Since Warp’s “The Pioneers of The Hypnotic Groove” (Warp 1991) the label sampler has been the handiest and most pleasurable way of digesting electronic music. Many of the shortcomings of the single-artist post-Techno LP are remedied. The necessary genre hopping required to sustain interest levels is undertaken by artists best suited to their chosen diversions; the label itself provides the project’s aesthetic glue. Recent classics of the form include Schematic’s “Lily of the Valley”, Carpark’s "Wanna buy a Craprak?" and Kompakt’s 1-5. London’s AI records have just released what may be an addition to this hallowed clique in the “Newtown” sampler. Tracks range from the stop-motion hip-hop and spoilt textures of ADJ’s “Mashup”; to Andy Freer’s smack house epic “Super Galaxo” which rides the Basic Channel signature sound over stun bass and racing hi-hats. From Claro Intelecto’s “Delete”, post-Detroit Techno with it’s Man Parrish handclaps closing a sweet ping-pong riff, bass undertow and re-doubling drums; to Joe’s “Capiolani” 2 cms of rolling nu-electro with it’s nicely spliced phrases and pneumatic low-end. While it’s misleading to reflect on the geographical location of the label (a collection of artists from round-the-western-world), this ear hears the funky electro edge which tends to characterise UK Techno (we’re “Clear”-ly back in “The Temple of Transparent Balls”). Only smatterings here of the infinite loops which define the stark vistas of “Europe Endless’s” Micro-House.
Posted by Woebot at September 2, 2003 10:40 AM