various / underscan records

Now

This compilation brings together a series of four 12"s released by Berlin's Underscan imprint, drawing on the work of featured artists Frank Bretschneider, Scanner and the like whle also scoring contributions from such well-established electronica acts as Funckarma (also appearing as Quench), Lambent and Fibla. It befalls the Funcken brothers to initiate proceedings with the relentless beat yammering of 'Brim', which exhibits all the hallmarks we've come to expect from these guys: principally, hyper-elaborate drum programming mixed with a vaporous, quasi-ambient melodic presence. There's a bit of a Braindance feel to tracks like 'Honz' by Bogger, while the Chiastic Slide influence becomes apparent on 3tronik's 'Verwirrung'. It really does feel like you're in 1998 again. Lambent's 'Kaudyoe' breaks that mold somewhat, sounding slightly looser - even jazzier - but it comes down to Frank Bretschneider's incredibly bottom-heavy 'Polaris' (a more dub-influenced entry into the producer's catalogue than you might expect) to really reinstate a sense of relevance to the album.