various / moteer

Moteer Sampler

Moteer is one of those priceless labels that over the last few years has fashioned a small, carefully built home of it’s own in the sprawling electronic music scene. A Moteer release sounds like a Moteer release, and even though in recent months their reach has seen them move from Burnley to Japan and beyond, each record seems to be perfectly suited the label’s warming, picturesque outlook. They humbly began with a simple 12” from Northern Lads John McCaffrey (who would go on to release the Part Timer album) and Johnny Russell recording under the pseudonym Clickits, and this paved the way for everything that would follow. In six simple tracks (one of which, ‘No Clickedy’ is featured on this very compilation!) the Clickits boys managed to sum up what the label was about; gorgeous low-key melodies, delicate clattery beats, home recorded sounds and a devilish sense of fun. Following this came releases from Manyfingers, The Boats (a collaboration between label co-owner Craig Tattersall and Andrew Hargreaves) and an album from Clickits, before the label moved into another gear and started taking in releases from far and wide. Aussie band Minimum Chips were the first to show the label’s new approach, and their album ‘Lady Grey’ compiled the best of their output to date, taking the label not only into a new continent but giving them a fresh musical sound reminiscent of Broadcast or Stereolab, two of the tracks from this album are featured on the compilation and shows their effortless cool and Gallic sense of whimsy. As 2006 turned into 2007, we saw Japan taken under the wing of Moteer with releases from Aus and El Fog and although this again saw more elements thrown into the mix never once did a release sound out of place on the label, rather they were growing as a family. This compilation has been perfectly selected to give the finest overview of the label you could imagine, with classic tracks from most of the releases and as a bonus – two extra exclusive tracks previewing the forthcoming albums on the label this year! Those tracks come from new German electronic act Theodore and Hamblin and Need More Sources, the solo project of Boats collaborator Chris Stewart, and both are stunning examples of where the label is heading in the coming months. A great value starting point for people interested in nosing around one of the world’s most inviting labels, I can’t imagine a better way to brighten up your spring.