There are record labels whose sound you recognize before you know their name. Sulatron Records is one of them. For two decades, the name stood for everything that drifted in the vast orbits of the psychedelic cosmos. Shimmering, idiosyncratic, wonderfully off the mainstream. And this journey almost came to an end. Almost.
Twenty Years on the Outer Edge
It was just twenty years ago that Sula Bassana launched his wonderfully quirky, psychedelic-experimental label Sulatron Records. What started as a passion project grew over the years into a small institution: more than two hundred sound carriers have been released on Sulatron, across genres that have always eluded conventional radio. Progressive rock, space rock, sprawling jam, Krautrock, plus excursions into neo and post-rock. Sulatron was never a label with clear pigeonholing, but rather a melting pot for all who prefer the long musical arc to the quick refrain.
But then suddenly everything seemed to be over. The 58-year-old native Berliner was plagued by health problems, and with them came the question no fan wanted to hear: Is it over for Sulatron?
The New Beginning
It wasn't over. Dave and I had known each other for a while, and when it became clear that he wanted to give up Sulatron, the decision was made after careful consideration: This label must not die, it's too important for the psych scene. It's not about a business model, but about preservation, about the awareness that a scene needs its contact points, its catalog numbers, its reliable addresses for the unusual.
At the beginning of the year, the company changed ownership and also its location: Sulatron moved from Hesse to Lörrach in Baden, right on the Swiss border, in the heart of the trinational region. The place has changed, the spirit has not.
Careful Modernization
The legacy is not just to be preserved, but to be continued. With respect for what exists and a feel for what is necessary today. The basic philosophy of the label as a "One Woman Show" doesn't change much; it just gets a slightly more modern touch. This includes having photographer Steffen Albrecht, a creative, on board. In addition to being a writer, he will take over the concert and festival reviews that will be found on the new Sulatron website. After all, this circle of creatives thrives on being on stage.
This is the core of the matter: for space rock, Kraut, and jam, the stage is not an accessory, but the actual habitat. This is where the long improvisations, the endless grooves, the ecstatic moments that cannot be fully captured on any studio recording are created. Anyone who takes this scene seriously must experience its concerts and report on them, and that is exactly what is planned.
From Shop to Blog and Beyond
The reorientation goes beyond editorial matters. Sulatron is to become a vibrant platform. Events will be updated: in addition to the label shop, a website with a blog character will be created. The musical spectrum will also be expanded. Space rock is my home, heavy jazz my great love, and music from this scene is to be released in the future. Initial contacts, for example with Norwegian labels, have already been made, and they are looking forward to collaborations.
Thus, Sulatron opens up to new soundscapes. The leap from space rock to heavy jazz is not as far as it seems at first glance. Both thrive on intensity, on collective energy, on the courage for length and friction and dissonance. And the Scandinavian, especially the Norwegian scene, has been considered one of the most exciting contact points for precisely these transgressions for years. Cross-border collaborations can give the label a fresh look without diluting its own identity.
A Little Chaos Is Part of It
Of course, the handover from Dave was not entirely without turbulence. It was a bit chaotic, admittedly. But honestly: this scene doesn't work without chaos.
Psychedelic rock has never cared about order, about clear edges, about clean transitions. It thrives on wild growth, on chance, on the freedom to get lost.
So the journey continues. Different location, new boss, same spirit. Sulatron continues to drift through its very own cosmos.