Christened in March of 2004 as the in-house label for the NoKMG and with releases over the past three years from artists such as The Lesser Birds of Paradise, The Wrens, Urban Legends (pre-The Thermals), The Thin Man, and Branches, amongst others, Contraphonic is now breaking ties with No Karma to pursue a different route.

The label will retain a crop of their current roster namely, Branches, Crush Kill Destroy, The Lesser Birds of Paradise, Joshua Marcus and The Thin Man (with the other artists remaining with No Karma.). In addition, Contraphonic has signed former Jagjaguwar recording artist Bevel, aka guitarist Via Nuon of Drunk and Manishevtiz. Phoenician Terrane, is Bevel's first record since Down the Puppet Strings, Marionette (2004) and finds Nuon crafting dream-laden song scapes that bring to mind equal parts Popol Vuh, clipper ships, and Godard films. Phoenician Terrane is due out later this fall.

Contraphonic will be distributed domestically and in Canada exclusively by Allegro-Nail Distribution, digitally by IODA and in a new arrangement, Contraphonic releases will be available worldwide through Hausmusik Distribution and its related companies in Germany and beyond.