Real World 25

Beautifully packaged Clamshell Box with 3 CD wallets, 28 page booklet containing the story of 25 Years of Real World Records, and a collection of Real World Tales with contributions from musicians, producers, designer and managers.

It was never going to be easy - or definitive - to condense a quarter century, and to represent a record label that blazed trails, opened doors and introduced a whole new world of music. But with Real World 25 – a celebratory set boasting big names, hidden gems and tracks chosen by listeners – we’re giving it a go.

“We’ve always been vibrant, alive and kicking,” says Peter Gabriel of Real World Records, the label he launched in 1989, a few years after establishing the WOMAD (World of Music Arts and Dance) Festival. “We worked hard to create an environment where the artists felt respected and supported, so that they were able to deliver extraordinary performances.”

Peter Gabriel's world-music label has been marching to its own beat for a quarter of a century
so it more than deserves to throw a party for itself. The best of the company's output - exemplified by the Creole Choir of Cuba, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Los de Abajo, Toto La Momposina and Dub Colossus - is a reminder of how much Gabriel and co have done to bring this music to the mainstream. Here's to another 25 years.
The Sunday Times - Culture (UK)

* * * * One of the most adventurous of the great British record labels...
Real World changed the musical landscape - and this album shows exactly how and why.
The Guardian (UK)