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High Quality Recordings was initially set up as a micro/imaginary label to release and promote the ecclectic electronic productions of Geraint Ffrancon and his collaborators. Over the next seven years it grew and morphed into a frightening and unpredictable creature prone to sudden violent bilingual outbursts.

Fiercely bilingual in nature, it is the only record label in the world with two names - also known in Welsh as 'Recordiau Safon Uchel'.

Between 2002 and 2008 it existed more as art project than conventional record label, releasing 50 'objects' - including actual CD releases, radio sessions, live concert recordings, mixes, and the odd other thing or two such as a book - all involving Ffrancon in some way or other.

During the label's lifetime it has been lucky enough to: record three sessions for Radio 1 including a live one at Maida Vale Studios in London; played numerous times on UK national radio by Huw Stephens, Rob Da Bank, Mary Anne Hobbs, Steve Lamacq and Bethan Elfyn; and on radio stations throughout the world including WFMU in the States, Resonance FM in the UK, in Estonia, the Czech Republic, Azerbaijan, Burkina Faso, Belgium, Germany, and not forgetting Adam Walton and Huw Evans in Wales...; made the leap from tatty no-budget DIY record label to highbrow conceptual powerhouse after featuring in Welsh language channel S4C's 'Y Sioe Gelf' ('The Art Show') programme; featured in The Wire magazine; released audio on other labels including esteemed London electronic label Ai Records, and on Boobytrap and Machine Records in Cardiff; played live with a wide range of artists from Gruff Rhys to Daedelus to Venetian Snares.

High Quality Recordings comes to an end at the end of 2008, but perversely will continue next year in the guise of Recordiau.com - a part-download/part-physical label that will specialise in releasing electronic and leftfield music by a wide range of artists from Wales and beyond. See you then!

Contact High Quality Recordings here

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"Ultra cool, idyllic electronica" - The Wire
"Bonkers and electronic with genre ideas going all over the shop" - Huw Stephens, Radio 1

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Sefydlwyd Recordiau Safon Uchel yn wreiddiol fel label micro/dychmygol er mwyn rhyddhau a hyrwyddo cynhyrchiadau electronig eclectig Geraint Ffrancon a'i gydweithwyr. Dros y saith mlynedd diwetha tyfodd y label o'r gwreiddiau bach i fewn i anifail brawychus a peryglus.

Mae'n debyg mae dyma'r unig label yn y byd gyda dwy enw (yn Saesneg 'High Quality Recordings').

Rhwng 2002 a 2008 bodolodd y label mwy fel prosiect celf na label recordiau confensiynol, yn rhyddhau 50 'gwrthrych' - yn cynnwys CDs, sesiynau radio, recordiadau o gigs byw, micsys, a un neu ddau o bethau eraill fel llyfr - i gyd i wneud a Ffrancon rhyw ffordd neu gilydd.

Yn ystod bywyd y label mae wedi bod digon lwcus i: recordio tri sesiwn i Radio 1 yn cynnwys un byw yn stiwdios Maida Vale yn Llundain; wedi ei chwarae nifer o weithiau ar radio cenedlaethol y DU gan Huw Stephens, Rob Da Bank, Mary Anne Hobbs, Steve Lamacq a Bethan Elfyn; ac ar orsafoedd radio dros y byd i gyd yn cynnwys WFMU yn yr Unol Daleithiau, Resonance FM ym Mhrydain, yn Estonia, y Weriniaeth Czech, Azerbaijan, Burkina Faso, Gwlad Belg, Yr Almaen, a heb anghofio Adam Walton a Huw Evans yng Nghymru; wedi gwneud y naid o label recordiau DIY anniben i un o labeli mwya diwylliedig y wlad yn 2005 ar ôl ymddangosiad ar 'Y Sioe Gelf' ar S4C; ymddangosiad yng nghylchgrawn 'The Wire'; a rhyddhau recordiau ar amryw o labeli eraill yn cynnwys label Electronic Llundain Ai Records, ac ar Boobytrap a Machine Records yng Nghaerdydd; chwarae gigs byw gyda ystod eang o artistiad dros y saith mlynedd diwetha' - o Gruff Rhys i Daedelus i Venetian Snares.

Bydd Recordiau Safon Uchel yn dod i ben yn 2008, ond ar yr un pryd yn cario mlaen o dan yr enw Recordiau.com - label newydd bydd yn rhyddhau lawrlwythiadau a CDs electroneg ag amgen yma ac yn y man, gan artistiaid o Gymru a thuw hwnt. Dewch nol i'n gweld ni blwyddyn nesa!

Cysylltwch a Recordiau Safon Uchel yma