With Mass Transfer’s recent issue 04 on the stands, the compilation that is attached is a breathtaking conglomeration of ambience and tweaked up frequencies that deserve attention.
Obscure and well known artists such as Intermodal, Adrien75, CNS Engineering, Solvent & Lowfish, Pulse Programming and others, turn this compilation into a fully functional ear piece of atmospherics and intelligent electronics.
Some tracks are not directly electronic, however. Experimental Aircraft is the perfect example of this as they apply moody down-tempo pop melodies with female lyrics splashed overtop of drenched guitar loops. Tristeza’s “Chiaroscuro” also uses casual guitar elements to drive their melodies and relaxed drums into a peaceful shape. Intermodal (MikeTaylor) opens up Installation 04 with a perfect balance of tranquilizing ambient undercurrents on “Vostok” while the Toronto based Suction label supplies the already released Solvent & Lowfish track, “Basildon”. This tune allows Installation 04 to shift gears and focus on childlike moments filled with lollypop’s and other sweet memories. The Electric Birds’ “Avocet” is definitely just that; a strange combination of electric bird sounds chirping away with a subtle and repeated beat pushing it forward. Adrien75 (Carpet Bomb) brings his intelligent electronics to the forefront with “Zenoran Ideals”; A lush piece that should have you tapping your fingers as soon as you hit play.
Installation 04 veers off into area’s that are quietly placed without having a particular genre applied to it. If you’re looking for a quite place to relax your ears on a cold winter morning, look no further than this compilation.
If it hasn’t been mentioned already, Mass Transfer is also a fully-fledged print magazine operating from their offices in Dearborn Michigan. The fourth issue contains features on Kiln, Accelera Deck, Charles Atlas, Electric Birds, Morr Music, as well as several reviews for you reading enjoyment.
The movemnet of sound information is definitely intact with this magazine and cd compilation.
