Date founded 2003 | Official website cronicaelectronica.org | |
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Founder Miguel CarvalhaisPedro TudelaLiaJoão CruzPaulo VinhasPedro Almeida Albums Sleppet, !Siam Acnun, Lanificio Leo, Water-Nature-City | ||
Crónica Electrónica, also known as Crónica, is an independent media-label based in Porto, Portugal. Founded in 2003 by Miguel Carvalhais, Pedro Tudela, Lia, João Cruz, Paulo Vinhas and Pedro Almeida, it publishes experimental sound and visual artists.
Originally formed around a small group of Portuguese artists, Crónica eventually expanded its roster to include international musicians and sound artists.
Since 2005, Crónica organizes a free annual event in Porto which is "simultaneous the celebration of the label's anniversary, a gathering of friends and lovers of experimental music and an offer to the city" it operates in.
Contents
Releases
Although many releases adhere to the standard CD format, among its outputs one can find two main alternative series that try to explore and expand the curatorial role of a music label and the potential of digital distribution.
Unlimited
The Unlimited release series are digital-only releases, available either as free downloads or as commercial editions from online retailers.
Limited
The Limited releases present physical goods which come in diverse formats, ranging from prints to objects or hand-cut vinyls. All of these are numbered and signed by the artist and are available in very limited quantities.
Futurónica
Futurónica is a radio program produced by the label, that is broadcast fortnightly by Rádio Zero (since 2009) and Rádio Manobras (since 2011).
Crónicaster
From 2005 to 2016, Crónica published 122 releases of a podcast, Crónicaster, in which were presented label-related pieces, such as radio broadcasts, live performances and remixes.
Recognition
Although the notability in Portugal, beyond a circle of musicians and some attentive followers of the label's activity, is diminished, the European and international panorama is quite different. It has become a reference in European experimental music and sound art.
Crónica has been praised for being a well curated label. It was compared to Mego, but the distinction became clear over time; Crónica uses noise without making noise music, and stands on a smaller, more targeted niche.
The label is known for the quality of their releases and their continuous effort to put out high-quality music. They make choices based on projects rather than musicians and have shown to make bold choices and have an eye for special music.
Their catalogue has been described as sharp and demanding, encompassing a diverse genres, such as electro-acoustic music, ambient, minimal music, improvised jazz and field-recordings.
In 2006, Crónica was present at the Sónar Festival in Barcelona. Miguel Carvalhais and Return (João Cruz) performed a set that showcased future releases.