Various - "Open" © Surreal Audio Recordings
Surreal Audio is a well respected label from Finland. Many key players of the
psychedelic weirdeness started their careers in Surreal Audio studios, for
example Tommi Sirkia better known as PeLinPaLa. In this second compilation
of the label all the major key players are gathered together. PeLinPaLa as
mentioned before, Texas Faggot, Squaremeat and others.
Opener track "Bugged Out" is a well known Aussie hit from Edgecore
Records by Big Green Pleasure Machine that gets the beat retreat by AB
Didgeridoo Oblivion. Following the mood of the Edgecore label, AB stays
close to the tech-trance funk of the original mix adding some mutated disco
textures and a fresh bassline. A more dancefloor funky sound than his
previous releases this is probably a new direction for AB.
Next "Fancy Medical Experience" by Kiwa is a dark drive to more traditional
trance sounds. Its resonated textures and driving bassline will set fire to late
hours trancefloors... definitely psychedelic.
Squaremeat is band that I do not like even though the presence of Francoise
Faggot ex Texas Faggot member is a plus. Staying close to their trademark
old school sound they deliver a track that I personally find a bit bad. Anyway
for those that do like Squaremeat I believe that they will not get disappointed.
Well prepare for impact people... 3... 2...1... If you thought St. Germain is the
King Of Jazz then hold your breath a little. PeLinPaLa maybe known for his
drunken beats and comic atmospheres but in this track he confirms what a
great musician he actually is. "Oota ei oo" is a great jazz feast of funky hats,
inspired solos, latin pianos and one of the best drives I have heard in a track.
This track can be called easily a masterpiece of post 90s electronic music
and it is a same that many people will not actually hear it because Surreal
Audio is considered by many as an experimental label.
Next track is "Thingamajig" by Overflow, a sweet little tune with happy vibe
melodies and bossa nova style drumming that turns into camouflaged 2 step
drum n' bass. Great for those lazy summer hours. Sets the mood right for a
nice walk into the psychedelic alley.
After their second long player "Petomans' Peflet" Texas Faggot reappear in
this compilation with "One King". I used to be a big fun of Texas Faggot, their
first album on Psy-Harmonics was really spectacular being innovative, fresh
and most important of all sounding nice. The second album was more like a
backwards step to me than forwards but it still had its good moments. This
tracks sure has a different feel than the album but... I just can not get into it.
Not very bad not very good either.
Phil Tompson is a well known musician from Australia and under the name
Spaztech delivers "Depression". Depression it is though as the track is really
in a bad mood. Distorted drums, hats and basses this thing sounds like Aphex
Twin experimentations. Bad ass attitude and industrial melodies continue the
saga further. It seems like Phil wasn't in a healthy mind state when writing this
cut. At first, I used to hated it but after a couple of listens, I began to like it.
Now it sounds better after every listen.
Finally Possible Apple with "Daddy" bring a more humorous approach into the
mix. Funny off-beat solos, stupid vocals and Casio style drumming, a cut to
laugh your socks off. I love it...
Overall this is a very good compilation, the PeLinPaLa track alone is a reason
to buy it but the other tracks are very good too. I believe every self-respected
experimentalist should buy this. For those that are not into the Finnish Dance
Squad sound the humorous attitude and the happy vibe of most of the tracks
will change your opinion. As always the Finnish scene delivers a compilation
full of ideas and funky tracks not to forget the comical elements of most of the tunes.
Tracklisting :
1. Big Green Pleasure Machine - Bugged Out (AB remix)
2. Kiwa - Fancy Medical Experience
3. Squaremeat - Do it Square
4. PeLinPaLa - Oota ei Oo
5. Overflow - Thingamajig
6. Texas Faggot - One King
7. Spaztech - Depresion
8. Possible Apple - Daddy
Surreal Audio Recordings © 2001 SURR002CD.
Contacts :
Surreal Audio Recordings Email : info@surrealaudio.com
Surreal Audio Recordings Website : http://www.surrealaudio.com
Review by Sequential-X for Chaishop.gr
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