Hyperium Records was a German

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

specializing in

darkwave Dark wave (also typeset as darkwave) is a music genre that emerged from the new wave and post-punk movement of the late 1970s. Dark wave compositions are largely based on minor key tonality and introspective lyrics and have been perceived as be ...

, neoclassical,

ethereal Ethereal may refer to: *Ethereal (horse), a horse that won Australia's Caulfield Cup as well as Melbourne Cup in 2001 *Ethereal wave, or simply ethereal, a subgenre of dark wave music *Wireshark, formerly named Ethereal, a free and open-source pack ...

gothic rock Gothic rock (also called goth rock or simply goth) is a style of rock music that emerged from post-punk in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The first post-punk bands which shifted toward dark music with gothic overtones include Siouxsie a ...

, and

ambient Ambient or Ambiance or Ambience may refer to: Music and sound * Ambience (sound recording), also known as atmospheres or backgrounds * Ambient music, a genre of music that puts an emphasis on tone and atmosphere * ''Ambient'' (album), by Moby * ...

music, founded by Oliver Roesch (also known as "Oli" Roesch) and Oliver van Essenberg in 1991. Roesch died on August 1, 2002 in a motorcycle accident.

Releases

''Heavenly Voices'' compilations

Hyperium released a series of ''Heavenly Voices'' compilation series, which featured prominent use of female vocals in a neo-classical,

neofolk Neofolk, also known as apocalyptic folk, is a form of experimental music blending elements of folk and industrial music, which emerged in punk rock circles in the 1980s. Neofolk may either be solely acoustic or combine acoustic folk instrumenta ...

, world music, trip hop or

style. "Heavenly Voices" has often been used as a genre term, particularly during the mid to late 1990s. Love Is Colder Than Death claim that the series was inspired by their music. The first few compilations featured music by many of the label's own artists, as well as guest appearance by other notable bands of the ethereal/gothic/darkwave scene including

Bel Canto Bel canto (Italian for "beautiful singing" or "beautiful song", )—with several similar constructions (''bellezze del canto'', ''bell'arte del canto'')—is a term with several meanings that relate to Italian singing. The phrase was not associat ...

Faith & the Muse Faith and the Muse is an American rock band composed of Monica Richards and William Faith. Their music encompasses many genres, from folk music to dark wave, drawing on many sources and influences, notably Dead Can Dance. Richards is the primar ...

, Gitane Demone, In The Nursery, Miranda Sex Garden,

Ordo Equitum Solis Ordo Equitum Solis (abbreviated OES) are an alternative music band consisting of French Leithana, pseudonym of Nathalie Herrera (vocals, keyboards, zither, percussions) and Italian Deraclamo, pseudonym of Paolo De Marco (vocals, guitar). The duo ...

and The Moon Seven Times. In 1997, American independent label Cleopatra Records released a Hyperium licensed compilation called ''Heavenly Voices'' subtitled, "A collection of the finest female vocals in ethereal, darkwave & gothic".

Artists

The following are artists with releases on Hyperium Records: * !Bang Elektronika * Attrition * Autopsia * Calva y Nada * Chandeen * Claire Voyant * Clock DVA *

Dark Orange Dark Orange is an ethereal wave band from Hamburg, Germany and is probably best known for their gothic rendition of Paul Simon's "Sounds of Silence". History Dark Orange's last release with Hyperium Records, "The Sea Is My Soul", taken from t ...

* Die Form * Digital Factor *

Digital Poodle Digital Poodle was an electronic music, electro-industrial music, industrial/electronic body music, EBM band, based in Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was formed in 1986 and remained active until about 1995. Background Formed in 1986 by vo ...

* Eleven Shadows * Forthcoming Fire * Jarboe * The Wake *

Louisa John-Krol Louisa John-Krol is a Melbourne-based Australian artist of the romantic folk/ pop genre - described as 'romantic pop-ethereal faerie' music by the artist herself and others. She has released six albums to date, originally on the German label, Hyp ...

* Love Is Colder Than Death * Mellonta Tauta * Mynox Layh * Regenerator * Sleeping Dogs Wake * Still Patient? *

Stoa A stoa (; plural, stoas,"stoa", ''Oxford English Dictionary'', 2nd Ed., 1989 stoai, or stoae ), in ancient Greek architecture, is a covered walkway or portico, commonly for public use. Early stoas were open at the entrance with columns, usually ...

* Sweet William * The Tors of Dartmoor * Rise And fall of a Decade * Speaking Silence The following artists were co-released by Hyperium Records and Projekt Records: * Attrition * Black Tape for a Blue Girl * Bleak *

Eden Eden may refer to: * Garden of Eden, the "garden of God" described in the Book of Genesis Places and jurisdictions Canada * Eden, Ontario * Eden High School Middle East * Eden, Lebanon, a city and former bishopric * Camp Eden, Iraq O ...

* Human Drama *

Love Spirals Downwards Love Spirals Downwards was an American, California-based band, that incorporated ethereal wave, dream pop, drum and bass and electronica. History Love Spirals Downwards was begun by multi-instrumentalist Ryan Lum and then-girlfriend Suzann ...

* Soul Whirling Somewhere

References

External links

Discogs page for Hyperium
{{Authority control German record labels Record labels established in 1991 Record labels disestablished in 2002 German independent record labels Electronic music record labels Goth record labels Ambient music record labels 1991 establishments in Germany