Just a quick impression of this, purchased for the bargain price of
UKP12 at the weekend, on lush quad-pack vinyl.
The title is perhaps a little OTT, but this is nevertheless an
excellent comp, perhaps especially for those who were weaned on
"techno" but have developed a taste for "ambient". I put these in
quotes to try and prevent anyone hassling me regarding labels. And
this statement is not supposed to be in anyway demeaning, I would
apply that description (with some qualification) to myself!
Almost all the tracks here (about 20 in total) are examples of the
mellow rhythmic side of ambient, those smooth trancey or electronic
dub rhythms permeating all but one or two. I've only listened
thoroughly to the first two slabs, and everything I've heard so far
has been very mellow and groovy, and well produced, as we have come
to expect from Apollo artistes.
At least half the tracks are previously unreleased, and some of the
rest are pretty obscure, so even if you have the entire Apollo back
catalogue, this is a good value compilation. If you haven't, then its
an excellent introduction to established musicians such as Biosphere,
David Morley, Global Communication, and relative unknowns such as Two
Sandwiches Short of a Lunchbox, Word Up and Manna.
All in all, if you like your ambient with a twist of trance, buy this
LP straight away!
BTW also bought the Subsurfing long player, on the strength of the Ao
single "The number readers". Will report on this in due course.
later,
J
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steady-J@firefox.co.uk