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consumers research & development
From dreamy idm to underground hip-hop, this label curates the best of the midwest.
words: Brion paul phoTo: chris eichenseer aT someoddpiloT, co.
Consumers Resarch and Development: Geoffrey Wilson and Chris Eichenseer Consumer Research and Development’s Geoffrey Wilson and Chris Eichenseer
The right and left coasts may regard the Midwest
as a cattle parking lot, but the curatorial lasso of
Chicago’s Consumers Research and Development
Label cuts a wide swathe through this foolish chimera,
rounding up an eclectic aural assemblage
of the Midwest’s finest audio individualists.
Formed in 2001 by Jodi Williams and Geoffrey
Wilson, the label–very much a sum of its divergent
parts–boasts adventurous electronic material
by Alder and Elius, String Theory, Miles Tilmann
and The Timeout Drawer, usually lusciously
packaged on colored vinyl and limited edition
CD. “Factory, Skam, Schematic, Matador, Mo’
Wax–these were labels blurring the lines, combining
art and music in a way that it didn’t matter
what [they released], you’d pick it up,” says avid
record collector Wilson. “Nobody had a problem
with Mo’ Wax putting out Money Mark, no one
cared when Matador put out Large Professor.”
And yet, people seem to really care when
Consumers puts out a record, whether it’s
Signaldrift’s twisted electronic dancefloor elegies,
The Timeout Drawer’s ethereal instrumental
epics or Single Minded Pros’ sturdy underground
hip-hop. The imprint’s blindingly effective
manifesto is best summed up with the recently
released Hazardous Materials compilation, which
features back catalog treasures buttressed by new
tracks and remixes, all packaged with that distinctive
Consumers designer sheen.
“One of the first labels for me was Def Jam,
and if you look at [them], basically the label is
the logo,” explains Wilson. “The label reflects
the aesthetic.” Similarly, Consumers defines its
aesthetic by working local designers and artists,
including Safety Orange Type, Marshall Preheim
and Someoddpilot, an outfit run by The Timeout
Drawer drummer Christopher Eichenseer. “All
this is because of a domino action,” says Wilson.
“It’s definitely a small town scene here with a
good community. This person leads to that person...”
And that person leads right to you.
www.consumerslabel.net
What’s your favorite chicago institution? Geoffrey Wilson: As a bartender, I’d have to say the bars. I like Map Room, Empty Bottle and The Metro
for music, and Underbar, where I work.
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