Search - Idol Tryouts Two :: Idol Tryouts Two

Another excellent compilation from Ghostly International

eightpointagenda | Chicago, IL | 05/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A little while ago, I posted a review about my love affair with Spectral Sounds, Ghostly International sister dance-floor oriented sub-label. So when I found out the main label was going to be releasing another compilation, I jumped on it immediately. I really must hand it to Sam Valenti IV creation and vision. In about 6 years, he has taken his college side project and turned into one of the most respectable, forward thinking labels in the world. If anything, Idol Tryout Two just further cements eye for great music.



This two disc affair comes packaged as two seperate but equal compilations. Disc one covers the "avant-pop" side of the label. Largely what this equates to is infectious electronic infused music. From the bubbly, techy sounds of Matthew Dear and Lawrence, the retro-techno of Solvent and Daniel Wang, to electro pop of Skeletons & Girl Boys and Mobius Band. Avant Pop actually manages to cover a lot of ground yet still feel unified.



Disc two covers the ambient territory that might have been touched on by some of the artists on disc one, but to much deeper degree. A heavy dose of reverb texture and experimental sounds and moods, disc two feels like the sound track to a movie that doesn't exsist yet but should. What really makes disc two is the uniqueness of all the artists despite all of them flying a similar flag. Loscil actually feels like a long lost B-12 track (definitely a good thing), where Greg Davis explores accoustical textures, all while still making them sound other-worldly. While it doesn't cover the same as much ground as disc one, it still has enough variety to keep it from becoming same-sounding, which can be a problem with ambient music. I think what really makes this compilation great is the fact that with all different approaches to music on here, it all feels unified. There is an unmistakable emotional depth to both of these discs which gives even more reply value. This is deep, electronic music like you've always wanted to here. Buy this album."