Ecstatic Peace Signs with Universal
by Colin Stutz | 00.00.0000

In February Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore signed a distribution deal between his independent record label Ecstatic Peace and music industry goliath Universal Records.

Since Moore formed Ecstatic Peace in 1981 to release the live Sonic Youth documentary Sonic Death, the label has put out more than 100 records—all artifacts of the progressive, avant-garde, underground punk and modern music scenes. Releases have included acts as diverse as Japanese noise artist Yoshimi (of the Boredoms), improvisational weirdos Jackie-O Motherfucker and the always enigmatic, mysterious and defiantly anti-commercial No Neck Blues.

The deal will allow Ecstatic Peace to manufacture and distribute through Universal’s Fontana Distribution service as well as sign and develop in joint venture with Universal Records proper. Moore and business partner Andrew Kesin will remain closely connected to all label decisions as President and General Manager respectively.

Estatic Peace’s first releases through Universal will include debut records by Brooklyn based power blues-rock trio Awesome Color, Montreal singer-songwriter Tam, and Pagoda, the outfit led by actor Michael Pitt (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Bully, Last Days).

Ecstatic Peace will continue to release exclusive limited edition records, CDs, DVDs, books and other goodies from its website.