Platipus Records

Platipus Records was a British electronic music record label established in London in 1993 by Simon Berry. It became associated primarily with trance music, while its catalogue also drew on psychedelic trance, acid trance, progressive trance, uplifting trance, techno-influenced styles and related forms of electronic dance music. The label’s early output was concentrated around Berry’s own projects, including Union Jack, Clanger and Art of Trance, giving Platipus a distinctive producer-led identity rather than the broad artist roster of a conventional major label. The label’s catalogue developed through a mixture of original artist projects, singles and releases that became recognized within the international trance scene. Artists and projects connected with Platipus included Albion, AMbassador, Art of Trance, BT, Clanger, Dawnseekers, Innate, Kansai, L.S.G., Moogwai, Neo & Farina, Nicely, Paragliders, Pob, Poltergeist, Quietman, S.O.L., Technossomy, Terra Ferma, Union Jack and Z2. The label was also linked with notable releases such as Union Jack’s “Red Herring” and “Two Full Moons and a Trout,” Albion’s “Air,” and Art of Trance’s “Madagascar.” The reference material also identifies BT’s “Anomaly (Calling Your Name)” and Robert Miles’ “Children” among releases associated with the label, although the precise nature of every catalogue relationship is not specified in the available material. Platipus changed stylistic direction during the late 1990s. The success of Art of Trance releases including “Calling Your Name” and “Madagascar” in 1999 encouraged the label to explore a more epic trance sound, moving beyond the psychedelic and acid trance emphasis of its earlier period. It also featured releases from Pob and broadened its roster with artists such as Dawnseekers and Quietman. To organize different strands of its output, Platipus established the Gekko and Platipus Euro sublabels. Gekko was associated with more tribal and techno-influenced trance, while Platipus Euro focused on progressive and uplifting styles and featured acts including Neo & Farina and RAH. Gekko was a distinct imprint and was not related to Disco Gekko Records. Platipus Records Ltd ceased trading in April 2010, ending the label’s original corporate operation after approximately seventeen years. Simon Berry and associated artists initially continued under Porcupine Records. That arrangement was later superseded by the creation of Platipus Music at the end of 2011. The original Platipus Records entity is therefore defunct, although its catalogue, artists and influence remain part of the history of British trance and electronic dance music.

Platipus Records was founded in London in 1993 by Simon Berry. Its early identity was closely tied to Berry’s own recording projects, particularly Union Jack, Clanger and Art of Trance. Rather than beginning as a broad commercial label, it developed through a focused catalogue of electronic music projects connected to the emerging British and international trance scenes. The label’s early releases were principally associated with psychedelic trance and acid trance. Union Jack became one of the best-known projects connected with the imprint, with releases including “Red Herring” and “Two Full Moons and a Trout.” Other notable catalogue associations included Albion’s “Air,” material from Art of Trance, and releases connected with artists such as BT and Robert Miles. The available reference material identifies BT’s “Anomaly (Calling Your Name)” and Robert Miles’ “Children” among the label’s famous releases, although it does not provide detailed release-credit or licensing information for each title. As the label matured, its roster expanded beyond Berry’s initial projects. Acts associated with the label included Dawnseekers, Quietman, Pob, L.S.G., Moogwai, Technossomy, Terra Ferma, Paragliders, Poltergeist, Innate, Kansai, Nicely, S.O.L., Z2, AMbassador, Neo & Farina and RAH. This broader roster allowed Platipus to operate across several adjacent forms of trance and electronic dance music. A significant stylistic transition occurred in the late 1990s. The success of Art of Trance material, including “Calling Your Name” and “Madagascar” in 1999, led Platipus toward a more epic trance sound. This represented a change from the label’s earlier emphasis on psychedelic and acid trance. The label continued to use its catalogue and artist network to cover different stylistic territories rather than maintaining a single narrow sonic formula. Platipus also created two sublabels. Gekko presented a more tribal and techno-oriented interpretation of trance. Platipus Euro emphasized progressive and uplifting styles and included artists such as Neo & Farina and RAH. Gekko was a separate imprint from Disco Gekko Records, despite the similarity in name. The original company, Platipus Records Ltd, ceased trading in April 2010. After the closure, Simon Berry and connected artists initially operated under Porcupine Records. That continuation was later replaced by the creation of Platipus Music at the end of 2011. These successor arrangements indicate an attempt to preserve elements of the label’s creative and artist network, but they do not make the original Platipus Records Ltd an active company. The original label is consequently treated as defunct, with its historical significance resting on its trance catalogue, associated artists and sublabel structure.

• 2011

  Platipus Music established

  [1]Platipus Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  After an interim continuation under Porcupine Records, Platipus Music was founded at the end of 2011.

• 2010

  Original company ceased trading

  [1]Platipus Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Platipus Records Ltd ceased trading in April 2010.

• 1999

  Shift toward epic trance

  [1]Platipus Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Following the success of Art of Trance releases including “Calling Your Name” and “Madagascar,” the label moved toward a more epic trance style.

• 1993

  Platipus Records founded

  [1]Platipus Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Simon Berry founded Platipus Records in London, establishing a label centered on electronic and trance music.

An independent British trance label with roots in psychedelic and acid trance, later expanding into epic, progressive, uplifting and techno-influenced electronic music.

• Trance and electronic music recordings · 1993

  Platipus Records catalogue

  The principal output of Platipus Records consisted of trance and related electronic dance music recordings. Early releases were strongly associated with psychedelic and acid trance, while the label later expanded into epic, progressive, uplifting and techno-influenced forms. Its catalogue was built around artist projects and singles rather than a consumer-goods product range.

• Sublabel

  Gekko

  Gekko was a Platipus sublabel focused on tribal and techno-influenced flavours of trance. It provided a separate outlet for material that differed from the main imprint’s broader trance identity. The available reference material specifically distinguishes it from the unrelated Disco Gekko Records.

• Sublabel

  Platipus Euro

  Platipus Euro was a sublabel oriented toward progressive and uplifting trance. Artists associated with the imprint included Neo & Farina and RAH. It extended Platipus’s reach into melodic and club-focused areas of the broader European trance market.

• 2010

  Continuation under Porcupine RecordsStrategy

  Background

  Platipus Records Ltd ceased trading in April 2010.

  Action taken

  Simon Berry and associated artists initially relaunched their activities under Porcupine Records.

  Aftermath

  The Porcupine Records phase was subsequently superseded by Platipus Music in late 2011.

  Source

• 1999

  Adoption of a more epic trance directionStrategy

  Background

  The success of Art of Trance releases such as “Calling Your Name” and “Madagascar” created momentum for a stylistic expansion beyond the label’s earlier psychedelic and acid trance emphasis.

  Action taken

  Platipus increased its focus on epic trance while continuing to work across related electronic styles.

  Aftermath

  The change broadened the label’s musical identity and preceded further development through the Gekko and Platipus Euro sublabels.

  Source

• Creation of genre-focused sublabelsStrategy

  Background

  Platipus needed distinct outlets for different strands of its expanding trance catalogue.

  Action taken

  It established Gekko for tribal and techno-influenced trance and Platipus Euro for progressive and uplifting material.

  Aftermath

  The sublabels enabled the wider Platipus operation to present multiple trance styles under related but differentiated identities.

  Source

• 2011

  Platipus Music was founded[1]Platipus Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Porcupine Records phase was later superseded by the establishment of Platipus Music at the end of 2011.

• 2010

  Platipus Records Ltd ceased trading[1]Platipus Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy

  The original Platipus Records corporate entity ceased trading in April 2010 after operating for approximately seventeen years.

• 2010

  Platipus artists continued through Porcupine Records[1]Platipus Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following the end of Platipus Records Ltd, Simon Berry and associated artists initially relaunched their activities under the Porcupine Records name.

1. 1Platipus Recordsen.wikipedia.org