Rotterdam-based label Notochord stress that they’re less interested in subgenres such as IDM and breakcore, preferring instead to focus on creativity over a broad range of styles. It’s an operating strategy that’s certainly vividly reflected in the diverse tracklisting of this debut compilation from the label, but in this case there’s an overarching cohesion that holds this collection beautifully, thanks to a predominant focus on maintaining a unified “feel’ and emotional atmosphere. With fifteen tracks presented from seven different producers hailing from disparate geographical regions; in this case Autoclav1.1 (UK), Blue T-Shirt (Canada), Sunao Inami (Japan), Semiomime, Slacknote (both Netherlands), Stephen James Knight and Wisp (both USA), there’s certainly a wide range of ground covered, but with a continual focus upon evocative nocturnal atmospherics with a downbeat bent.
Slacknote’ “Huge Wooden Radio’ calls up images of Dr. Alex Paterson in his prime, with tweaked and dubbed-out samples of a guy talking about his first tentative musical steps floating through a reverb-heavy forest of effects before fat dub bass locks in alongside rattling junglist rhythmic acceleration. By contrast, Semiomime ventures out into brooding jazz-noir reminiscent of Amon Tobin’s dark explorations on “Hiding Vase’, ominous orchestral sweeps floating against stark, near-industrial percussion and buzzing, contorted sample fragments, the addition of clicking breakbeats ushering in uplifting chords and an antidote to the gathering sense of tension. Wisp’ “To Draw Something Beautiful’ certainly shows all of Reid Dunn’s predilections for the sunnily pretty side of melodic breakcore firmly in place, while Blue T-Shirt even manages to introduce a touch of yearning acoustic-infused pop with the chiming guitars and slow snares of “Sentimental Institution.’ A very strong debut offering from a label worth keeping an eye on.
