Doublevision

About

Emerging from the UK’s fertile experimental soil in 1982, Doublevision was less a label and more an interdisciplinary crucible. In a brief yet incandescent existence, it forged a new path with only 17 releases, each a deliberate collision of sound and vision. Cabaret Voltaire, Chris and Cosey, and Clock DVA – these names weren't merely on the roster; they were integral to the label's DNA, sculpting each release as a unique artifact. The label's catalog, a tightly curated collection, was an exercise in liminality. With its mix of LPs, VHS tapes, and magazines, Doublevision embraced the process-driven ethos, treating each format as an exploratory medium. Releases like Throbbing Gristle's "In the Shadow of the Sun," a cinematic collaboration with Derek Jarman, and Chris and Cosey's "Elemental 7" traversed the liminal space between visual art and experimental soundscapes, each a fractal of the UK underground's vibrant pulse. Doublevision's aesthetic was sculptural, from the sonic architecture of Richard H. Kirk's electronic landscapes to the interdisciplinary narratives interwoven in its magazines. The label's emphasis on collaborative projects created a network of artistic exchange, with releases like "BANG" by Hafler Trio and the multimedia "European Rendezvous" by CTI (Chris and Cosey) capturing the zeitgeist of a scene in flux. In its short lifespan until 1985, Doublevision distilled an era of radical experimentation, leaving an indelible imprint on the UK experimental landscape. A testament not just to the music or the artists, but to the process itself, each release a sculpted moment in time.