(03.09.08) Emerging Organisms is the first in a series of compilations on new Chicago based label Tympanik Audio. Compiled by DJ Synctank from the Hidden Forms radio show, Emerging Organisms is a varied collection of exclusive, rare and unreleased tracks split across two themed CDs; the first covering “dark ambient and technoid industrial” and the second “IDM and electronica.” Tracks are included by artists both new and old including names such as Architect (remixes by Displacer and Dryft), impressive newcomer Talvekoidik, S:cage, Architrav, Flint Glass, Stendeck, Hecq, Ginormous, Displacer, Nebulo and Mnemonic to name just a few.
Easing in slowly with two atmospheric dark ambient tracks from Architrav and Eretsua, the pace on of the first disc starts to gain momentum with Rekt’s “Somebody Set Up Us The Bomb,” a track which initially maintains the dark ambient theme but introduces more rhythmic elements as it progresses. Picking up where Rekt left off, Urusai’s “Slow Forward” begins with melodic minimalism but soon adds distorted industrial rhythms with an experimental ambient motif coming in and out of the mix. Rising to the challenge is Lucidstatic with “Night Vision,” a track with fuzzy stabbing bass and occasional bursts of drum ‘n’ bass beats enhanced with suitable samples to build the tension further. Also on disc one are the Displacer remix of “Caine in the Brain” and Dryft’s rework of “Stairway” from Architect’s latest album Lower Lip Interface. Putting his own twist on Architect’s brand of cinematic sample infused industrial mayhem Displacer gives “Caine in the Brain” hard clean breaks and a dark drifting theme. Dryft – otherwise known as Mike Cadoo, formerly of Gridlock – gives “Stairway” a genuine reworking, initially emphasising the soothing cinematic strings but soon introducing deep fuzzy bass, initially in short bursts and then unleashing its full force in monumental floor-shaking style. Also included are two tracks from Tzolk’in and Totakeke; the former, the excellent “Imix (Hidden Forms Remix),” is essentially an industrial track with a healthy dose of experimental electronica and a dash of dark ambience while the latter focuses more on ghostly psychedelic texture, crisp breaks and experimental oddness with a sojourn into old school electronica.
Talvekoidik, the solo project of Hands Production’s S.K.E.T founder member Kai, has already received acclaim for his debut Silent Reflections album and doesn’t disappoint with the orchestral “Hymn” which is simultaneously sweeping and graceful and hard and rhythmic. The first disc ends with a track from Mike Slansky’s solo project Unterm Rad who has recently released his debut album on Tympanik Audio. Slansky, who appears elsewhere on the compilation as part of Rekt and Aural, contributes a track of distorted bass and mechanical rhythms combined with wailing guitar with short interludes of minimal ambience before fading away completely at the close of the first disc.
Disc two opens much as the first disc did with the smooth drifting ambience, huge industrial thuds, slick breaks and slightly Eastern influenced “At Takwi” by Flint Glass. Ab Ovo and Flaque continue the theme and increase the BPM count with bigger, more frantic crashing beats and a futuristic edge while Stendeck’s “Like Falling Crystals (Disharmony Remix)” opts for a warmer, smoother, more rounded approach. Hecq, however, deviates from the pattern by presenting the high-octane “Moonkissed” which is experimental, ambient, manic and fun all at the
same time. Not to be outdone, Ginormous offer the darkly insistent “Part of Him Died That Night” which has a steadily driving pace, cascading synths and an addictive quality. Following melancholic interludes from Nonplus and Phylum Sinter, Justin McGrath introduces massive slow thumping breaks that pick up pace slowly and dominate with a weird gurgling synth and low vibrating drone below. Displacer however has different ideas and delivers smooth hip-hop breaks with cutup movie samples and abstract weirdness that result in a triumphant experimental hip-hop track. It is down to Nebulo to calm things down again with a serene track full of veiled darkness with what resembles a church organ providing a calm, doleful undercurrent with slick crunchy rhythms and elastic beats. Mnemonic featuring Qasot’s “Porous Dreams” continues in the vein of Nebulo’s track but with a busier, more anxious, fidgety quality; atmospheric with a glitchy experimental feel.
Emerging Organisms is the type of compilation you would expect to see from a long-established label like Ant-Zen or Spectre, not a newcomer such as Tympanik Audio. Packed with big names and some excellent tracks from some new faces, Emerging Organisms introduces Tympanik Audio with a bang. Ably assisted by DJ Synctank, the label has introduced itself to the scene in true style, hinting at some of the music they have to offer from their own release schedule in the process (Totakeke and Unterm Rad). Emerging Organisms is a strong compilation with an emphasis on various forms of dark industrial electronic music.
Emerging Organisms is out now on Tympanik Audio. [Purchase]
