Until only relatively recently, Bulgarian downbeat IDM label Controne was operating purely as a Creative Commons-based netlabel, but alongside a new album from UK-based producer Sektor, this unmixed label compilation “Mioku’ provides the first commercially-available showcase of the various artists currently operating on their roster. In this case, the gauzy, tranquil field shots featured on “Mioku’ sleeve certainly give an apt indication as to the sort of prevailing mood amongst the twelve tracks gathered here, in this case, glacial downbeat IDM of the melancholic and introspective persuasion.
While the above is certainly an well-furrowed genre these days, in this particular instance (as always), it’s the producers on this disc that venture further outside the form’ established constraints that offer up the most memorable moments here. If Adj’ opening segue “Inner Kid’ comes across as slightly over-familiar terrain with its blurred-out, childlike melodic tones slowly picking their way over an ambient backdrop strewn with contorted digital detritus, Esem’ following “Xerie’ manages to add something far more interesting to the equation, taking things off on a downbeat ambient soul tip amidst delicate keys and dubbed-out, ringing percussion fills, its spectacular backdrop of horn swells suggesting The Cinematic Orchestra’ restrained grandeur at points.
Folder’ inspired fusing of warm, rich double-bass chords and intricately contorted IDM rhythms on “Ribatop’ also manages to provide one of this collection’ biggest highlights (especially with its fantastic rapid slow-down halfway through), as does Polygon Ring’ epic closing remix of Sektor’ “Loki’ – while the wavering, detuned synth pads certainly show a hefty debt being paid to the likes of Boards Of Canada, there’ more than enough individual atmosphere conjured here to give the track a character of its own. Given the prevailing mood of this compilation, it’s perhaps no real surprise to find a track from Finnish producer Lackluster (the only name I’d previously heard of) packed in amongst the tracklisting, in this case, the slow-motion, glitch-dub edged “Goodbyefrenchpalace’, another smouldering high point here. If there’ a sense of over-familiarity to some of the glacially melancholic IDM landscapes being explored on “Mioku’, it’s more than balanced out by the more inspired twists on offer here, marking Controne out as a label to keep an eye on.
