
Detroit Special on RBMA Radio

Listen Death From Above
DFA label spotlight on Red Bull Music Academy Radio

Chords Got Soul
Soul singers tune up on RBMA Radio

Dub Be Good To Me
The London-Kingston love affair on RBMA Radio

Making Waves
Mavericks of an era on Red Bull Music Academy Radio

Africa Center Of The World
Continental Focus on RBMA Radio

I Hear You Singing In The Wire
Wichita Records Label Special on RBMA Radio

Northern Soul
WARP/ED special on RBMA

Be Reasonable, People
Warp Records Label Special on RBMA Radio

No Ice Cream Sounds
Notting Hill Carnival Special on RBMA Radio

Yes We Cannes
Festival Pantiero special on RBMA Radio

Break A Dawn
Nachtdigital Special on RBMA Radio

Pips and Blanks
Domino Special on RBMA Radio

Punchestown Drunk Love
Oxegen festival special on RBMA Radio

Beats It
Beats Special on RBMA Radio

Catalunya Calling (Back)
Red Bull Music Academy presents SónarDôme 2009

Dem A Call Us Pirates…
RBMA Radio takes over Lisbon's airwaves

The Wolf Gang
Stones Throw Records Label Special

Lane Stage
St Jerome's Laneway Festival Special