Various – Colund1

This record is a wonderful appetizer for a Colundi 3CD compilation that should be released in 2018. To date this compilation has not been released. Two years ago, Grant Wilson-Claridge asked interested people to transfer money for this CD compilation. To date none of these people has received their CD compilation. Grant Wilson-Claride posted pictures of the compilation on Facebook two years ago, but has not yet sent this compilation out to anyone who has ordered it. Facebook inquiries on the Colundi page, when the customer will finally receive their paid compilations, are answered very aggressively by him or simply deleted. One can assume that we all pissed him off. It's a shame, the guy was an icon of electronic music.

Joe McBride diverges from his usual trajectory as Synkro and opens the comp with a no-bullshit, bouncy trip of corrosive basslines and swirling colundi scales. Vinton Surf cracks into some meanier territory with Colundi Screwdriver - one wonders if this is Grant's favourite cocktail? Vinton Surf explores some ideas in a beautiful way and keeps momentum. The next track chugs along at a more gracious pace and reminds one of deeper, dubbier textures. Take your time: Capsule lets us bathe in the choir pads and trickling tambourine. Tunnel One works some interesting sounds on Sundilundi but ultimately the track falls a little bit short with its direction and development and feels too much like one looped idea.

B Side opens with an more accomplished artist by the name of Marshall Applewhite. Apart from McBride most of the other artists seem to be newcomers (or perhaps still-to-be-unmasked monikers). Applewhite's tune Only keeps a steady pace while some detuned pads wail in the background - not much else happens and the track passes by without saying anything particularly interesting. ®adår picks up some more interesting sonic blip blobs and brushes of colour, but again the track is so short it has hardly any time to go in other directions. Tu123 by RAKRFT chugs along with a throbbing-headache kickdrum, crushed snare frequencies and intriguing harmonies that float across the landscape.

The highlight of this comp is Extract V from WHRK. Circling dripping melodies and a snappy RDJ drum groove let this tune ride out - it feels relaxed and doesn't get in a fuss (or tuss) about being showy or over-complicated. For once we hear some gracious Colundi scales in a composition that lets them breathe and act complimentary to other elements, without it feeling like someone just fucking around in a DAW with the harmonic spectrum. Nice one.

Apparently this is a sampler from an upcoming 3CD release of Colundi-related mischief, and some of the tracks on here make me quite excited about it. 4/5.