Crammed France

To hell with false modesty: Crammed seems to be recognized as one of the most exciting, adventurous and boundary-breaking independent labels worldwide. Based in Brussels and resolutely cosmopolitan-minded, the label has kept reinventing itself, and has been constantly coming up with new blends, mixing elements of rock, world music, pop and electronica ever since its inception in the early '80s, often anticipating the musical movements which bloomed during the next three decades. 

Crammed has released around 300 albums and 250 singles by artists from all over the world, spanning an entire musical and typographical alphabet from Aksak Maboul to Bebel Gilberto & Bel Canto to Carl Craig, DJ Morpheus (& the Freezone series), Eddie 'Flashing' Fowlkes, Fred Frith, The Gruesome Twosome, Hector Zazou, Ian Simmons (aka Juryman), John Lurie, Kevin Saunderson, Les Tueurs de la lune de miel (The Honeymoon Killers), Minimal Compact, Colin Newman, Think Of One, Phosphorus, Q-Moog, Ramuntcho Matta, Snooze & Suba, Telex & Tek 9/ 4hero, U-cef, Veronique Vincent, Wise In Time, YBU, Zap Mama & Zuco 103, "X" being still an unknown quantity.

Although Crammed puts out records by artists from the four corners of the planet (from the Balkans to Africa, South America and the Middle East, as well as from Western Europe and the USA), the label doesn't see itself as a "world music label": it just happens to enjoy working with artists from around the world, some of whom sing in languages other than English…

Crammed's sub-labels have included the Made To Measure composers' series, world music collection Cramworld, electronic music imprints SSR, Language & Selector, and Ziriguiboom, a collection devoted to new Brazilian music. Nowadays, Crammed would like to believe that borders between genres are no longer indispensable, so most releases tend to come out under the simple "Crammed" banner. 

Crammed's current roster includes Axel Krygier, Allá, Balkan Beat Box, Baloji, Bossacucanova, Chicha Libre, Cibelle, DJ Dolores, Flat Earth Society, Hoquets, Kasai Allstars, Koçani Orkestar, Konono N°1, La Chiva Gantiva, Lonely Drifter Karen, Maïa Vidal, Megafaun, Mocky, Shantel, Skeletons, Staff Benda Bilili, Taraf de Haidouks, Tartit, Tuxedomoon, U-cef, Zeep and more.