Pitchfork

Astralwerks has announced a joint venture with the independent, bi-coastal (San Francisco/New York City) record label Naked Music. This marks the first time in Astralwerks' eight-year history that it's teamed up with a domestic label for marketing and distribution. I guess they simply couldn't resist Naked Music's dubious piercing in the right ear.

Created in 1999 by Jay Denes, Dave Boonshoft, and Bruno Ybarra, Naked Music has managed to wreak havoc on the dance music community. Known for its slick designs and deep, downtempo booty-shakers, Naked Music has managed to win the hearts and head-nods of DJs and club-kids alike.

On October 2nd, Astralwerks, in partnership with Naked Music, will reissue five compilations, including Bare Essentials, Volume 1, a best-of album, and a new mix entitled Nude Dimensions, Volume 3. The joint label's first full-length artist album will be Blue Six, to be released on January 22, 2002. Full-lengths by such acts as Petalpusher and Lisa Shaw will follow later in 2002. God, I just love weddings.