Fresh Sounds Inc

About

Fresh Sounds Inc was a pulse in the shifting fabric of early-80s experimental music. From 1980 to 1985, this label based its operations on a multimedia philosophy, stitching together the auditory and visual into a singular experience. With only thirteen releases in its archive, each artifact feels intentional, a deliberate act of curation rather than accumulation. Formats varied from LPs and cassettes to magazines and VHS, reflecting an interdisciplinary approach to sound and media. The release of "Psychic TV Psychlopaedia Volume # Two: Ritual Cuttings and Eden 3" embodies Fresh Sounds Inc's commitment to the exploration of video art. This dedication to the visual medium reverberates in the "Fresh Sounds Video Catalogue 1985," a testament to the label's expansive vision. From the raw intensity of S.P.K.'s "Last Attempt at Paradise" to the politically charged resonance of Brygada Kryzys's "Crisis Brigade," the label's output traversed a spectrum of themes and geographies. "Fresh Sounds from Middle America Vol.1" and Vol.2 captured the region's vibrant undercurrent, offering a platform for voices that might have otherwise remained in the shadows. By embracing tape culture, Fresh Sounds Inc amplified the ephemeral and the underground, allowing experimental sound to permeate beyond traditional boundaries. This regional focus was mirrored by releases like the Embarrassment's "Retrospective," which echoed the local scene's idiosyncrasies. In its brief existence, Fresh Sounds Inc became a node in the network of experimental creativity, creating connections between artists such as Chron Gen, Play Dead, and They Must Be Russians. The label's eclectic catalog remains a sculptural testament to the exploratory spirit of the early 1980s, a time capsule of a liminal space where sound and vision collided.