26 March 2006

Various - Idol Tryouts Two: SMM - Ghostly International - 2xCD







I have to give a special mention to this absolutely wonderful CD from Ghostly international as it's been playing regularly at my place for several weeks.

'Idol Tryouts Two' actually comes as a double CD - the first being the more dancefloor side of their sound - but it's the second CD, which concentrates on the 'SMM' style of their catalogue.

There were two volumes of the 'SMM' series released on vinyl and they featured artists such as Christopher Willits, Kiln, Twine, Kosik and more. For me they were the absolute highpoint release-wise of an already great and varied label.

So, they already have a good pedigree, but the track-listing for this CD is simply awesome and you're liable to be hearing some of the best quality organic Electronica around.

Loscil, Deru, Sybarite, Cepia, Kiln, Greg Davis, Lusine + David Wingo, Aeroc, Christopher Willits, Terre's New Wuss Fusion, Twine, Tim Hecker, Richard Devine... if that's not enough to get you excited, I don't know what is!

The artists each provide a reason as to why they're so highly regarded within the Electronica scene and whether it's Loscil's low-key, rhythm, ambient sound or Sybarite's more guitar orientated, song-based style, it's all incredibly beautiful and sublimely deep.

Cepia is recruited for 2 tracks, the first being a dense, almost shoegazing, texture of sound, whilst the second is pure, classic, crunchy Electronica... Greg Davis gets it on with a lovely processed guitar track... Deru plays it dubby and downbeat with incredibly intricate programming and a flowing sound... Tim Hecker is on top form with a melancholy, very beautiful processed track with lots of background noise and heart-string pulling chords... Even Richard Devine gets all textural on us with guitar samples and long, resonant chord sounds...

As a compilation of new and previously released tracks it works like a dream and as an object lesson in how to incorporate guitars and organic sounds into Electronica it succeeds with incredible panache and style.

There's not even a hint of a bad track on this CD and my respect has to go to the label and the artists for a well rounded and thoroughly enjoyable compilation.

Marvellous.

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