Polytechnic Youth

A part-time label run from home in Crouch End, North London. Polytechnic Youth is inspired by a love of key era 1978-82 DIY minimal synth, early Mute, The Sheffield electronic scene, John Bender, Krautrock/Berlin School etc - especially private press/DIY and handmade packaging.

Self-distributed and fiercely pro vinyl only, the label was arguably the first to truly embrace what could be done with pre-agreed social media announced lathe cut releases. Small "art editions" always wonderfully packaged on often shaped disks were gobbled up within minutes of release. These were accompanied by wider scale releases available in all usual outlets across UK & EU.

Operational between 2014 and 2022 and run by Dom Martin (who also ran Earworm and The Great Pop Supplement as well as Deep Distance and more recently Feral Child), the label enjoyed a hugely loyal fanbase. Gideon Coe on BBC6 music and "Electronic Sound" magazine were hugely supportive. However, post-Brexit, the label faced challenges due to losing its strong EU customer base alongside rising costs of vinyl production.