Various – QFG: A Compilation

This superb production showcases 45 different artists from the French experimental scene, chosen among more than 120. There’s a great variety of styles: from atmospheric beatless ambience to obduriate noise. All the tracks are futuristic and boldly electronic. Most of them are instrumental because their mechanical essence wouldn’t go with a human voice. The artificial effect is built-up by several layers of sounds that come and go: beats, beeps, drones… The listener can catch each of these layers clearly and separately. There are many emphatical pauses.

All music is based on three elements: melody, rhythm and texture. The most important here is the latter, which helps to create an abstract atmosphere where melody is hardly present and rhythm not always appears. The few melodies used are minimalistic and much of the rhythm applied is random or anarchic (forget about this compilation for the dancefloor).

But what’s most fascinating about this music is its rusty sound. Only in this specific sense can you apply the term <em>industrial</em> to this compilation. Don’t expect guitar or drums sampling, nor NIN-like grunts. Industrial style has its rules and these artists have emancipated from them. What we have here is an <em>industrial</em> flavour: it seems as if we’re in a noisy factory surrounded by self-moving machines that are almost alive.

The impersonality of the tracks inhibits the arise of any feeling through the listening of this music: it’s absolutely free of emotion, anger, happiness… But the listener might feel the threat of the machines and that can lead to fear or, at least, mystery. Just like a clock’s tic-tac or the sound of the sea, the soundscapes and noises of these artists can help you enjoy the peace of silence and make you dive into your own imagination.