Mean, moody and magnificent – three ‘m’ words to sum up this rather wonderful compilation. Optimo (Espacio) wanted to make a dark mix but were equally keen to avoid cliché – and wanted to include music with soul. That they have succeeded is clearly down to careful planning, because their track selection is perfectly paced and nuanced. There is a lot of atmospheric noise around the opening tracks, which swirl and contort before establishing a solid beat, which the machine funk of Roberto Auser’s ‘Eclipse’ then turns to stone. The off beats of the darkened ‘Imaginary Soundscapes 9’ from Hieroglyphic Being then set the scene for the majestic, brooding ‘Invocation’ from Silent Servant. This in turn cuts to the thrilling Inigo Kennedy track ‘Cathedral’, which evokes the sound of bells to a hugely satisfying kick drum. Then the mix reaches a crossroads, moving to a more industrial approach heralded by Hecker’s ‘Bsf°Tyk 5’, with Optimo not afraid to move the goalposts as the music demands – before a heady rush towards the finish spearheaded by Holy Ghost Inc.’s ‘Mad Monks On Zinc’ and Deadboy’s ‘Black Reign’. Finally the night collapses into a nightmare (The Freeze) and an out of body experience (Angel Corpus Christi), coming full circle. It’s what clinches this as such a listenable and interesting compilation – both original and rewarding.
5 out of 5
Reviewed By Ben Hogwood
