Various Artists - BNR Vol. 1 (Boys Noize)
3/5
By: Various Scribes
BUY DOWNLOADThe recent resurgence of dance music through acts like LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip Goose, Justice, Soulwax and Simian Mobile Disco has paved the way for the more underground dance labels to get in on the act. German born Alex Ridha, the man behind Boys Noize, has been gradually building his name through the success of 'Oi oi oi' released last year and the numerous well received indie remixes he has been churning out. Wind back four years and Ridha was starting his own dance record label Boys Noize Records in order to release his unknown work. Now three albums and twenty seven 12" releases later the label has sufficient weight and artists on roster to produce this 'best of' double CD.
There are a variety of beats on display ranging from 80's/90's club, old skool, house, garage, to the nouveaux electronic. There are some immediate stand out tracks through out the 150 odd minute compilation showcasing some engaging production based talent.
A fluctuating mixture proceeds with tracks like 'Mein Neus Fahrrad', 'Ready Steady', 'Out of the Blue' and 'Thomas' among others that have come from the Daft Punk mould but still keep that underground persona so as to keep them sufficiently different. The mean sounding 'Don't Go', the 90's Club style of 'Volta 82', the old skool sounds of 'What is Natural' complimented by the calmer "Frau" show further diversity, while Housemeister chips in to dispel any ideas that dance is devoid of a bit humour with the mildly amusing 'We Need Cash'.
Being such a large offering of previously released tracks from a number of label artists, there are of course a handful of lacklustre examples like 'Cowbois' and 'Psychedelic Disco' which although good enough on their own don't live up to the surrounding selection.
With sufficient amount of mechanical sounds and bleeps to think R2D2 has appeared as a guest on Loose Women, BNR Vol. 1 harbours enough innovation coexisting with emphatic thump to get any club bouncing. CD one has some strong tracks but CD two is more consistent in delivery. This double compilation album is good, but what stops it being great is the number of tracks that tend to fall in to obscurity dwarfed, somewhat by the more exuberant numbers.
Artists in this article: Various Artists
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment