Compilations usually serve as an introduction to previous or upcoming output on a record label. Likewise, Unschooled Records, based in North Carolina, is a relatively new label whose mission for the Enter series is to “take the pulse of electronic music at a given moment in time.” Perhaps this means that rather than having a broad-based sampler of sorts, you’re invited to learn about new artists and their electric audio arrangements in sound construction. Such is the case with Volume 1.0, we’re sure of that.
Enter is not about simple experimentations, melodies, structures, beats and noise, but rather an invitation to the artists involved to explore their musical dreams and fulfilling them to the maximum extent. Rather then associating any particular genre to the tracks featured on this well laid out disc, it’s important to note that the creativity of each artist is distinctly realized from start to finish. Combining technology driven experiments in electronics, Enter Vol. 1.0 represents chaos in layers of mechanical sounds. From the subtle, cascading melodic twitches of Mercurial’s “Unstable Orbit” to the almost minimal landscapes of Plan-29’s “Calomel” you get the feeling of distressed musical robots crying to be heard in a sea of digits. Natu Visu’s “Song of the Trichomes” and Cloudscapes’ “Glossy Trinket & Bonfire” are both viscerally alive with their textured white noise and off centered musical debris, while Shanks “Goyle” renders a slightly heavy-metal feel next to industrialized techno. Pretty interesting, to say the least..
Although several mangled electrical bits and bytes are featured throughout this compilation, some of them stand out just a little more than others. Such is the case with Doofgoblin’s “Frazed” where snappy uplifting beats are treated with a dose of tweaked melodies. Likewise, Decomposure’s “Matches” is a frenetic analog-recording of wooden matches that transforms from a funky experimental piece to a percussively disjointed mess. A Bit Crusher’s “I Am Watching You” is at the core of this disc; With its beat-infestation, video-game styled melodies, and a skittering drum’n bits rhythm, A.B.C. is one to watch out for. Sonic Wallpaper’s “Subloop Thud” seems almost out of place when listening to this disc as a whole; layers of pleasantly crafted ambiences are tied to relaxed beats that travel aimlessly into spacious cavities. Powdermonkey finally picks up the slack on the groovy introspections of “In From the Cold,” so there’s nothing to worry about here.
Synopsis ::
Polarized electrical sounds are rearranged and manipulated to form the basis of what is sure to be an interesting starting point for Unschooled Records’ abstract direction. Enter Vol. 1.0 doesn’t necessarily fall into any particular genre, but instead it highlights the experimental aspect of each artists contributions without losing its futuristic tendencies.
Enter V. 1.0 will be released July 15th, 2003 on Unschooled Records.
- Unschooled Records
