Cleopatra Records

From ArticleWorld

Brian Perera set a new standard when he started Cleopatra Records. He not only focused in one general genre, but also released a number of compilations based on this genre that have been sought after as collectables.

Making waves

Cleopatra Records made a lot of people pause in the goth and industrial scene with their reissues of various CDs and their unique compilations. They released The Goth Box, In Goth Daze, The Gothic Rock series and The Industrial Revolution series. These were not only sought after by the avid fans, but also by DJs for the ease of having all the major music on a few CDs rather than having to tote a few hundred.

The Old

Cleopatra gained the rights to many older albums that were classic in their own rights and released them once more. Some of these were by Nico, Kraftwerk, and Hawkwind.

Selling out

Many of the bands that were through Cleopatra felt that they were being used as objects for quick money rather than being appreciated as Cleopatra began releasing tributes using their goth bands and many times for bands there were not affiliated with the scene.

Losing some of their better bands hurt Cleopatra and gave other record labels a chance to catch up with them in the Goth and industrial genres. They soon were no longer the big fish in the little pond.

Currently Cleopatra is kept afloat by its subsidiary labels. Cleopatra brand itself has begun to focus on finding rare and out of print goth and industrial gems from the scene with the hopes to repeat their ealier glory.

The tributes are no longer being done by Cleopatra, but have been distributed workloadwise to the other labels beneath Cleopatra. Only time will tell if Cleopatra will be able to reclaim their former glory.