ALBUM REVIEW: SOMA 2010

ARTIST: Various
TITLE: Soma Compilation 2010
LABEL: Soma
FORMAT: unmixed CD compilation
RELEASED: February 1

Somewhat cheekily titled, given that this compilation actually contains most of what the Glasgow label was up to on vinyl this year. But don’t let that out you off.

Highlights here include Funk Devoid & Sian teaming up on a ‘sleazy dub’ version of their eerie, understated club classic ‘A Raven Wheeling Overhead’, Gary Beck’s lively fusion of live brass and drum machine funk on ‘Tijuana’ and the reverb-drenched, vocoder-heavy electro of Let’s Go Outside’s ‘Machismo’.

The ever original Silicone Soul and the caustic Autechre,


whose mix of The Black Dog’s ’Tunnels OV Set’ welds hip-hop beats to electronic extremism, are probably the biggest names on display, alongside label owners Slam whose anthem ‘Positive Education’ gets yet another remix courtesy of D’Julz,

Admittedly, Soma shows little sign of ever diversifying from its devotion to second generation Detroit heroes like Jeff Mills and Drexciya, but a wholesale conversation to dubstep, crunk or donk at this stage would just seem like daftly opportunistic bandwagon-jumping. In fact, there are subtle developments going on here and that, together with a wide-eyed enthusiasm for intelligent, original dancefloor techno which positively oozes out of the CD player, indicates that the Soma empire has a lot more years in it yet.

7/10