Following nearly three years of silence, FatCat’s 130701 imprint was reactivated at the end of 2015, with a number of new releases and signings lined up ahead of 2016 – the fifteenth anniversary of the label that played a pioneering role in the development of today’s vibrant post-classical scene.

Having begun life on 13th July 2001 (hence the label’s superficially cryptic name) for the release of the first Set Fire To Flames record ‘Sings Reign Rebuilder’, the pioneering 130701 imprint was ahead of the curve, becoming what Drowned In Sound called “something of a blueprint outlet for instrumental based musicians worldwide whose creations don’t quite fit safely into any genre or roster.” Growing to encompass a hugely influential, high quality stable of artists operating at the cutting edge of the modern classical genre, 130701 has come to embody incredibly graceful and evocative music with a huge emotional weight.

Initially established as an outlet for Montreal-based Set Fire To Flames (a 13-piece collective featuring members of Godspeed you black emperor!, A Silver Mt Zion, etc), the label has been home to some of the most recognisable names in the broad-reaching post-classical field, having introduced the likes of Max Richter and Hauschka, as well as becoming a home for pianist / composers Dustin O’Halloran, Sylvain Chauveau, and Golden Globe winner / double Oscar nominee Johann Johannsson.

With a sound and identity that is both eclectic yet coherently unified over the course of our release history, 130701 may not have been prolific but has rigorously maintained a seriously high quality control bar from the outset and, as No Ripcord wrote, “has released some of the most important records of the last decade and single-handedly defined the post-classical genre.”

Looking to expand the scope of its repertoire, the signing of a number of new artists – Dmitry Evgrafov, Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch, Ian William Craig, Resina, Olivier Alary – and an increase in activity around our 15th anniversary marked an invigorating injection of fresh blood for 130701.