Various Artists - "Dream Frequencies Volume #1"
(Antenna Records 2007, 005)
Various Artists - "Dream Frequencies Volume #1"
(Antenna Records 2007, 005)
From Aural Innovations #40 (September 2008)
A well assembled collection of lesser-known artists of the noise, experimental and drone genres. Total of fourteen tracks with with a duration of 72: 03. Best thing I can do here is to give a run down of each artist and their song contribution. Vibracathedral Orchestra provides a good drone opener, "Chapel Lane Hoedown". The Birds Of Delay brings you their ten-minute ethnic-like world music, "Charnal House". Development Of Shape's "1 . 2" is more or less low-key mood music. Moon with "Ariel Loop" sounds like possibly a lost Michael Rother or Neu! b-side. The Library Tape's "Broken, Part 1" is quite a piece of experimental piano work. And the Sculptress tune - "More Answers Than Questions" is a great atmospheric spaced-out drone effort (maybe the best song of the entire CD ).
I must admit this disc grows on you after each play. To continue, the Dust Collector's "The Sun Is Freed" is a straight ahead alternative psychedelic rocker. Bologna Pony {what a name!} shows their stuff with "King Or Emperor" which is more of that droning deep space trance. The Telescope's "In Communion With The Bishop" features some fantastic whirlwind electronics - sort of like Flying Saucer Attack meets Hawkwind (wow!). And Jazzfinger's "The Past" is a nifty little ambient cut. Whew, after listening to this title three times in two days my brain needs a rest.
To finish up here the Number None contribution of "All Energy Is A Form Of Life" is a good heavy-industrial drone cut. Unexplained Transmission's "Step Into The Unknown" shows you they're capable of creating some nice dream-like experimental sounds for your sense. And Astral Social Club's "Majestic Gargle" has some intriguing special sound effects that reminded me of the late Klaus Dinger. If you're a fan of either or all three of the genres I mentioned early on in this CD review, you should receive many enjoyable spins for several years to come from 'Dream Frequencies, Volume 1'. Most definitely an acquired taste.
For more information you can visit the Antenna Records web site at: http://www.antennarecords.com.
Reviewed by Mike Reed