Another Timbre is an independent record label based in Sheffield that has earned an international reputation for releasing experimental, contemporary classical and free improvisation music.
Founded in 2007 by recording engineer Simon Reynell, the label is known for its meticulous production values, minimalist design and commitment to music that explores quietness, texture and sonic detail rather than conventional melody or rhythm. Reynell established Another Timbre while working as a television sound recordist, initially as a way of documenting musicians whose work he admired but who were often overlooked by larger labels. He has engineered and produced many of the label’s recordings himself, giving the catalogue a remarkably consistent sound quality and aesthetic. The label’s distinctive artwork—typically featuring a white background, restrained typography and a small abstract image—has become instantly recognisable among collectors.
The label’s first release, Tempestuous (2007), featured improvisers John Butcher, Xavier Charles and Axel Dörner. Early releases concentrated on non-idiomatic free improvisation in the tradition of Derek Bailey and the influential ensemble AMM. Over time, the catalogue broadened to embrace experimental composition, particularly music influenced by John Cage, Morton Feldman and the composers of the Wandelweiser collective.
One of Another Timbre’s landmark releases was the 2012 six-CD box set Wandelweiser und so weiter, which introduced many listeners to the music of composers such as Jürg Frey, Radu Malfatti and Michael Pisaro. The collection was widely praised for helping establish the Wandelweiser aesthetic with a much broader audience.
In addition to producing recordings, Another Timbre has organised concerts at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Sheffield’s Music in the Round and in collaboration with the Music We’d Like To Hear series and Cafe OTO in London. The label has also commissioned new works for performance and recording from composers such as Jürg Frey, Linda Catlin Smith and James Weeks. It has also built a substantial online archive, making excerpts from its catalogue available to encourage wider appreciation of experimental music.
Although operating on a small scale, Another Timbre has become one of the world’s most respected specialist labels for contemporary experimental music. By 2023 it had released more than 200 CDs, many of which are regarded as definitive recordings within the fields of free improvisation, lowercase music and post-Cageian composition. Its careful curation, exceptional recording quality and uncompromising artistic vision have made it an important cultural export from Sheffield and a significant influence on the international experimental music community.
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