Two years on from the original Found Sound compilation, the cunningly-titled Found Sound 2 has arrived. It follows in its footsteps, not just sonically—with an exciting array of artists—but also in style, once again being graced with the design efforts of Grid Pattern and mastering by none other than exm.
Another very rounded and well-curated collection
It’s hard to argue that 2020 has been a good year but there have been worse before it and things can (hopefully) only get better from here. One constant in the chaos that humanity can always rely on is music, and how better to experience that than through the quality releases that continue to be put out by Touched Music.
Two years on from the original Found Sound compilation, the cunningly-titled Found Sound 2 has arrived. It follows in its footsteps, not just sonically—with an exciting array of artists—but also in style, once again being graced with the design efforts of Grid Pattern and mastering by none other than exm. Opening the trippy, line-adorned double DVD-style case makes way for a pair of equally-pretty discs both pressed from glass masters and produced to the highest quality.
It goes without saying that the music is quality too, how could it not be on a release from Touched? Kicking off with the robotic and clinical “Tiny Machine Birth” from Humanoid, the two discs are split pretty evenly with a good mix of style all around. Tracks are placed well, none more so than the Boards of Canada remix of Michael Fakesch’s “Surfaise,” preceding “RPV” from Datach’i.
This is the first time a BoC remix has appeared on a CD release and it’s an interesting one that displays some real dissonance—not only in its key but in the appearance of an arpeggio that feels more suited to the beginning or end of a BoC track, it’s odd but it works, and I like it. So seamless is the transition between this and Datach’i, one could easily be forgiven that the latter is the second movement of the first piece, it’s a real homage to some of my favourite styles and it’s masterfully-located in the compilation.
A few tracks down the line and I hear the unmistakable sound of Luke Vibert—squelch, acid, and breaks don’t disappoint on “Whartz” and it warms me up for what’s up next, easily becoming one of my favorites. Velum Break bangs through the door and dumps “Nordzpan” in the middle of the room, a twisted dancehall boomer with a dirty seaside Wurlitzer intro (think Mark Swift) and a beat to boot. The Gasman comes to solve your problems by throwing down “F0067vl10,” disc two’s response to Velum Break’s call to arms. It doesn’t let up, it knows where your ears are and it’s here to make you dance in your chair whether you like it or not.
Plaid are back once again, “Roadtrip” is a bit of a trippy affair, best listened to with eyes closed. What appears to be a simple track on the outset is actually rather layered with the interaction of elements producing some really interesting auditory effects—it’s enough to put you into a trance. “Whispered Concerns” from mōshonsensu is the perfect end to the first CD—bold, spacious and screaming to be listened to outdoors to counterbalance the cacophony of modern life. And from outro to intro we’re fortunate enough once again to have Future Sound of London contribute to Touched, kicking off Disc 2 with a beautifully-structured “Night Scape.”
We get a treat from Orbital, whose lost mix of “An Fhómhair” (only recently rediscovered on a DAT tape) is a nice throwback to a more golden-age of electronica—simple layering and a punchy 4/4 keeps me going through the day. Speaking of golden-age throwbacks, the inclusion of Aemic’s “Beta” is a massive treat and I was both surprised and elated to see it in the track-listing. Long-since a favourite of mine, it’s fantastic to have this on a CD release, remastered in all of its glory. It’s astounding how modern this track still feels after twenty-one years and it’s something you’re going to want to turn up the volume for.
Yet more exclusivity awaits with an Isan remix of “Ghost Boy” (original by Static), previously only available on vinyl from City Centre Offices—its downtempo feeds well into Bola’s “Expermiate” and Christ.’s remix of Skytree’s “Antedivulian Dub.” “Thirty Something” from Ruxpin, whose normally somewhat-calmer output displays a Surgeon/Regis level of rolling beat that’s a departure but very welcome—it’s very melodic and pumping to boot.
It’s hard to cover everything with releases of this variety and quality and it’s always difficult to leave things out but trust me, further tracks from Seefeel, Carbinax, John Tejada, Scanner, 808 State and more just make this whole thing very rounded and well-curated to say the least.
After the year that keeps on giving, it’s good to get some kind of fun back into the proceedings and Found Sound 2 certainly manages to do that, with all proceeds going toward Macmillan Cancer Support.
Found Sound 2 is available on Touched Music. [Bandcamp]
