The 10 biggest comps of the year with Ben Hogwood
1). Trevor Jackson Presents Science Fiction Dancehall Classics (On-U Sound)
‘Electro-fried avant-garde’ was Trevor Jackson’s description of this sonically arresting compilation from On U-Sound, put together from the vaults of Adrian Sherwood’s ‘On U-sound. It is a compilation that confronts and soothes in equal measure, with explorations of sound at the lower end that are inevitably influenced by dub but which cast their net far and wide stylistically. The very best compilations should introduce you to new music – and Jackson reveals the full extent of the darkly coloured treasures Adrian Sherwood has in his cellar.
2). Prins Thomas Presents Paradise Goulash (Eskimo)
The advent of Mixcloud and the like make it a much rarer event for a DJ compilation to be released in a physical format, and still rarer for a really desirable one to hit the shelves. Step forward Prins Thomas, whose colourfully packaged triptych is a celebration of music from first beat to last. Thomas is on a rich vein of form at the moment, with a four-disc ambient collection out early next year, but this is the bomb, a selection that takes what made his name – cosmic disco – and broadens it out to include house, psychedelia, dreamy ambience and pure, unadulterated funk.
{http://soundcloud.com/eskimorecordings/prins-thomas-paradise-goulash-mini-mix}
3). Freshly Composted: Compost 500 (Compost)
Michael Reinboth’s Compost label has been going for a good 20 years now, and has every reason to be proud of its success. To celebrate their two decades and 500 releases they have released a handsome book, which has in it a download code for Compost 500 – a compilation of 40 tracks that brings together Reinboth’s choice cuts, rarities and hidden gems. Just to take one track from each would mean you had Compost Allstars feat. Robert Owens’ ‘Good Day’, Carl Craig’s remix of Beanfield’s ‘Tides’ and Christian Prommer’s ‘Where You Gonna Go’. So what are you waiting for?
{http://soundcloud.com/compost/sets/cpt-500-3-various-artists}
4). Kollektion 04 – Richard Fearless (Bureau B)
It probably won’t surprise you to learn that Richard Fearless’ double dose of compilation goodness for Bureau B is a very dark affair. Yet there are moments of inventive light too, at least as much as can be expected from a set majoring on krautrock and steely electro. As befits his name Fearless thinks nothing of throwing in a 22 minute track, Dieter Moebius & Gerd Beerbohm’s 1984 epic ‘Doppelschnitt’, which despite its length works its hypnotic magic. Thomas Dinger’s ‘Für dich’, which opens mix two, is also a bit of a monolith at 9 minutes but also dazzles with its percussive workout. Both are an indication of the Fearless approach – and are part of a fascinating collection in what is an increasingly essential Bureau B series.
{http://soundcloud.com/bureau-1/kollektion-4-bureau-b-compiled-by-r-fearless-snippets-out-june-26-2015}
5). Too Slow To Disco 2 (How Do You Are)
It wasn’t a joke. Last year ‘Too Slow To Disco’ was one of the sleeper compilation hits, disappearing from the How Do You Are shelves with great regularity as the love of so called ‘yacht rock’ took hold. Well the label weren’t going to sleep on their success, and enlisted DJ Supermarkt for a sultry sequel. Once again he came up with a selection of tunes we’ve hardly heard before, such as ‘Medicine Woman’ from Paul Davis, and Jimmy Gray Hall’s ‘Be That Way’, where the essence of the compilation is distilled. With so many feel good tunes in one set, how could you resist?
{http://soundcloud.com/tooslowtodisco/sets/too-slow-to-disco-various}
6). Late Night Tales: Jon Hopkins (Late Night Tales)
Jon Hopkins is not necessarily known as a DJ but as an artist whose music comes into its own in the small hours. It therefore makes perfect sense that a compilation from him should do the same, and this particular Late Night Tales sparkles in the dark thanks to music from Teebs, Letherette, School of Seven Bells and Bibio. All that and a short story from poet Rick Holland to end!
{http://soundcloud.com/latenighttales/late-night-tales-jon-hopkins-album-sampler}
7). Body Language 16: Francesco Tristano (Get Physical)
Carefully planned and clinically executed, this is one of the best in the excellent Body Language series from Get Physical. Francesco Tristano, while he moves between classical, jazz, techno and house, nails his colours to the techno mast here for a set that includes a lot of his own material but which cuts loose impressively. He applies his classical craft to the DJ mix, letting it build inexorably over a longer period of time until the beats are tough and the bass jacking. The effect is mesmerising.
8). Artifact – The Dawn Of Creation Records (Cherry Red)
Sometimes it can be healthy to look back. In the case of Creation Records, while not really a dance outfit, it is instructive to look at their early work and see the roots of bands like Primal Scream and My Bloody Valentine, who have themselves been influential on some of the dance music of today. While their initial musical thoughts are a feature of this handsomely packaged compilation, the real fascination lies in going further back to the start of The Jesus and Mary Chain, as well as bands you will be a lot less familiar with like The Pastels and The X-Men. Watching pop music move on from the advent of punk is a fascinating thing, especially when there are so many varied responses as they are here. Artifact documents the start of something new, too – and is well worth an investment.
{http://soundcloud.com/cherryredrecords/all-fall-down-demo-the-jasmine-minks}
9). Late Night Tales: Nils Frahm (Late Night Tales)
A very good year for Late Night Tales, whose success surely lies in the imaginative choices they make for their compilations of the same name. Nils Frahm was an inspired choice here, as a lot of his piano music taps into that time of the day. For Late Night Tales he chose well, using classical pianist Vladimir Horowitz, some classically inspired Miles Davis, peerless electronica from Four Tet and Boards of Canada and, to top it all, a bit of Nina Simone. A sublime hour in the company of a fascinating talent.
{http://soundcloud.com/latenighttales/late-night-tales-nils-frahm-album-sampler}
10). Masterpiece: Armand Van Helden (Ministry Of Sound)
He may not win any awards as the world’s most subtle DJ, but dance music needs figures like Armand van Helden, minds that are not afraid to rebel and challenge a bit but ones that are also focused simply on having a good time. His triple header for Ministry is really strong, with three widely varied remixes taking in Yacht Rock, Freestyle and finally The Loft – Boston, where the cream rises to the top courtesy of Mood II Swing, Jellybean and Joe T Vanelli. In truth it is worth buying Masterpiece for this disc alone…but make sure you listen to the others, too!
{http://soundcloud.com/ministryofsound/masterpiece-armand-van-helden-minimix}
Written by Ben Hogwood
