Coldcut

For cold cut meats, see Lunch meat.

Coldcut
Matt Black at a Coldcut performance, 2006
Matt Black at a Coldcut performance, 2006
Background information
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Years active1986–present
LabelsNinja Tune (current), Tommy Boy/Reprise/Warner Bros. (former)
Members
WebsiteColdcut.net

Coldcut are an English electronic music duo composed of Matt Black and Jonathan More. Credited as pioneers for pop sampling in the 1980s,[1] Coldcut are also considered the first stars of UK electronic dance music[2] due to their innovative style, which featured cut-up samples of hip-hop, soul, funk, spoken word and various other types of music, as well as video and multimedia. According to Spin, "in '87 Coldcut pioneered the British fad for 'DJ records'".[3]

Coldcut's records first introduced the public to pop artists Yazz and Lisa Stansfield,[4] through which these artists achieved pop chart success. In addition, Coldcut has remixed and created productions on tracks by the likes of Eric B & Rakim, James Brown, Queen Latifah, Eurythmics, INXS, Steve Reich, Blondie, the Fall, Pierre Henry, Nina Simone, Fog, Red Snapper, and BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

Beyond their work as a production duo, Coldcut are the founders of Ninja Tune, an independent record label in London, England (with satellite offices in Los Angeles and Berlin) with an overall emphasis on encouraging interactive technology[5] and finding innovative uses of software.[6] The label's first releases (the first four volumes of DJ Food - Jazz Brakes) were produced by Coldcut in the early '90s, and composed of instrumental hip-hop cuts that led the duo to help pioneer the trip hop genre,[7] with artists such as Funki Porcini, the Herbaliser and DJ Vadim.[8]

  1. ^ Media, Spin L.L.C. (December 1996). Spin – via 1996.
  2. ^ "After 200bpm, your heart blows up". The Guardian. 2006.
  3. ^ Media, Spin L.L.C. (April 1998). Spin – via 1998.
  4. ^ McAleer, Dave (June 1990). The Omnibus Book of British and American hit singles, 1960-1990. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780711921801 – via 1990.
  5. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (7 September 1996). Billboard – via 1996. {{cite book}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ "Music Week". 9 August 1997.
  7. ^ "After 200 bpm, your heart blows up". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2006.
  8. ^ "(unknown title)". Music Week. 9 August 1997.