Various Artists – Belladonna Records Summer Compilation (Belladonna Records)

Madison, Wisconsin-based electronic music label Belladonna Records was created in April 2005 by co-founders Samarah and Philip Bryant as a netlabel with the original intention of releasing mp3-only albums, and this inaugural compilation represents Belladonna’s first “physical’ CD release. Apparently assembled along the lines of a mixtape in response to the label’s increasing momentum with both a growing artist roster and fanbase, this compilation presents a broad snapshot of the label’s current activities, with an extremely eclectic selection of styles covered. In fact, the dramatic stylistic jumps frequently occur between individual tracks, the opening Proem-esque melodic IDM / breakbeats of 7 Pin Dinner’s “Chinese Burn’ closely followed by 21 Hertz’s “Wave Of Time’, which offers up slightly dated vocal-led triphop more in line with the coffee table-centric likes of Lamb. With a such a divergent range of styles on offer, listeners will invariably gravitate towards their own favourites, and there are certainly plenty of treats amongst a tracklisting that favours lesser-known artists, with only one comparatively recognisable name present – Merck artist Lackluster. Particular personal highlights here included the ghostly downbeat electro sweep of Morsmordre’s “Contemplating The Moon’ which offers wide-eyed ambient bliss and eerie undertones in equal measure and the glitch-ridden hiphop beats and classical piano arrangements of The Great Mundane’s stormy weather-laden “Tut Tut.’ In truth, there’s something for everyone packed into this debut release from Belladonna, but it’s a case of a compilation covering all of the bases rather than specialising in any particular one.