Transparency is a North American music label mainly active in experimental, minimalist music, in classical and avant-garde music.

History

Transparency is an independent North American record label founded by Michael Sheppard, promoter of experimental and avant-garde music, who died in Los Angeles on March 17, 2016 at the age of 59. Among his artists are

Sun Ra Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993), better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific ou ...

, Sun Ra Arkestra, Helios Creed & Chrome,

Alessandra Celletti Alessandra Celletti (born 6 June 1966) is an Italian pianist, vocalist, songwriter and composer, best known as an interpreter of Erik Satie. Biography Alessandra Celletti comes from a purely classical background, graduating at the Conservat ...

Hans Joachim Roedelius Hans-Joachim Roedelius (born 26 October 1934) is a German electronic music, electronic musician and composer, best known as a co-founder of the influential 'kosmische musik, kosmische' groups Cluster (band), Cluster and Harmonia (band), Harmon ...

, Lawrence Ball, Lane Steinberg, Rufus Harley. Sheppard published with his label Transparency the first punk groups in Los Angeles including

The Germs ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

and

45 Grave 45 Grave is an American rock band from Los Angeles formed in 1979. The original group broke up in 1985, but vocalist Dinah Cancer subsequently revived the band. History The band was founded during the punk rock movement by Paul B. Cutler i ...

and he brought

Throbbing Gristle Throbbing Gristle were an English music and visual arts group formed in 1975 in Kingston upon Hull by Genesis P-Orridge, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Peter Christopherson, and Chris Carter. They are widely regarded as pioneers of industrial music. Evol ...

to Los Angeles in 1981.

Transparency and Sun Ra

In September 2011 Transparency published ''Sun Ra-The Eternal Myth Revealed Vol. 1: 1914-1959'' a box with 14 CDs containing 45 years of Sun Ra music. The realization of this document was launched by Michael D. Anderson, executive director of Sun Ra Music Archive in a press release in which Anderson himself said that "has produced this historically extensive work to bring to the attention of Sun Ra enthusiasts various facts and other music-related information they are not aware of …"" The presentation includes interview footage with Sun Ra and Anderson narrating each section of the presentation for detailed accuracy."

LP (album)

* ''Galactic Octopi'' - Helios Creed (2 LP)

Compact disc

* ''Passion & Faith'' - Lane Steinberg * ''Artificial Artist -'' Ace Farren Ford * ''Bagpipes Of The World''- Rufus Harley * ''Folding Pineapple'' - Steve Thomsen * ''Retrospective'' - Steve Thomsen * ''Live At Club Lingerie -'' Sun Ra Arkestra * ''Live At Myron's Ballroom -'' Sun Ra Arkestra * ''The Creator Of The Universe-'' Sun Ra * ''The Shadows Took Shape'' - Sun Ra * ''The Eternal Myth Revealed Vol.1'' - Sun Ra * ''Dance Of The Living Image -'' Sun Ra * ''Intergalactic Research'' - Sun Ra* * ''Live At The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto 1978'' - Sun Ra* * ''The Complete Detroit Jazz Center Residency'' - Sun Ra And The Omniverse Jet Set Arkestra* * ''The Universe Sent Me -'' Sun Ra* * ''Helsinki 1971'' - The Complete Concert And Interview - Sun Ra And His Intergalactic Solar Research Arkestra* – * ''Newport Jazz Festival-The Electric Circus'' - Sun Ra* * ''Live In Rome'' - Sun Ra * ''Live In London'' - Sun Ra And The Intergalactic Research Arkestra * ''Alessandra Celletti plays Baldassarre Galuppi -'' Alessandra Celletti * ''Sustanza di Cose Sperata -'' Alessandra Celletti/Hans Joachim Roedelius - * ''Crazy Girl Blue'' * ''Above the sky''

Dvd

* ''The Super-8 Years With Tuxedomoon'' - Tuxedomoon * ''Solo Piano / Montreux And Lugano'' - Sun Ra / Sun Ra Arkestra*

Books

* ''Paraphernalia (book and dvd)'' -

* ''Painting with sound: Roedelius'' - Stephen Llife

References

{{Authority control Record labels based in California