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React Music Limited

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React Music Limited
Founded1990
FounderJames Horrocks and Thomas Foley
GenreElectronic dance music • Techno • House music • Acid house • Rave
Country of originEngland
LocationLondon
Official websitewww.react-music.com

React Music Limited was a British independent record label, based in London, formed in 1990 by James Horrocks and Thomas Foley.[1] James Horrocks was initially involved with successful dance music independent Rhythm King,[1] and React pursued a similar approach — specifically electronic dance music, house music, acid house, techno and rave, along with newer "dance" oriented subgenres which emerged throughout the 1990s. These included hard house, tech house, trance, hardbag, happy hardcore, drum and bass and chill out.

Artists

React enjoyed commercial success within the dance/club scene. The artists at React varied, from short-term "one hit wonders" to longer-term acts, which released numerous singles/albums and included:

Success with compilation albums

Test One Album by React

React was also successful with a wide variety of compilation albums which crossed a wide spectrum of the dance/club scenes. Notable releases included;

  • Bonkers: the UK's best-selling "happy hardcore" compilation.[19][22]
  • Reactivate: Techno/trance compilation.[23] Volumes 1-9 were a single disc of unmixed tracks. From volume 11 onwards, the series included two discs of unmixed music and an additional one disc mix. Volume 10 had a single disc of unmixed tracks, and a separate one disc mix. The last true release in this series was Reactivate 18, with a two disc mix CD, Reactivate Energise, appearing later. Volumes 9 and 10 were re-released under Resist Music. The Reactivate series sold over half a million albums, and was known for pioneering new electronic music. A retrospective best-of compilation, Reactivate ’91 – ‘01, was released in 2015.[24]
  • Cafe del Mar/Real Ibiza: covering the balearic/Ibiza scene.[25][10]
  • Artcore/Drum & Bass Arena: Drum and bass based compilations.[26]
  • Dope On Plastic!: a trip hop based compilation.[27]
  • Heavenly Presents Live At The Social: a compilation capturing Heavenly Records successful club night The Heavenly Social.
  • Technohead: a hardcore techno/gabber compilation from GTO's Michael Wells.
  • React Test: A series of low priced sampler CDs.

A series of DJ-mix compilations were also developed by React. These were well received by the dance/club scene and notable releases included;

Administration / Resist Music

In July 2004, the company was owed in excess of £1m in distributed income from the Beechwood Music groups, that went into voluntary administration in June that year. React was then forced into voluntary administration as it was unable to extract any monies owed.[30]

React's James Horrocks and Melissa Kemp set up Resist Music in its place. It acquired the staff, rights and catalogue of React. In September 2009, Resist Music was sold to Phoenix Music International Ltd.[31]

On 25 October 2012, React posted they were "back on the block" with a revived website.[32]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Colin Larkin, ed. (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 279. ISBN 0-7535-0252-6.
  2. ^ "OFFICIAL SINGLES CHART RESULTS MATCHING: YOU GOT THE LOVE". Official Charts. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  3. ^ "OFFICIAL SINGLES CHART RESULTS MATCHING: CLOUDS". Official Charts. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  4. ^ "OFFICIAL SINGLES CHART RESULTS MATCHING: LOVE ON LOVE". Official Charts. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  5. ^ "OFFICIAL SINGLES CHART RESULTS MATCHING: YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE". Official Charts. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  6. ^ Birchmeier, Jason. "The Age of Love - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  7. ^ "Discogs database". Discogs.com. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  8. ^ "OFFICIAL SINGLES CHART RESULTS MATCHING: THE AGE OF LOVE". Official Charts. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  9. ^ "OFFICIAL SINGLES CHART RESULTS MATCHING: JOANNA". Official Charts. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  10. ^ a b Larkin, Colin, ed. (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Muze.
  11. ^ Carlson, Dean. "Biography Blu Peter". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  12. ^ Birchmeier, Jason. "John "00" Fleming >> Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 August 2008.
  13. ^ "Discography Seb". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  14. ^ "OFFICIAL SINGLES CHART RESULTS MATCHING: I FEEL DIVINE". Official Charts. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  15. ^ "OFFICIAL SINGLES CHART RESULTS MATCHING: SUNDANCE". Official Charts. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Discography The Hellfire Club". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Biography Baby Doc". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Discography Shimmon & Woolfson". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  19. ^ a b c Roberts, Joe (10 March 2019). "Happy hardcore will never die: An ode to the Bonkers series". DJ Mag. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Discography Madame Dubois". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Discography Pepper Sweeney". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  22. ^ "Resist Various Artists Bonkers 3". BPI. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  23. ^ Betts, Graham (2005). Complete UK Hit Albums 1956-2005. Collins. p. 495,611. ISBN 9780007205325.
  24. ^ Pell, Damion (28 October 2015). "Relive your raving days from 91 – 2001 with the seminal brand Reactivate featuring Jam & Spoon, Jones & Stephenson, John '00' Fleming, The Age Of Love and more". Decoded Magazine. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  25. ^ "React Various Artists Cafe Del Mar - Ibiza - Volumen Dos". BPI. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  26. ^ Bush, John. "Artcore, Vol. 3 : Expressions in Drum & Bass Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  27. ^ Farley, Keith. "Dope on Plastic, Vol. 1 Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  28. ^ "React Various Artists Carl Cox F.A.C.T." BPI. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  29. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Felix da Housecat: A Bugged Out Mix > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  30. ^ "Resist Music". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  31. ^ "React Music - About". 24 March 2016. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  32. ^ "React". React-music.com. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
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