Intricate Maximals - V/A
The aspect of Audiobulb Records that instantly manifests in my mind upon thinking of the label is the fact that they refused to release my humble attempt at electronica. Helpfully, they pointed out that ‘I didn’t feature in the direction they wanted to take the label’ – of course, I decided to send them my own material without having heard anything they’d released, I suppose just assuming that their take on modern electronic music was along similar lines to my own. However, on closer (probably advisable) listen, I realised that this was not quite the case.
Audiobulb Records artists opt for a carefully constructed, painstakingly precise and sophisticated glitch-based electronic affair, some bringing to mind the masterful Xanopticon (except perhaps less frantic); others the microtonal meanderings of London-based favourites Electrotronical Records; and occasionally even hints of the complex hip-hop inspired grooves of Planet Mu hero edIT are detectable (not least in latest protégé Calika’s beautiful contribution to the compilation ‘Latticel Work’).
The label itself is a curious affair, releasing (compilations or multimedia projects are thee main concern) largely on mp3 on paying sites such as Napster or iTunes, keeping up with the current and principal market effectively. However, when they do decide to release a CD proper (e.g. 2004’s superlative compilation Switches), all eyes are deservedly on them.
On first listen, the variety on offer here is admirable and definitely a strong salient point for both the initiated electronica fans - the infamously snooty IDM List subscribers (myself included, of course) for example - as well as the inexperienced glitch listeners (the compilation itself may be considered a little ‘heavy-going’ for some – due to the complex and seemingly mechanic nature of some of the pieces - but can definitely point in the right direction if little else).
To address the tracks themselves: it seems that Calika’s aforementioned ‘Latticel Work’ stands alongside the Room remix of ‘So Gone’ (originally by Diagram of Suburban Chaos) as the most instantly gripping track of the compilation.
That said, the ‘demented circus’ effect of Disastro’s effort ‘Requiem Pour Un Feuille Morte’ and the glitching subtleties of Ochre and Taavi Tulev serve the record well as engagingly warm electronica, as does Switches lead man Rudolphe Küffer’s ‘Question’, which bubbles and pops by like a the calm dreams of a blissful robot.
All things considered, this is a highly recommendable record for any IDM enthusiasts; it creates incentive, if we needed any, to hunt down more material by the more established names and gain an effective vantage point to scope out the new breed of producers. Also, priced at a wallet-friendly, £6.90 (about $13), this is a record more than worth spending hard-earned capitol on.
