ARTICLES
Listening Post: E. Honig
Label Profile: Ad Noiseam

ALBUMS
Leo Abrahams
Ammoncontact
Anka
Lloyd Barrett
Beach House
Bibio
Christina Carter
Davis & Jerman
Ecstatic Sunshine
Ensemble
Fluorescent Grey
Freiband
[guÿôm]
Chris Herbert
Home Video
Larvae
Lullabye Arkestra
Mathieu / Schaefer
MONO & w. end girlfriend
My Robot Friend
Nicolay
Pieter Nooten
Nuccini
Obfusc
Objekt4
Over the Atlantic
Para One
Proem
Red Sparowes
The Remote
Root 70
Florencia Ruiz
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Alan Sparhawk
Andy Stott
Thumbtack Smoothie
Tortoise
Triosk
Vlor

COMPILATIONS/MIXES
Ad Noiseam 2001-2006
Another Generic Sampler
Bip-Hop Generation 8
Diary of a Sweet Day
Idea Hoard Uncut
Innature
Morrow Choral Orchestra
Noise Factory Vol. 3
Squadron 2
Warp Works

3"/7"/10"/12"/EPs
Alias & Tarsier
Audion
Caroline
Home Video
Iz & Diz
Sami Koivikko
Mai
Mathhead
Monomachine
Narcotic Syntax
Quinoline Yellow
Sigur Rós
Samartzis & English
Samartzis & Inada
Andy Vaz
Andy Vaz Remixes
Waterprotection

VA: Idea Hoard Uncut
Uncharted Audio

Some label compilations are rather po-faced affairs, with artists striving to achieve varying levels of profundity in their contributions—not that there's anything wrong with that. But how refreshing to discover Uncharted Audio pursuing an altogether more playful vibe on its Idea Hoard Uncut collection (all tracks but one are released for the first time, with pieces authored by those who've appeared at the label's ‘Uncharted Sessions' in west London). Don't get the wrong idea: there's seriousness all right but seriousness used in the service of polished execution and results, which still leaves ample room for off-kilter eccentricities and wackiness.

And wacky some of it assuredly is, especially the opener “Do You Love It?” where a chanting John Callaghan spars with a psychotically drooling Susan Huxtable (the song's samples are excerpted from Meredith Monk's “The Tale”). Equally high-spirited are the slippery electro-shuffle, driving dub, and greasy bossa-nova that arrive courtesy of Cursor Miner, Kone-R, and The Council Flats of Kingsbury. Schmoof and Freezepop handle the robotic synth-pop end of the spectrum while Line (Neil Wells) and Treewave prepare ravishing dishes from synth-pop and shoegaze ingredients. Some opt for more experimental routes: The Square Root of Evil (Jen Pearson) burns up the rubbery synth track in “You Can't Kill Me,” and a vocalist, his throat clogged with gravel, struggles to survive industrial quicksand in “First Girl on the Fire.” Mention must also be made of Manilla's infectious rap-driven cornucopia of steamy horns and funky beats (“Lorenzo”) and Villain's electro-breaks visit to the S&M chamber (“Turkoise”). As eclectic as Idea Hoard Uncut is, though, one of the collection's strongest moments is also one of its most restrained: LJ Kruzer's (Stephen Fiske) “Huba,” a gentle setting of piano-based elegance and a dreamy respite from the otherwise serious fun.

October 2006