First Terrace Records

Lore & Background

The name and logo of First Terrace Records are drawn from Dante's Divine Comedy, specifically the first level of Purgatorio, which depicts the souls of the proud bent under heavy stones while facing sculptures of humility. This imagery serves as an ethos for the label to remain humble in its work. The original logo was sketched by co-founder Alex Ives and appears on only one release: Specimens' 'Sculptures' LP. A refined version was used on all subsequent releases until 2020, when a new version of the logo was introduced and remains in use. Consistent across all logo versions are the legs of the proud, symbolizing holding up the weight of pride and serving as a reminder to remain humble.

Reader's Guide

First Terrace Records occupies a niche in the independent music landscape by explicitly grounding its identity in a literary and philosophical concept—Dante's Purgatorio—rather than purely commercial or aesthetic considerations. The label's focus on experimental, ambient, drone, and sound art positions it within a tradition of small, curator-driven imprints that prioritize artistic vision over market trends. Its release of Peter Broderick's The Beacon Sound Choir project 'Sunday Songs' featuring Machinefabriek received notable attention, indicating the label's ability to attract respected artists. The deliberate evolution of its logo—from a hand-sketched design on a single record to a refined version and then a new iteration in 2020—demonstrates a conscious branding strategy that maintains a core symbolic element (the legs of the proud) while allowing visual change. This consistency in philosophy and visual identity, combined with a diverse but coherent roster, gives the label a distinct character within the independent music community.

Did You Know?

• The label's name and logo are inspired by the first level of Purgatorio in Dante's Divine Comedy.
• The original First Terrace logo was sketched by co-founder Alex Ives and appears on only one record: Specimens' 'Sculptures' LP.
• A refined version of the logo was used on all releases until 2020, when a new version was introduced.
• The legs of the proud are present in all versions of the logo, symbolizing holding up the weight of pride.