What really makes a great compilation album is that all the artists featured are able make a full and conclusive statement on the main idea of the record. This records main focus is on atmosphere and minimal drum and bass while also throwing a bit of ambient and experimentation in the mix also. With Samurai Music's impressive roster each artist is able to stand their ground while serving up tracks that doesn't make the album seem disjointed. Yes, each artist is able to offer their artistic vision on the focus of the album and after its lengthy runtime somehow they achieve to make the musical experience seem harmonious.
If I had to describe the mood of this album it would be, warm. Warm as inviting or as in somewhere to take shelter in. The listener will feel this immediately at the first track, the sound isn't overjoy full neither punishing it is in fact a stable and creative journey throughout. Sam KDC does an excellent job of creating this homey atmosphere with his track 'Erosion', the wash of noise swirling through the track with its heavy beat not only gets your attention but sets the listener at ease at the same time.
But the occasional track on this album can come off as menacing, notably ASC's 'Dragnet'. Dragnet uses a repetitive heavy drum pattern throughout the entirety of the song while taking many drastic sonic changes to subtlety not let the track drag on, but keeps the listeners interest peaked. Speaking of subtleties this is probably one of the albums main characteristics. Clarity demonstrates this logic in his track 'Sombre', the drums on it are uniform with a constant bass kick, snare, and occasional high hat all complementing each other with a vibrant deep bass wave pulsing through the stereo; with the atmosphere on 'Sombre' always changing mysteriously appearing in and out when it wants to be. Definitely, this focus is used many on these tracks, they evolve and vanish at their own pace.
The Samurai Music label has definitely reached its goal offering some of the most textured and delicate electronic music. Flirting around with the foundation of drum and bass and stripping it away to the bone, we find unexplored ideas with pleasent surprises. As each track operates from great to amazing there is little fault to be found in this release.
