Forgemasters (band)

Forgemasters was a British electronic music act composed of Robert Gordon, Winston Hazel and Sean Maher.^[1][2] Their 1989 single "Track with No Name" was the first release by Warp Records^[3][4] and helped define the sound of Warp and bleep techno.^[5][6][7]

History

Robert Gordon, Sean Maher and Winston Hazel were colleagues in the FON record shop and studio in Sheffield.^[8] Gordon was an engineer at FON Studio and co-founder of Warp Records. The name Forgemasters was taken from a local heavy engineering firm, Sheffield Forgemasters.^[5]

Their single "Track with No Name" was the first release by Warp Records. It was of a techno subgenre, the primarily Sheffield-based bleep techno, and written in four hours one evening at Gordon's home studio.^[4][6][9] Dave Simpson, writing in Fact in 2012, described it as "driven by an eerie pulse, a sound which would soon be called a 'bleep' and become the distinctive signature of hardcore northern techno and, for its first two years, the sound of Warp."^[5] Matt Anniss, writing for Resident Advisor in 2014, called it "one of the defining records of the era".^[7]

Discography

Singles and EPs

• "Track with No Name" (Warp, 1989) – released in association with Outer Rhythm
• The Black Steel E.P. (Network, 1991)
• Quabala EP (Hubba Hubba, 1992)

Singles with contributions by Forgemasters

• "Network Retro #8: Back 2 Back Classics" (Network, 1993) – "Somebody New" by MK* / "Track with No Name (Communique Mix)" by Forgemasters

Compilation album appearances

• Pioneers of the Hypnotic Groove (Warp, 1991) – includes "Track with No Name".
• Warp 10: Influences, Classics, Remixes – Warp 10+2: Classics 89–92 (Warp, 1999) – includes "Track with No Name"
• Rob Gordon Projects by Rob Gordon (Source, 1996) – includes "Clap Your Hands", "Metalic" [sic] and "Presence"

Remixes

• "Man Machine (Cyber - Subsonik) mix", Man Machine (Outer Rhythm, 1989) – "Man Machine (Cyber - Subsonik)" and "Man Machine (Elektro - Genetik)" mixed by Forgemasters
• "15 Inches+" (Rebuilt by Forgemasters) – The Wad (Earth, 1997). Included on 7 Hills Clash – Rebuilt EP
• "Commercial Rain (Rub-A-Dub Mix)" – Inspiral Carpets (Mute, 1990). Included on "Commercial Rain"/"She Comes in the Fall (Remixes)"

See also

• Nightmares on Wax
• Sweet Exorcist
• Tricky Disco