The modern musical compilation has been forced to adapt in the digital age to stay in existence. What was once heralded as one of the crucial ways to discover new talent has been increasingly ignored in recent years. There's no conceivable way a small collection of artists have any chance of competing for attention with gigantic online databases of music that offer free subscription and instantaneous sampling. But fear not, this tried and true format is not gone from our lives yet.
Labels and artists have accordingly changed their strategy, while still stubbornly advocating the production and distribution of compilation albums. Many have joined the digital age in providing free, downloadable compilations which are cheaper to produce, easier to distribute, and inevitably make it out to more listeners than a physical CD ever could. Others have opted to rethink the construction of the compilation album altogether. Instead of viewing it as an arbitrary sampling of artists and styles, it can instead be approached as a conceptual album itself, utilizing a variety of minds and approaches to connect with an audience that a single musician never could. It is undoubtedly a combination of these two innovations that will keep compilations in business for a long time to come.
A lot of compilations come through our doors at The Silent Ballet, so we've taken some time out to discuss some recent releases that we feel are particularly noteworthy and deserving of some well earned attention (and possible cash). Without further ado...
Room40 - Airport Symphony
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Artists: David Grubbs, Richard Chartier, Francisco Lopez, Camilla Hannan, Taylor Deupree, Christophe Charles, Dale Lloyd, Marc Behrens, Toshiya Tsunoda, Tim Hecker, Stephen Mathieu, Fennesz, Burkhard Beins, Jason Kahn, Ulrich Krieger, Keiichi Sugimoto, Christopher Willits, Joel Stern, Miguel Carvalhais & Pedro Tudela, Heribert Friedl, Andy Futreal, Ninab.it, M.Rosner, Blake Stickland, The Green Kingdom, Akira Kosemura, Mark Trayle, Tom Hall, Skoltz Kolgen.
Info: Eat your heart out Brian Eno. Room40 has compiled the modern day equivalent to Music for Airports, a project commissioned by the Queensland Music Festival and Brisbane Airport Corporation. The result? Three discs worth of electronic bliss, two of which come packaged in a nice metal case, and the third available for free download. Based on a series of field recordings from Lawrence English, there's no one more suitable to spearheaded a project of this sort.
Review: Aside from the outstanding clarity which the compilation accomplishes its goal, the most fascinating and potentially rewarding aspect of the effort is that it is a who's who of contemporary experimental music. There's so much talent packed in under four hours that it's a wonder how they made time for all thirty artists. More is better on Airport Symphony, and by the conclusion of the third disc, the listener will feel like he has just experienced the best layover of his life. For those looking for an introduction into the world of soundscape artistry, there's no better choice than Airport Symphony.
Key Tracks: Francisco Lopez - Untitled # 203, Taylor Deupree - Fear of Flying, Tim Hecker - Blue Ember Breeze, Stephan Mathieu - Lux Scn, M. Rosner - Latitudes, Akira Kosemura - Terminal.
Someone Good - Add to Friends
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Artists: Lullatone, Tenniscoats, Ytamo, Trico!, Hidori Hirano, Daisuke Miyatani, Caroline, Steal Steal Ground, Small Colour, Shugo Tokumaura, Eddie Marcon, Qua, The Rational Academy, Groopies, The Pancakes, The Deadnotes, My Little Airport, Akira Kosemura.
Info: Someone Good is a recent Australian upstart, sister label to Room40. Having already released Akira Kosemura's debut album, the label is showing its commitment to 'avant-pop' by releasing a compilation showcasing some of the stronger up-and-coming Japanese acts. Samples are pulled from everywhere as far and wide as indie twee to minimal classical, all of which contribute to the compilation's warm, friendly nature.
Review: Add to Friends encounters a lot of different styles, moving between pop and experimental tracks at the blink of an eye and essentially showing the listener that this is (perhaps) the future of music. Japanese pop still struggles to gain wider acceptance on a worldwide scale, but strides have been made by aligning it more with experimental nodes of thought. Here we get both samples from both ends of the spectrum, and it's hard not to notice how natural they all feel together. A perfect companion to lazy Sundays and georgeous summer days.
Key Tracks: Trico! - Candle and Pechka, Midori Hirano - Cells that Smell Sounds, Shugo Tokumaura - Wedding, Qua - Through Your Window.
Darla - Darla Has a Little Treat for You v. 25: Endless Summer 2007-2008
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Artists: Aarktica, Atone, AZ-Rotator, California Oranges, Keith Canisius, CDataKill, Cooper, Corazon, Linda Draper, Follow the Train, Frank & Walters, Future Conditional, Stafraenn Hakon, Japancakes, Jupiter Apple, Hell on Whells, Jatun, Land of Ill Earthquakes, Lights Out Asia, Lullatone, Mahogany, Miaou, My Little Airport, Nuuro, Ponies in the Surf, Port Royal, Blaine Reininger, RF & Lili De La Mora, Section 25, Sprites, Submerged, Dot Tape Dot, Trembling Blue Stars, The Voyces, Yellow6.
Info: Endless Summer 2007-2008 is the latest from Darla's world renown compilation series, now sitting comfortable at its twenty-fifth release. Like recent releases, this is a double disc edition, cramming in thirty-five artists in just over two and half hours. Stylistically there's a bit of everything, from indie rock to pop, to electronica to ambient, which should provide a little something for everyone.
Review: Darla's strength in these releases continues to be its support of electronic, ambient, and post-rock musicians. Volume 25 is no different, as the real highlights are taken from the latest releases of Darla and Darla-friendly musicians, with several rarities included as well. Still, there's a plethora of other artists making notable contributions, such as Aarktica's opening track, or a rather sublime submission from Linda Draper. Overall, a very satisfying way to spend two hours.
Key Tracks: CDataKill - You Are Mine, Stafraenn Hakon - Sitronudurgur, Jatun - Ion Crush, Lights Out Asia - Airports, Crying Airplanes, Mahogany - Supervitesse (Ulrich Schnauss Remix), Miaou - Memories of a Petal, Blaine Reininger - House of Atreus, Dot Tape Dot - Far Away.
Forgotten Empire - From the Edge of the Earth
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Artists: Autumn is Forever, Fire on the Horizon, Albino Beach, Blackwaves, Equanimity, Lying Seasons, Purge, The Comanche Sigh, Una Corda, GP~00, Ninth Moon Black, Runsfasterscared, The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, The Mantra Above The Spotless Melt Moon.
Info: North Carolina based Forgtten Empire focuses on metal and ambient releases, almost always siding with the darker side of things whenever possible. From the edge of the earth demonstrates a devotion to pursuing dark and ambient arts, calling upon many recent and upcoming releases to bring the labels vision into view.
Review: Although the album is packed full of heavy bands (Blackwaves, Una Corda, Grasshopper lies heavy, etc...), there's plenty of quieter tracks to keep our attention as well. Equanimity and GP~00 are two highlights, functioning in a dark ambient realm which complements the mood of the compilation by maintaining the aggressive nature without actually being loud. This should be a no-brainer for fans of post-metal, but it may also be able to rope in a few new ears as well.
Key Tracks: Blackwaves - 6, Equanimity - Learn to Let Go, GP~00 - Gonelight, Grasshopper Lies Heavy - Gifts.
Schole - Sound View #2
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Artists: Hush, Inubito, Scenery Tone, Nankotsu Teacher, Reiko, ulib_enil, Itoame, Lotusloop.
Info: Schole doubles as a independent Japanese record label and complementary magazine. The magazine side of it exposes the rich underbelly of non commercial Japanese art, promoting various painters, designers, and musicians. Sound View #2 accompanies the third issue of Schole Magazine, bringing the music directly to the reader.
Review: Although only a brief thirty minutes long, Sound View #2 does a great job at sampling the booming Japanese electroacoustic scene. I thought I was pretty up to date with the trendy names over there, but Schole delivers 8 artists I've never heard of before Sound View #2. The surprise doesn't end there, and all eight acts provide a genuinely refreshing experience -- tranquil and relaxing as expected, but not without a sense of accomplishment and fortitude. In particular, I'll be looking out for future releases by Inubito and Itoame, and, if given the chance, you will too.
Key Tracks: Inubito - Encens, nankotsu Teacher - Berceuse, Lotusloop - Sandmoss,
-Jordan Volz