Originally sent to promote a Sheffield club night (Kicasso at Fez Club, now
The Room), this three band sampler is
top quality across the board.
Stockmarket Invincible donate the rawkus Stumped, a track that would fit in well
with the current Joy Division-inspired scene led by Editors and The Rakes. With
piercing guitars and a pulsating rhythm driving the track, the almost indecipherable
vocals are free to yelp uncontrollably and to great effect. Hot Hot Heat, The Rapture
and At The Drive-In all spring to mind as possible references for a band that is bursting with energy.
If the track Starlight is anything to go by then The Escapologists would certainly be worth
a night out. This could easily slip on to Blur's 'Think Tank' and would probably be considered to
be one of the stand-out tracks. The vocals have an unmistakeable Damon Albarn twinge to them and
lyrics such as "let's move to Hawaii / let's move to Peru / let's move out to Iceland / and take
telescopes" do little to dispel the comparison. Gentle guitars, pounding bass and a sumptuous
xylophone line are all used sparingly but intelligently on a luscious piece of music.
Skein by Ikkyo Mahl is all whoops and bleeps and if it weren't for the persistent beat would sound
like it was lifted straight from the soundtrack to a 70s sci-fi TV programme. It's an accomplished piece
of dance musicianship but with little variety in its four minutes duration it does become a little tedious
but then that allegation could probably be levelled at much of this genre.
An eclectic mix that gives an appealing taster to what sounds like an excellent night – just a shame
it's already happened!
