Three Berlin-based record labels select their 10 essential Berlin records

©Dustin Main used with permission

To celebrate the launch of Independent Label Market: Berlin on Sunday, we’ve been on the hunt for the top Berlin records of all time. We asked bosses at !K7, Monkeytown and Klasse Recordings (who will all be manning stalls this weekend) to give us their essential Berlin selection, and here it is.

!K7 has a focus on electronic sounds, but the group also runs four independent labels that between them cover most of the musical spectrum. Their prolific DJ Kicks series has grown into one of the most prestigious DJ mix compilations around.

Selected by Horst Weidenmueller, below are !K7’s 10 essential Berlin records.

David Hasselhoff

Looking For Freedom (White Records, 1989)

Einstürzende Neubauten

Halber Mensch (Some Bizzare, 1985)

Ideal

Blaue Augen (Innovative Communication, 1980)

Alexander Marcus

Papaya (Kontor, 2008)

Vril

Torus (Forum, 2014)

Peter Grummich

Berlin 8am (Morris/Audio, 2008)

Edward

A Piece Of Us (Giegling, 2010)

Rhythm & Sound

See Mi Yah (Burial Mix, 2006)

Round One

I’m Your Brother (Main Street, 1994)

Dixon
Temporary Secretary – Dixon Edits (Innervisions, 2009)

Monkeytown Records is an electronic music label, owned by Sebastian Szary and Gernot Bronsert of Modeselektor. The label has released music by Moderat, Modeselektor, Mouse on Mars, Otto von Schirach, amongst others.

Chosen by Modeselektor, below are Monkeytown’s 10 essential Berlin records.

Maurizio

Ploy (Maurizio, 1992)