Liberation Through Hearing

by Richard Russell

Overview

For almost 30 years as label boss, producer, and talent conductor at XL Recordings, Richard Russell has discovered, shaped and nurtured the artists who have rewritten the musical dictionary of the 21st century, artists like The Prodigy, The White Stripes, Adele, M.I.A, Dizzee Rascal and Giggs.

LIBERATION THROUGH HEARING tells the remarkable story of XL Recordings' three decades on the frontline of innovation in music, and Russell's own story; his highs and lows steering the fortunes of an independent label in a rapidly changing industry. This is the portrait of a man who believes in the spiritual power of music to change reality, and of a label that refused to be categorised by genre.

'Taking us from the rap 80s to the rave 90s into the grimy 21st century, Richard Russell is a Firestarter in his own right and his story is a riveting adventure' Simon Reynolds

'Russell reveals his forensic love of music and its strategies. A fascinating read' Damon Albarn

'Required reading for anyone who cares about the recent history of British music' Gilles Peterson

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781474616355
Publisher:	Orion Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/25/2022
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.12(w) x 7.75(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Richard Russell (b. 1971) is a British record producer, musician and the owner of the British record label XL Recordings. He has nurtured and guided some of the most influential recording artists of our time including Adele, Dizzee Rascal, The Prodigy, M.I.A. and Giggs. As a producer and musician, Russell has made albums with the likes of Gil Scott-Heron, Bobby Womack, Damon Albarn and Ibeyi and most recently launched his own artist project Everything Is Recorded, whose self-titled debut album was nominated for the 2018 Mercury Music Prize.

Table of Contents

Prelude 1: Salford, 17 April 2019 1

Prelude 2: Hollywood, 4 May 2019 9

Part 1 13

Even when you're healthy and your colour schemes delight 17

It was all a dream 27

Welcome to the church of what's happening now 37

I'm willing as a A1 general 51

All the yanks say I sound Australian but hear me now 65

Part 2 79

And you say New York city 83

11pm till dawn 99

Every Friday thereafter 111

Respect to my equipment and my mind 129

All fall down 159

The spirits are your parents and their parents and their parents and their parents 169

Part 3 181

All the dreams you show up in are not your own 185

You're locked in 207

It's your movie so direct it 223

London Quieten down, I need to make a sound 239

So real 255

Part 4 273

No outside realities 277

Centre of the earth 295

Now that's what I call music 2055 305

Not dark yet 317

Faith lets you fall into her arms, without a word 335

Epilogue 355

Bibliography 358

Credits 360

Thank you 361

Editorial Reviews

Russell reveals his forensic love of music and its strategies. A fascinating read—Damon Albarn

Taking us from the rap 80s to the rave 90s into the grimy 21st century, Richard Russell isa Firestarter in his own right and his story is a riveting adventure—Simon Reynolds

The book is a hugely enjoyable personal trip through Russell's life as a producer, artist and label boss.—Electric Sound

The music business is full of kneejerk hyperbole, but XL Recordings, the independent London label run by Richard Russell, remains the most extraordinary enterprise ... a refreshing account of how a tremendously successful record aficionado gradually worked his way round to a kind of Zen humility—Kitty Empire, Observer

I love XL. I use them as an example of how a brand is built. On great taste—Jay Z

If sound is the fifth element, then Richard has nurtured and enhanced some of the most important soundwaves of our time—M.I.A

Rich is the fucking boss. Man has no shoes on—Giggs

Richard Russell's vision as a producer and guru to countless artists has always been progressive. This memoir is required reading for anyone who cares about the recent history of British music—Gilles Peterson

From the Publisher