Various – 2

The artists on EMD profile an extremely sparse sound, not dissimilar to Wolfgang Voigt's Studio 1 project. Unlike Studio 1, however, the artists on EMD manage to evoke unfathomable levels of claustrophobia and lifelessness in their productions. These qualities, although central to EMD's sound, are somewhat limiting, and they also serve to make this compilation incredibly tough to listen to, let alone enjoy. It is difficult to pinpoint any real highlights other than the two Kotai/Bader tracks, particularly "Welltick" - with its abstract lyrics and melodic minimal groove, it clearly stands out from the rest. Although the two tracks by Midnight Caller (Kotai's collaboration with Baby Ford) are brilliant (particularly "Third Kind"), they turn out as near-highlights on the disc, feeling buried by the equally dark-minded tracks which surround them.

Regardless of the sound and flow of this compilation, it is very exhaustive in its coverage of EMD's output and artists, making it the perfect introduction to this peculiar label.

This second full lenght cd from Elektro Music Department would best be likened on a foggy morning ride on a horse named Solitude through the Lost Valleys of Obscurity. Dark and dreary synth lines are lined with subdued kick drums and minimal percussion, with an occasional noise factor thrown in to thicken the haze. Add a couple of abstract vocals and you've got a melancholic drooper, perfect stripped-down tech for latenight hermitising.