Reviews of Various Artists

Sound in Silence’s 100th release is an excellent introduction to their curated ambient aesthetic.

With the Sustain series, ambient artists repurpose old and unused material, with uniformly excellent results.

Not all of the remixers remain faithful to Makeup and Vanity Set’s sonic aesthetic, and thankfully so.

All in all, In Sea Remixes offers little new insight into Aarktica’s music or any of the remixers.

Like much of Francesconi’s music, it can leave the listener in a nostalgia-soaked haze.

You’re struck by the thought that perhaps some higher power had always intended for the components to be mashed together.

Featuring Aarktica, Robin Guthrie, July Skies, I Am Robot and Proud, Lowlife, and more.

Forgettable, obviously churned out to fill a niche, and reeking of assembly line workmanship.

This comp, though far from comprehensive, focuses on a small slice of time from shoegazing’s heyday.

Featuring Printed Circuit, Sweet Trip, Entre Rios, Boyracer, Randomnumber, Manual, and more.

Full of examples of why Kranky is one of the most essential — and consistent — labels currently out there in indie-dom.

When taken on its own merits, the compilation has plenty of high points.

Tales From the Oxygen Den is a pretty solid comp, and is quite inline with the label’s stated goal of respecting the past.

Featuring Freescha, Aarktica, Lowlights, Momus, The California Oranges, Crispy Ambulance, and more.

This probably kicks more ass than any soundtrack has a right to.

As great as Blisscent Records’ first comp was, this second volume easily surpasses it.

Simply put, Preserve, Volume One is a stellar comp, solid in every regard.

Many of the songs on the release have a theatrical feel to them.

All in all, a very impressive collection that adds quite a bit of flavor to the Matrix world.

90% of this comp is filled with beautiful, lo-fi treasures.