Various Artists - Funf

Probably the best minimal techno/ambient techno compilation from the greatest club in the world and the home of the scene - Ostgut Ton // Berghain. 2 and a half hours of cold steel. Pattern recognition, industrial growth and decay and the very beating heart of the dancefloor. Eat your heart out.

daybreak

Pomegranates: Persian Pop, Funk, Folk and Psych of the 60s and 70s

Before the west and the CIA completely fucked Iran over and paved way for atrocious Islamic fundamentalism, it was a cultural mecca of the Middle East, ancient Persian culture imbued with an influx of educated, intellectual Iranis made it probably the most attractive place, at the time, in the Middle East. This gave rise to one of the coolest and most unique music scenes of the 20th century, hypnotic eastern raga based pop grooves blended with upcoming western styles of funk, pop and even a bit of disco! Calling this exciting would be an understatement.

helelyos

V/A - Night Slugs All Stars vol. 1

So what happens to us in a post-dubstep world that is reaching more and more towards self nurtured monotony and near dystopic states of indifference?

This isn't 1976. Turn up the volume, turn up the bass and fucking DANCE.

wut

V/A - Cocoon Compilation J

Minimal techno that seems to have been made for the vast, vast depths of the ocean. Featuring most of europe's top techno gods, this compilation takes the german minimal sensibility and tops it up with a huge dose of hypnosis. Mesmerised, and reconciling.

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V/A - Ayobaness! - The Sound of South African House

Let's see if I can find a working definition for Kwaito:

"Kwaito is a music genre that emerged in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the 1990s. It is a variant of house music featuring the use of African sounds and samples. Typically at a slower tempo range than other styles of house music, Kwaito often contains catchy melodic and percussive loop samples, deep bass lines, and vocals. Although bearing similarities to hip hop music, a distinctive feature of Kwaito is the manner in which the lyrics are sung, rapped and shouted. American producer Diplo has described Kwaito as “slowed-down garage music,”


Long story short, this is fucking amazing. Ever wonder how house music would integrate itself into local musical cultures around the world? Well not only does this compilation do that, it's immensely fun too. 


nisho njalo

V/A - Xpressway Pile-Up

Xpressway Records was a short lived New Zealand music label that lasted a few years in the late 80's and dissolved after releasing 23 records on its catalog. I'd like to call them Flying Nun's twisted little sister though, they nurtured and established the more experimental NZ acts of the late 80's, whose influence over independent music over the 90's cannot be understated. Here's a compilation of whacked out tunes compiled after Xpressway disintegrated.

Chronicles the best of the short lived Xpressway label from NZ. Despite having only 23 releases to its catalog, Xpressway lived to be immensely influential to the local scene and housed the more experimental acts in its roster; and as such that is what you get on this compilation. Ranging from aural assaults to mumbled drones, from gloomy introspective balladry to exercises in improvisation and noise, it features some of New Zealand's best musicians (Peter Jefferies, Dead C, The Terminals, Plagal Grind, Alastair Galbraith and the like) and is fairly essential for anyone reaping the rewards of the NZ music scene and looking to dig a bit deeper.


you and me, walking on the wire

Flying Nun Records - 25th Anniversary Boxset

Ever heard of Flying Nun Records? Probably one of the best record labels on the planet. Want proof? Here's their 25th Anniversary Boxset. 

The only reason I probably don't listen to this as often as I should is that every song is literally one highlight after another; there's way too much good music here to be absorbed in a single sitting. That of course is my problem and not the boxset's. Yes, the best and most consistent music scene of the 80's/90's was set in a small city called Christchurch, far away in New Zealand, and Flying Nun records was its breeding ground, nurturing and establishing (albeit locally) some of the most fiercely experimental and wacked out independent music of its time, which as of 2007 have been handpicked and compiled to perfection. Somehow, something like this should be too good to be true, but the fact that this exists and goes somewhat overlooked in regular independent music revisionism further acknowledges that this is one of the cruelest jokes in music history. Equal parts garage, equal parts jangle, all with the pop sensibility of Apollo - this is a slice of Olympus in itself (or 4 slices, if you're technical and all). To every artist involved here and to Flying Nun records themselves - may your cups runneth over mates. You guys are heroes. 


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