various / 14 tracks

14 tracks: Crepuscular Electronica

The current electronic field is a place where ideas learned from ambient techno, pop, hauntology, and sound design play out a wealth of affective emotions, textures and groove. We've sieved out 14 of the best from a very strong recent haul, perhaps with an emphasis on slow, squashed beats, half-heard vocals and introspective autumnal atmospheres. Fittingly, there's a gloomy Manchester presence - from Andy Stott's breathtaking 'Expecting' to the swooning romance of Claro Intelecto's 'Still Here', via Lukid's dusted tribute, 'Manchester' - beside equally moody UK material from Vessel's amazing debut album and fresh single tracks by Throwing Snow and Emptyset. Keeping it cold and northern - Swedish, in fact - there's 1991's gorgeous revision of The Cure, 'Open To The Dark', and Ssleeping Desiress' captivating 'Impasse' to while away the long, dark evenings, beside the sheer sci-fi sound designs of Boris Bunnik's Silent Harbour and spooked molasses chuggers from No UFO's and Alex Under. We'd strongly recommend this lot for cold headphone commutes and lonely evenings by the two-bar electric heater.