If you are interested in our downloads of high quality live recordings from the venue and exclusive digital releases from some of our favourite labels, it might be worth considering becoming a Digital Member. Members can choose 3 digital downloads a month from any label we stock, as well as receiving a discount on records, books and more from our website.
Ping Pong
Our new in house label, releasing music recorded in lockdown.
In house label for Cafe OTO which documents the venue's programme of experimental and new music, alongside re-issuing crucial archival releases.
For the time being we are unable to get to the post but if you order now your item will be posted as soon as things return to normal. Thank you for your support. Keiji Haino, one of the foremost exponents of the Japanese avant-garde, always provides a masterclass in constantly shifting improvisation. John Butcher is a saxophonist of rare grace and power, who has expanded the vocabulary of the saxophone far beyond the conventions of jazz and other musics, to encompass a staggering range of multiphonics, overtones, percussive sounds, and electronic feedback. Haino and Butcher met when Butcher opened for Fushitsusha at the show Cafe OTO arranged at St. John, Hackney - 5 years ago. In 2016 they were invited to play two duo concerts – at The Empty Gallery in Hong Kong and at Cafe OTO in London. Otoroku is proud to present the audio documentation of their first UK meeting. Recorded live at Cafe OTO in July 2016 the results are an uncompromising milieu of swirling sound played out as a total union of these two legendary performers. Haino’s blues drenched guitar entices skittering notes from Butcher’s sax playing as numerous sonic clues unravel over the course of of this unique and compelling journey. Light Never Bright Enough comes in a limited edition of 500 LPs and 500 CDs with matt sleeves and japanese removable obi-strip. --- Keiji Haino / vocal, guitar, flutes John Butcher / saxophones and feedback --- Recorded live at Cafe OTO on the 9th July 2016 by Luca Consonni. Mixed by John Butcher. Mastered by Giuseppe Ielasi. Photography and design by ORGAN.
HAINO KEIJI / JOHN BUTCHER – LIGHT NEVER BRIGHT ENOUGH
Download only arm of OTOROKU, documenting the venue's programme of experimental and new music.
Previously unreleased recordings of compositions, improvisations, songs, lyrics & poetry from 1965 up to the present.
Heavy experimentation out of Northampton, Massachusetts. Operated by guitarist and graphic artist Bill Nace.
Label based out of a book shop & cafe in Shenzhen, China.
Two experimental strands from China's Modern Sky label, publishing left field local music and folk gems.
Nate Cross' cornerstone label for jazz and improvised music based out of Austin, Texas and influenced by Cross' time in Chicago.
Spanish born label set up in 2019, now based in Perugia, Italy. Textural, improvised free form music.
Legendary South African & British jazz label started in 1973 by bassist Harry Miller, producer Hazel Miller and sound engineer Keith Beal. Still active.
Label based in southern Slovakia with a particular interest in the physicalities of sound.
Huge catalogue of free improvisation from 1979 to today, with a focus on Soviet musicians.
British free improvisation label, established in 1970 by Derek Bailey, Tony Oxley and Evan Parker.
Run by Mark Harwood / Astor, Penultimate Press operates mainly in the fields of music concrète, electro-acoustic composition & processed sound. Unheard of underground alongside crucial reissues.
Small batch operation imagined by James Lindbloom out of Minneapolis, USA. Big hitting free-jazz, composed works and music concrète.
Founded in '94 in by Bruno Johnson to document some of the Chicago scene.
Contemporary composition crossed with experimental song and improvisation from 2012 onwards. Based out of Newcastle & Berlin.
Ex tape label Trost now publishes free jazz contemporary classics on LP.
European music collective born in Stockholm in 2014 and currently based in Berlin and Paris. New free music and old repertoires re-imagined.
Publishing outfit from the Wandelweiser collective - an international group of composers/performers experimenting with silence.
Contempary composition label started in 2013 by percussionist & composer Sarah Hennies.
Run by percusionist Eddie Prévost, Matchless contains contemporary and classic free jazz, improvisation and noise.
Run by Trevor Brent and specialising in improvised music, Fataka documents many of OTO's early shows and some early classics by a new generation.
Oren Ambarchi's Black Truffle Records "experimental/improv/noise/abstract/etc" label. Big reissues and Aussie relations.
Mark Wastell's label, operative since the mid 90's. Documents live free improvisation, based out of London.
Label run by John Chantler, who also heads up Edition Festival in Sweden. Releases of his own work on organ and synthesizer, alongside one off duos and trios of comtemporary experimental musicians.