Songlines Recordings

Songlines Recordings is an independent record label established in Vancouver in 1992. It produces modern and avant jazz that typically crosses musical borders, as well as contemporary world music, usually with an Asian focus, featuring artists based in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. From 2001 to 2009 almost all of its releases were hybrid SACDs, and its releases are available as 24-bit stereo downloads.

Songlines Recordings was established in Vancouver in 1992. It produces modern and avant jazz that typically crosses musical borders (with contemporary classical, rock, non-western folk and classical musics, ambient, etc.) and contemporary world music, usually with an Asian focus (Arabic and Persian music, Javanese gamelan), featuring artists based in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. The name "songlines" refers to Australian aboriginal performances of song and dance in which tales of the ancestral creator beings are enacted in the very places where those events unfold in the now-and-always Dreamtime. From 2001 to 2009 almost all of the label's releases were hybrid SACDs (50 in all), mostly mixed in stereo and multichannel. These and all releases since are available as 24-bit stereo downloads at HD Tracks, Qobuz, ProStudioMasters and Highresaudio; in addition, 19 releases originally recorded or mixed in DSD are available for DSD download at Acoustic Sounds. Special SACD projects included a Nick Drake tribute record and music by Bill Frisell inspired by Gerhard Richter paintings. Since 1997 Songlines has worked closely with pianist/keyboardist Benoît Delbecq, including the collectives Kartet and Poolplayers, duos with François Houle and Andy Milne and a double trio with Fred Hersch. Other prominent artists with releases on Songlines include Wayne Horvitz, Robin Holcomb, Ben Monder, Theo Bleckmann, Dave Douglas, Han Bennink and Misha Mengelberg.

Challenging yet accessible music in eclectic styles, crossing musical boundaries and cultures.

• Hybrid SACDs

  From 2001 to 2009 almost all releases were hybrid SACDs (50 in all), mostly mixed in stereo and multichannel.

• 24-bit stereo downloads

  Available at HD Tracks, Qobuz, ProStudioMasters and Highresaudio.

• DSD downloads

  19 releases originally recorded or mixed in DSD are available for DSD download at Acoustic Sounds.

1. 1Songlines | Jazz & World Music Labelsonglines.com
2. 2The Songlines Story | Songlinessonglines.com