Renaissance goes into administration?

One of the most influential record labels of the 90’s is rumoured to have gone into administration.

The label, which grew out of the midlands club night of the same name, was host to the leading lights of the progressive house scene, with DJ’s such as Dave Seaman, Sasha and Digweed, James Zabiela, Sander Kleinenberg, Yousef, Hernan Cattaneo and Steve Lawler all being regular features at both the global events and releasing music on the imprint.

As a label, Renaissance championed the progressive house sound right from its inception in 1992, born from a Mansfield Club night, which was styled with the decadent drapes and cherubs that became the brands signature style, (a complete contrast to the rave scene of the time).  It was at one of these early club nights that Sasha and Digweed fist ever met. The brand hosted parties in Ibiza for 10 consecutive years, and held the one of longest ever UK club residencies at The Cross in London until it shut its doors in 2007.

Much of the labels success came from the CD mix series it continually released, taking in influences from the many, many parties hosted under the brand name worldwide. These included the Masters Series, Worldwide, Progression and Renaissance Presents. With that in mind it’s easy to speculate that shift away from CD mix compilations in the digital age is one of the reasons for the iconic labels demise.

Not much detail has been confirmed yet, last Wednesday London based ReSolve Partners LLP sent out a notice that the label had gone into administration.  A sad day for music indeed.

We’ll let you know when we hear more concrete news, in the meantime we’d suggest a listen (and get your mits on a hard copy- they’ll be like gold dust now) of Renaissance Singapore mixed by Dave Seaman in way of a tribute, in my opinion one of the finest DJ mixes ever released, and dig out the original The Mix  Collection Volume 1, Sasha and Digweeds first ever mix compilation. Or failing that, listen to Skydive by Freefall, for me one of the most iconic tracks of its era, when dance music and club culture really did change the world.


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