The Laboratory Project

The Laboratory Project is an organisation founded by entrepreneur and former Ministry of Sound Operations Director, Tony Rigg. Its aim is to provide a platform to expose brilliant music with their "Taste Masters" compilation series. "Taste Masters" was officially launched on 30 October 2010 at Fac 251 (The Factory) in Manchester, a club owned in part, by ex-Joy Division/New Order bassist Peter Hook, with the objective of recognising real musicianship. Rigg and Peter (Hooky) Hook also went on to develop the innovative Master of Arts programme in Music Industry Management & Promotion at the University of Central Lancashire which was launched in September 2012 in association with Factory.

Rigg, after success in the dance music genre, having worked on numerous remix projects for All Around the World Records, as well as having singles under his own collaborative vehicles featured on their "Clubland" compilation series, started The Laboratory Project due to a belief that the popular music genre had become too contrived, and more about the business rather than music. Despite Rigg having success in electronic music, his roots lay in the organic musician orientated band scene.

The original infrastructure featured Rigg overseeing the venture and collaborating with Paul Hutchinson, whose band Espionage released two albums produced by the multi-award winning Roy Thomas Baker, whose credits include records by The Smashing Pumpkins, Devo, The Stranglers and Queen.

"Taste Masters" (EXP018) featured 14 tracks from 13 different bands and artists including Evenhand, Dresden, The Horn Brothers, Our Day Remains and Fez. Paul White (Editor in Chief of popular recording and production publication Sound on Sound) also contributed an instrumental track, "Bryce Canyon", which illustrates the eclecticism and production values that are characteristic of The Laboratory Project. It is a trademark of the label to feature music that is original, informative and that encourages listeners to deviate from the comfort of contrived mainstream pop.

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