Galaxie Junktion is the new compilation from New Zealand beat music collective ‘Junktion’. While its main focus is promoting musicians from their home country, the compilation also features tracks by various electronic acts from North and South America, Europe and Australia.
The compilation rushes out of the gates with catchy and infectious electronic club tracks from the likes of Gards From KC and tom2k, that feature vibrant synths and heavy hip-hop influenced beats. This momentum does halt somewhat in the middle section with a series of songs that are overlong and would do better as brief interludes. While these tracks from Room E, Ghost and Monk Fly sound interesting on first listen, I found repeat listens to reveal them to be a bit lifeless, stuffy and sluggish, especially when compared with the restless positivity and energy that brim out of the opening tracks. Admittedly, listeners that are more comfortable with heavier beat music than me may find plenty to enjoy here.
The compilation really picks up in the final third with the delicious one-two punch of “Nevermind” by Benny Tones and Mara TK and “When The Wise Men Fall” by B Lewis. The former is a beautiful, pensive R&B track with half-rapped vocals and an ambient synth backing that is perfect for lonely nights in. B Lewis follows this up with his soul-tinged track with soft synths and a stuttering, eminently danceable beat.
The album finishes with the excellent “Sacred Science” by Joob, who also provides another one of the compilation’s highlights earlier on with “Sagittarius B”. His are eccentric and futuristic beat-oriented tracks with wonky synths that could perhaps be compared to Flying Lotus at his most hyperactive. Pixelord’s “Love Is (Remix)” charms in a similar vein with choppy, sped-up vocals, but is a far more laid-back moment.
Although the album is not without missteps, it is for a compilation – a surprisingly well-sequenced and cohesive whole. Aside from its too repetitive and heavy middle section for these ears, it is extremely listenable and showcases a varied array of up-and-coming electronic musicians full of potential. The album is available now from Junktion for free download.
Wyatt Lawton-masi
