(08.19.05) Several labels have close interaction with each other, but none quite like the UK’s Boltfish collective. They seem to have their tentacles pointed in every direction with connections to labels like Rednetic, en:peg, Clickclickdrone, October Man, Laced Milk Technologies, Toytronic and several others. Always there to induce the creative musical energy of their roster, Boltfish have introduced their second compilation disc, Mercury Scales, yet another distinct departure into digital space –a follow-up to their well-received Region Zero compilation from August 2004.
Delving into sound-escapes.
Mercury Scales glows in a different light, however, focusing on calm electrical frequencies and warm ambient tones. Mataya’s “Two Faces” offers sincere instrumental beauty and delicate melodies wrapped in tweaked beats with subtle acidic variations. Cheju’s sound is constantly growing; his signature style can’t be ignored and with “So Far,” you get nothing but precious rhythms and skittery percussion that magnetically unfolds into your subconscious. On Boc Scadet’s minimal-electro bass stomper, you can’t ignore the synaptic flow and hypnotic feel that “Caladan” pushes through an atmospheric bassbin. Polestar’s emotional tear-jerker is placed in 4th position on this effectively packaged disc; “Concept Car Ride” reveals the sound-escapes to a lost playground somewhere in the middle of nowhere. And just when you thought those feelings would infinitely continue, Mint brushes them with “Sleeping Giant;” a sensitive ambient piece that mechanically exhibits peace and tranquility within seconds. Zainetica’s “When The Time Comes (Extended Version)” is a subterranean voyage into Eastern influenced grooves; tumbling tweaks, moist rhythms, depressed melodies—this track is an epic piece that sweeps the air in front of you.
Mescalinaeden’s cascading “Gnosso” is a fabric from outer-space, enriched with the sounds of connecting planets—its breathing entity of ambience stutters across the landscape with threaded beats, making for a thoroughly enjoyable listen.
Richard Houghten’s “Something Ugly” is not quite what it may sound like based on the title, it easily compliments the uplifting electro feel of Boc Scadet’s minimal-electro and slides perfectly with Line Noise’s “Blue Sky Ely PtII,” both of which unravel a more upbeat focus. October Man’s piano-driven “Walking Out In Broken Lines” is a silently expressive and repetitively attractive piece that blends nicely with The Rumblist’s “Ickle Mewgul,” a track that sparkles like Ochre and shines like Plaid. The Rumblist delivers a heavily mutated mix of crackling beats, shivering melodies and inspired emotions. J.Auer’s “Tier1” introduces a whole other side to the Boltfish oeuvre; rusted, sub-atomic drum’n bass drenched in skittery beats and acidic intonations; it’s the surprise track on Mercury Scales that is a breath of fresh air. On (Bal-a-klah-va)’s “The Luminous Flesh of Giants,” it’s not hard to distinguish Cheju’s influence (after all, this is a collaboration between Wil Bolton and John Lee). This track opens similar to Cheju’s “Camellia,” a persistently emotive piece that locks its melodies deep into the heart and never lets go. It’s that remarkable.
Mercury Scales may suffer from the usual melody, ambience and crunchy beats syndrome, but it also delivers a highly complex range of emotionally soft electronic tracks from a collective of musicians who strive at keeping the balance right.
Mercury Scales is available on Boltfish.
