About

Fringe Biology Recordings is a Seattle-based record label of outsider recording artists specializing in experimental rock, avant electronic music, sci-fi soundtracks, krautrock, and science-inspired music (see an example here from the Hypermutator album by Rubber Band Banjo of a series of biological mutations in DNA that were converted into audio mutations).  Subgenres include space rock, post punk, jazz, avant rock, early industrial, black and avant-garde metal, progressive rock (like we know how to play!), hip hop, psychedelic rock, cut-ups, soundscapes, warped pop, and dub. Our primary instrument is the recording studio, we practice DIY aesthestics, and we may or may not know how to play our instruments the “correct” way. We practice different approaches to music making ranging from pure programming via MIDI, to layering one instrument on top of the next as in a traditional music studio, to looping pedal experiments, to pure improvisation recording many instruments simultaneously as in a live setting but with contact mics attached to different objects to amplify unusual vibrations.

The music we release is inspired by diverse and esoteric topics such as synthetic and evolutionary biology, urban decay, space travel, science run amok, ancient and modern technology for the both the good of mankind and its own destruction, and the abstract notion of wave genetics. We enjoy the films of David Cronenberg, Alejandro Jodorowsky, David Lynch, Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, Nobuhiko Obayashi, Fritz Lang, Luis Buñuel, and the literature of William S. Burroughs, J.G. Ballard, Philip K. Dick, Brion Gysin, Jorge Luis Borges, Thomas Pynchon, Neal Stephenson, and W.B. Yeats.

Music videos are also released on DVD. We still believe in the full-length album with artwork that should be heard and felt as an entire work of art and not fragmented into individual downloads. But we do offer the latter option for convenience. Much time is put into our album artwork and the only way to see most of this is to buy the physical albums unless you subscribe to our Fringe Fan Club. Unfortunately the tiny front cover image seen on streaming services is a far cry from opening up a vinyl gatefold.

Our current and past artists include Von Sleight, Rubber Band Banjo, Revolutionary Cells, Bocinas, Sean Von Sleight, Caustic Enzymes, Devil on Parade, Machines For Hire, Borg and the Ultimate Seeds, Mutant Microbes, and Brickburner. Tracks from FBR artists have been played on WFMU, KEXP, Warren Ellis mixtapes, Hollow Earth Radio, Don Campau’s No Pigeonholes show and Weirdsville! Web Radio, made into Ninja videos, and have been the theme song for the sci-fi podcast Billibub Baddings. Several FBR releases are available on CD Baby, iTunes, Napster, eMusic, Amazon, and other digital distribution sites. Selected releases have been available at Wall of Sound, Dissonant Plane, and Sonic Boom record shops in Seattle, WA.

Currently we are looking to expand our audio and video releases from like-minded artists. We will help you release your album here, get it out to the masses through digital distributors such as iTunes and Spotify, and market your release for review and radio play. See the demo policy if interested.

Some of our musical influences include Neu!, Can, Faust, Cluster, Kraftwerk, Harmonia, La Dusseldorf, Heldon, Hawkwind, Keuhkot, Circle, Cleaning Women, Magyar Posse, Alamaailman Vasarat, Aavikko, Einsturzende Neubauten, Coil, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, The Residents, Sun Ra, Idiot Flesh, Moe!kestra, Secret Chiefs 3, Mr. Bungle, Sir Millard Mulch, Faith No More, Dalek, Cardiacs, Frank Zappa, Herbie Hancock, Charles Mingus, David Bowie, Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle, Tuxedomoon, Wire, Gang of Four, Devo, Joy Division, Pere Ubu, Lee Scratch Perry, Bogus Blimp, When, Ulver, Arcturus, Solefald, Enslaved, Thy Catafalque, Shining, Messer Chups, Henry Cow, Art Bears, other RIO bands, Magma, Fred Frith, Chris Cutler, King Crimson, early Genesis, Brian Eno, DNA, Der Plan, Palais Schaumburg, and many more.