Various Artists - Astral Projections (Alien Communications)

 

Title: Astral Projections

Artist: Various

Label: Alien Communications

Cat Number: AC016

Genre: Electro

1: ERP – Telenovela

2: Reptant – A Glimpse From Inside The Vortex

3: Moy – Pale Nimbus

4: Client_03 – Transonicdelta_a5

5: Plant43 – Tectonic Lakes

6: Abduction – Dyas/Hours

7: Carl Finlow – Woven

8: Trasparent Sound – Nervous Sounds

9: Radioactive Man – Space Junk

10: Domenic Cappello – Underwater Lights

11: Fasme – Underneath

12: DMX Crew – New Blue Goo

“a labour of love and a long time in the making, astral projections is a comprehensive and educational trip that tells you just about everything you need to know about electro past, present and future”

So sayeth the press release. Although a bold statement, looking at the artists featured it may well be accurate. ERP, Plant43, Carl Finlow, Radioactive Man and DMX Crew are the names that one notices first, with Reptant and Transparent Sound bringing up the rear. That’s not to sat that the other names aren’t any good, it’s just that they don’t all carry the same weight. Anyway, subjective innit. And it’s by no means an exhaustive list, with a list of those not present being as long as those that are. Not to worry. No one lets themselves down here, but picking favourites isn’t easy. I’m a little underwhelmed by ERP’s ‘Telenovela’, mainly because of the incredibly high standards that have been set thus far. It’s still a great track though but doesn’t give those that follow too much to live up to, which is nice. Reptant and Moy both layer the 303 on top of their respective templates and make quite similar tracks as a consequence, the distinguishing factor being who manages to sound the sleaziest. Carl Finlow out does both of them on that score though, with ‘Woven’ sounding like some sort of frictional, electronic swamp funk. ‘Space Junk’ by Radioactive Man has a great undulating bass which sound like something from a Resident’s track. It’s a twitchy track apart from this and, as such, is very different to what follows. ‘Underwater Lights’ harkens back to the golden age of what is still occasionally referred to as IDM, shorthand for deep, synthetic emotional emissions. Others in a similar vein are Fasme’s ‘Underneath’ and ‘Transparent Sound’s ‘Nervous Smiles’. Plant43’s ‘Tectonic Lakes’ takes a minimal route, its subtlety being its strength. ‘TranSonicDelta_A5’ from Client_03 has, along with ‘Hours/Days’, a capacious feel which in emphasised by their respective spoken word samples,. The latter setting itself apart from the former by its sinister synth swirls and added sense of foreboding. All tracks here deserve to be rinsed to within an inch of their lives. Some more than others, but that’s up to you.