When we talk about the pioneering Electronica artists of recent times, we may hark no further than the likes of Bonobo, Four Tet, Burial and Boards Of Canada; when in fact there is a plethora of untapped genius lying in the wake, that perhaps we need ‘nudging’ towards. Artists whom, for whatever reason, bob below the fast paced current of modern music, are sometimes the ones who enjoyed the most sustained and rewarding careers. Away from the limelight, only one thing matters: the music. Because ultimately, music is about those lucid moments that take us away from reality, and transpose our minds to a far more imaginative, if not momentary, trail of abstract thought.
Atomnation’s ’10’ compilation does exactly this: it’s an exciting journey through sound and texture, and the nostalgic atmospherics and tape-reeling vinyl crackle that is lacking in so many modern productions. Perhaps it’s down to Pascal Terstappen’s attention to detail alongside label owner Guido Hollaers that makes this a little more than a chopped up collection of previous releases, and actually a carefully crafted gallery of what Atomnation purveys as a definitive backbone in the world of Electronic music.
Kicking off in style is Utrecht’s very own David Douglas and his 80s-infused masterpiece ‘California Poppy’; a discordant track that twists fiercely from warm analog synth-lines and plucky bass, to an over-indulgent use of crackling reverberated snare sounds and snappy hi hat patterns. This effortlessly transitions into the equally impressive ‘1974’ by ‘modern day nomads’ Salvador Breed and Stijn van Beek, more simply known as ‘Breek’. Shuffling intelligently around a mixture of esoteric textures and neatly constructed rhythmic sections, the opening of the compilation really peaks at the point at which Applescal’s ‘Thanks For The Fun’ is introduced. An equal balance between melody and driving drum sequences, the uplifting twist allows for a more experimental section of the album to unfold in the form of Sau Poler’s track ‘Rutes’.
Lying somewhere between Atoms For Peace’s ‘Reverse Running’ and the downtempo exploits of Seamless Recordings, this track conveys a different aspect to Atomnation’s impressive roster of blossoming artists. Following on from the Thom Yorke point of comparison, both David Douglas’ ‘Follow The Sun’ and Weval’s ‘The Most’ hark back to the swirling synthesis of Post-Millenium Radiohead; a feat which one would really identify or accredit to a producer’s work. For me personally, Applescal’s remix of AnimalZOO’s ‘Flower Setup’ provides the inevitable ‘breather’ in any compilation, before the warm, charming lullaby that is ‘For Seoul Pt II’ by Swedish duo Gidge. The chiming and shimmering work of Yoshiba 87 is reminiscent of early M83 and presents itself as one of the biggest success stories of the Atomnation label, and coupled with the bitcrushed magic or thundering closer Lanny May’s remix of Applescal’s ‘El Diablo’, the journey comes to an exciting climax.
Ten tracks to celebrate the label’s achievement of ten releases in what has been just over a year and a half since its inception. Any fans of interesting downtempo, abstract electronic music should look no further than Atomnation’s ’10’ compilation for a comprehensive insight into the world of atmospherics!
Words By: Charlie Burley (@Ledesko)