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Good Looking Records

Good Looking Records is a British independent record label specializing in jungle and drum and bass music, particularly the atmospheric and jazz-influenced subgenres of the latter.^[1]^[2] Founded in 1991 by DJ and producer LTJ Bukem (real name Daniel Williamson) in Watford, Hertfordshire, the label emerged during the early UK rave scene and quickly became a cornerstone of the evolving drum and bass movement.^[2]^[1] It was established as a platform for Bukem's vision of sophisticated, melodic electronic music that blended breakbeats with jazz, soul, and ambient elements, setting it apart from harder-edged contemporaries.^[3]^[1] The label's peak activity spanned the 1990s, releasing influential vinyl EPs, 12-inch singles, and albums that helped define the "intelligent" or atmospheric drum and bass sound.^[4] Notable artists associated with Good Looking Records include Seba, PFM, Makoto, and Big Bud, alongside Bukem's own productions such as the seminal Journey Inwards album (1995).^[4] Sub-labels like Ascendant Grooves and Cookin' Records expanded its roster, focusing on deeper, groove-oriented tracks.^[4] In the 2000s and beyond, the label shifted toward digital reissues and compilations, with efforts to make its back catalog available online as recently as 2013, preserving its legacy in the electronic music community.^[3] Good Looking Records remains celebrated for its role in elevating drum and bass to an art form, influencing generations of producers through its emphasis on musicality and innovation.^[3]^[1]

Founding and Early History

Establishment

Good Looking Records was founded in 1991 by the British DJ and producer LTJ Bukem, born Danny Williamson, in Watford, United Kingdom.^[4]^[2] The label's operational base was established at 84 Queens Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, serving as its primary hub during the early years.^[2]^[4] LTJ Bukem's background as a Watford native shaped the label's origins; he began with piano lessons in childhood and discovered jazz fusion through a local teacher in the mid-1980s, transitioning into club DJing by 1987 and building a reputation in soul and rare groove scenes.^[5] His production career gained momentum with a major performance at the 1990 Raindance event, where he played to large crowds and honed his atmospheric style.^[5] This experience, coupled with frustration over limited control at other labels, prompted Bukem to create Good Looking Records to realize his vision independently.^[6] A key precursor was his 1990 track "Demons Theme," initially tested as a dub-plate in sets before its formal release as the label's debut single in July 1991.^[5] From inception, Good Looking Records concentrated on vinyl 12" singles to support the burgeoning drum and bass underground, emphasizing Bukem's signature blend of intricate breaks and ambient textures.^[4]^[7] This format aligned with the era's rave culture and allowed the label to distribute directly to DJs and specialist shops in the UK scene.^[4]

Initial Releases and Developments

In 1994, LTJ Bukem launched the Looking Good Records imprint as a sublabel of the main Good Looking Records, expanding the roster to include emerging talents in the atmospheric drum and bass scene. This move coincided with the release of collaborative single "19.5" by Bukem and Peshay on Good Looking Records (GLR 008), marking an early milestone in the label's output.^[8]^[9] The following years saw a series of influential singles that solidified the label's reputation. Peshay contributed "Piano Tune / Vocal Tune" (GLR 011) in 1994, further diversifying the early catalog with tracks blending breakbeats and soulful elements. These releases, pressed in limited runs on 12-inch vinyl, helped build a dedicated following among UK rave audiences.^[10] For Earth series: The Earth compilation series debuted in 1996 with "Earth Volume One," a 10-track collection curated by LTJ Bukem featuring artists like The Poets of Thought and Appaloosa, emphasizing downtempo and eclectic beats beyond standard drum and bass. This series provided an outlet for experimental sounds, with the inaugural volume released on CD and vinyl.^[11] The same year, LTJ Bukem's "Logical Progression" compilation emerged as a landmark release, compiling key label tracks into a continuous DJ mix and distributed internationally through FFRR, reaching wider audiences in Europe and beyond. This partnership enhanced the label's visibility and sales, with the triple-vinyl set (828 739-1) showcasing the collective's atmospheric style. By mid-1996, Good Looking Records had secured licensing deals, including with Sony Japan for Asian distribution, supporting its growth from a niche UK operation to an internationally recognized entity.^[12]^[13]

Musical Style and Artists

Genre Characteristics

Good Looking Records specialized in jazz-influenced, atmospheric, and intelligent drum and bass, often referred to as melodic or ambient jungle, which emphasized emotional depth and musicality over raw aggression.^[8]^[14] This style, pioneered by LTJ Bukem, blended elements of jazz fusion, ambient, and soul to create a refined sound suitable for both club and home listening.^[8] The label's output featured key sonic elements such as smooth, rolling breakbeats that provided a funky yet understated rhythm, often complemented by lush pads, strings, and ethereal synth sweeps for an immersive, otherworldly atmosphere.^[8]^[14] Basslines were typically minimal in their intensity—pulsating and airborne rather than booming or distorted—allowing space for airy chords and gentle melodies.^[15] Incorporation of jazz samples, such as haunting sax riffs or Rhodes piano chords, alongside occasional live instrumentation like trumpets or guitars, added warmth and organic texture to the productions.^[14]^[16] This approach distinguished Good Looking's sound from harder, faster drum and bass subgenres like neurofunk, which employs complex, robotic basslines and sci-fi intensity, or jump-up, characterized by bouncy, cartoon-like drops and energetic wobbles.^[15] Instead, the label's atmospheric style prioritized soothing, melodic flows at tempos around 170-175 BPM, fostering a relaxed and contemplative vibe.^[15] The genre evolved from the primal, experimental jungle roots of the early 1990s, with its chaotic breakbeats and raw energy, into more polished atmospheric styles by the late 1990s, incorporating cleaner production and cohesive jazz-ambient integrations for a futuristic yet soulful aesthetic.^[8]^[16]

Key Artists and Contributors

Good Looking Records was founded by LTJ Bukem (Danny Williamson), who served as the label's primary producer and visionary leader, shaping its atmospheric drum and bass sound through his own releases and curation of talent throughout the 1990s.^[4] Bukem established the label in 1991 to nurture emerging artists aligned with his preference for jazz-infused, melodic jungle, signing producers who brought technical innovation and emotional depth to the catalog.^[14] The core roster included Blame, whose deep and intelligent drum and bass tracks contributed to the label's foundational releases in the mid-1990s, emphasizing intricate rhythms and atmospheric layers.^[4] Photek (Rupert Parkes), signed under aliases like Aquarius, was renowned for his technical precision in beat construction, delivering razor-sharp, cerebral productions that pushed the boundaries of drum and bass complexity during his multiple 12-inch contributions.^[17] Source Direct (Jim Baker and Phil Aslett) fused jazz elements with broken beats and sweeping pads, adding a romantic tension and cinematic quality to the label's output through their early 1990s releases.^[18] Other key contributors included Blu Mar Ten, who brought introspective and atmospheric vibes to the roster as an emerging talent supported by Bukem's platform in the late 1990s.^[4] Seba (Sebastian Main), another 1990s signee, infused soulful melodies into the label's sound, often collaborating with figures like Lo-Tek to enhance its melodic focus.^[14] Makoto (Makoto Shimizu), signed from Japan in the late 1990s, delivered soulful, liquid grooves that aligned with the label's emphasis on emotional resonance and jazz influences.^[19] Q Project (Paul Benney) added creative depth with his sophisticated breaks, benefiting from the label's nurturing environment for up-and-coming producers.^[4] Peshay (Paul Daley), a pivotal early signee, collaborated closely with Bukem on tracks that blended vocal elements and rolling rhythms, helping establish the label's diverse yet cohesive identity.^[20] PFM (Paul Frederick Mangan) contributed melodic and jazz-infused tracks, such as those on the sublabel Looking Good Records, enhancing the label's atmospheric catalog in the mid-1990s.^[4] Big Bud, a prominent vocalist, featured on numerous releases including collaborations with Makoto and Seba, adding soulful vocal layers to the label's sound throughout the 1990s and 2000s.^[4] The signing process in the 1990s prioritized demo submissions from underground scenes, with Bukem personally scouting and supporting artists through sub-labels like Looking Good Records, fostering a tight-knit community that elevated intelligent drum and bass.^[14] This approach not only amplified individual contributions but also reinforced the label's role in promoting melodic, jazz-tinged styles over more aggressive jungle variants.^[8]

Releases and Discography

Compilation Series

Good Looking Records' Earth series, initiated in 1996, served as a key platform for showcasing atmospheric drum and bass, featuring deep, melodic, and introspective tracks from the label's roster. The inaugural volume, Earth Volume One, was mixed by LTJ Bukem and released on CD, compiling exclusive productions that emphasized futuristic amen breaks layered with atmospheric synth pads and pulsating basslines. Subsequent installments, released periodically through the early 2000s, expanded this focus, with volumes such as Earth Volume Two (1997) and Earth Volume Three (1998) continuing to highlight innovative, mid-tempo styles blending drum and bass with jazz-infused elements. The series culminated in Earth Volume 7 in 2004, which innovated by including a bonus DVD with 5.1 DTS surround sound mixes, enhancing the immersive listening experience. Complementing the Earth series, the Progression Sessions mix CDs were introduced in 1998 as live recordings capturing LTJ Bukem's DJ sets, often featuring MC Conrad, to promote the label's evolving sound and related artists. These volumes documented dynamic performances with seamless transitions between tracks, prioritizing the label's signature atmospheric and liquid funk influences while including exclusive edits. Spanning ten releases from 1998 to 2004, the series exemplified Good Looking's commitment to curated showcases, with early entries like Progression Sessions 1 released in digipak CD format to capture the energy of club sessions. Both series played a pivotal role in defining the label's identity, offering fans cohesive overviews of its atmospheric aesthetic through exclusive content and high-fidelity production. By the mid-2000s, as digital distribution grew, many volumes transitioned to online platforms, broadening accessibility beyond physical CDs and sustaining their influence in the drum and bass scene.

Notable Singles and Albums

Good Looking Records established its reputation through a series of influential singles that emphasized melodic, jazz-infused drum and bass, beginning with LTJ Bukem's "Horizons" in 1995, released on the Looking Good sub-label but integral to the parent label's aesthetic. This track, featuring expansive atmospheric pads and intricate breakbeats, is widely regarded as a cornerstone of the genre's evolution toward more emotive soundscapes.^[21]^[8] Similarly, Source Direct's "Secret Liaison" from 1996 showcased the duo's skillful integration of deep basslines and subtle percussion, earning acclaim for its sophisticated production that bridged jungle roots with ambient influences.^[22] Other pivotal singles included Aquarius (Photek alias) contributions like "Drift to the Centre" in 1995, which highlighted the label's experimental edge through hypnotic rhythms and ethereal synths, and PFM's "One & Only" in 1995, praised for its soulful melodies and precise engineering that captured the era's melodic innovation.^[23]^[4] These 12-inch vinyl releases dominated the label's output in the 1990s, reflecting the era's preference for physical formats in underground electronic music scenes. On the album front, LTJ Bukem's Journey Inwards (2000) marked a high point, blending live instrumentation with drum and bass rhythms to create a cinematic full-length that received strong praise for its ambitious scope and emotional depth. Makoto's Believe in My Soul (2007) followed suit, lauded for its warm, jazz-tinged grooves and vocal elements that expanded the label's atmospheric palette.^[24] Blame's Into the Void (2002) and Blu Mar Ten's Producer 03 (2002) further exemplified this, with the former exploring darker, introspective themes through layered breaks and the latter compiling refined tracks noted for their textural subtlety.^[25] By the early 2000s, the label transitioned from vinyl-centric production to digital distribution, culminating in over 150 releases by the mid-2010s, including reissues that preserved its legacy.^[2]^[3]

Events and Club Nights

Speed Club Night

The Speed Club Night was launched in October 1994 by LTJ Bukem at the Mars Bar in London's West End, serving as the flagship club event for Good Looking Records.^[26] It ran weekly on Monday nights, accommodating a capacity crowd of a few hundred, and featured DJ sets primarily by LTJ Bukem alongside Fabio and rotating guests from the label's roster, such as Kemistry and Storm.^[26] The format emphasized atmospheric drum and bass tracks, creating a dedicated space to preview and promote the label's evolving sound.^[8] The event cultivated a distinctive atmosphere described as experimental, ambient, and soulful, functioning like a laboratory for testing innovative drum and bass productions.^[26] It drew an intellectual and diverse audience, including like-minded producers, DJs, jazz heads, soul boys, and electronic music enthusiasts, fostering a relaxed vibe centered on sonic immersion rather than high-energy raves.^[26] Particular attention was given to sound system quality, enhancing the deep, rolling grooves that defined the nights.^[27] As a promotional launchpad, Speed played a pivotal role in Good Looking Records' growth, providing an ideal venue to introduce new releases and build momentum for the label's atmospheric style among a receptive crowd.^[26] The residency helped solidify the label's reputation by showcasing its artists in a live setting, contributing to the broader emergence of drum and bass as a distinct genre.^[8] It operated weekly until the early 2000s, marking a foundational era for the label's cultural presence.^[27]

Other Events

In addition to its foundational club residency, Good Looking Records extended its reach through international tours and one-off live events in the 1990s and 2000s, often featuring LTJ Bukem and label affiliates. A notable example was the 1997 U.S. tour, where Bukem and the Good Looking crew performed across several cities without work visas, as chronicled in the BBC's Modern Times documentary; this expedition highlighted the label's emerging transatlantic influence amid the rising popularity of atmospheric drum and bass.^[28] The Progression Sessions series exemplified these supplementary activities, comprising live DJ sets that showcased the label's artists and sound in diverse global venues. Recorded performances included Progression Sessions 6 in Boston, USA, in 2001, with Bukem and MC Conrad blending studio tracks from the roster into extended improvisational mixes, and Progression Sessions 7 in Japan in 2002, which drew large crowds and emphasized the label's jazz-infused aesthetic.^[29]^[30] These sessions frequently tied into album promotions, serving as dynamic platforms to preview and integrate new releases like the accompanying Progression Sessions compilations during the late 1990s. Label showcases extended to drum and bass-focused events, where Good Looking artists performed sets that promoted their atmospheric style, such as Bukem's appearances at international gatherings in Germany and New Zealand in the early 2000s. These one-offs reinforced the label's identity beyond the UK, often coinciding with the rollout of key 1990s albums like Logical Progression Level 2 through live demonstrations of its tracks. Post-2000s, Good Looking's organized events tapered off, leading to the label's hiatus in 2005 as its owners took a break for personal reasons. While Bukem sustained solo international touring—including stops in Japan, Russia, and Australia in 2009—the structured label events diminished as focus shifted to individual performances and a partial revival of releases.^[31]

Legacy and Influence

Impact on Drum and Bass

Good Looking Records, founded by LTJ Bukem in 1991, played a pioneering role in the development of atmospheric and intelligent drum and bass during the 1990s, introducing a jazz-infused sound that contrasted with the darker, more aggressive strains of the genre emerging from the UK rave scene.^[8]^[32] By emphasizing melodic elements, ambient textures, and sophisticated sampling techniques drawn from jazz and soul records, the label created a subgenre often described as "chillout" or "home-listening" drum and bass, which broadened the music's appeal beyond club environments.^[14]^[33] This approach is exemplified in releases like LTJ Bukem's "Horizons" (1995) and PFM's "Summer Boy," which featured ethereal pads and rolling breakbeats that elevated the genre's artistic depth.^[8]^[33] The label's critical acclaim peaked with the 1996 compilation Logical Progression, a 20-track mix that served as Bukem's manifesto for intelligent drum and bass, blending jazz harmonies with propulsive rhythms and featuring contributions from artists like Photek, Peshay, and Seba.^[14] Widely praised for its cohesive vision and global sales success on CD format, the album helped legitimize drum and bass as a sophisticated electronic form suitable for diverse listening contexts, influencing perceptions of the genre as intellectually engaging rather than merely functional for raves.^[14]^[33] Good Looking Records' innovations extended to shaping subsequent labels, providing a blueprint for melodic substyles that informed the atmospheric directions of imprints like Metalheadz and Hospital Records in the late 1990s and early 2000s.^[33]^[32] By nurturing talents such as Makoto and promoting cross-cultural exchanges—evident in releases from international producers—the label fostered a global network that inspired producers worldwide to integrate jazz fusion elements into electronic music, contributing to the genre's evolution toward liquid funk and beyond.^[34]^[32]

Recent Developments

Following a period of activity in the early 2010s, Good Looking Records' last notable releases culminated in 2014 with the limited-edition vinyl compilation Jazz'n and the digital edition of LTJ Bukem, PFM, and Arion's Moments 32 on platforms like Beatport. No new original material has been issued by the label since then, marking it as largely dormant or defunct in the 2020s, with some sources citing its effective closure around 2009 despite later reissues.^[1]^[35] The full catalog, spanning nearly 200 releases from its 1991 founding through the 2000s, remains accessible for collectors via Discogs, where it continues to be traded and documented. Digital distribution of select tracks is also available through electronic music retailers like Beatport.^[2] The label's dormancy has been attributed to internal controversies, including criticisms of manager and co-founder Tony Fordham for exploitative business practices and poor handling of artist relations, which strained relationships with LTJ Bukem and other contributors, contributing to its decline.^[36] Founder LTJ Bukem maintains an active career, headlining events such as the Dekmantel Festival in 2025 with MC Ruthless and scheduling international tour dates into 2026, though without direct ties to new Good Looking output.^[37]^[38] The label's enduring releases are streamable on services like Spotify via curated playlists and on Apple Music under associated artists.

References

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Sep 11, 2023 · Good Looking Records is a jungle and drum and bass record label, founded in 1991 by producer LTJ Bukem. The label specializes in jazz-influenced and ...
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Good Looking Records ; Founded. 1991 by Daniel Williamson [aka LTJ Bukem]. United Kingdom ; Links ; Address. 84 Queens Road Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
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Jan 26, 2024 · Label: Good Looking Records – GLRPS007X Format: 2 x CD, Mixed Country: UK Released: 2002 1. Greenfly - G-Funk 2.
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Jul 19, 2009 · LTJ Bukem - the undisputed don of dreamy drum & bass - is back with a killer 'FabricLive' mix and a resurgent Good Looking Records.
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