The Psychotechnic League and The Modernist Disco - We Do Not Have a Dinosaur (Various Artists)

(self-released, 2011)

This eclectic electronic compilation sets out to showcase the best electronic music Oxford has to offer. This means that we are treated to some seriously scary schizo noise from the likes of Cez (who start the collection in blistering fashion with a rock-infused, hard house nightmare) and live favourites Coloureds who end the album in a similar fashion. In between these bookmarks we get a veritable patchwork of different styles which span several genres. Some highlights include Death of Hi Fi, whose usually hip-hop heavy brew is put through an industrial filter making them sound something akin to the Prodigy. It’s The Grudle Bay Riots who prove to be the real revelation of the collection with their simple and elegant blend of Air and Radiohead. We have mixed feelings about the vocals on SIKOЯSKI’s contribution but we get the feeling that they are an intentional part of the song’s campy, industrial charm. There are no doubt some talented artists who have been omitted from the tracklisting but overall this is a great showcase of local talent and all for a good cause – all proceeds from the album sales will go to the Red Cross Japanese Tsunami appeal. A most worthy buy.

(originally published in Oxfordshire Music Scene, issue 14)

http://www.oxfordmusicscene.co.uk/images/oms_issue14.pdf

Various Artists - Spires: A Collection of Music From Oxford Bands

(Free Download, 2011)

When NME recently ran an article on the ‘mysterious’ Blessing Force scene, it gave the nation the impression that those bands were running the Oxford music scene when in fact a lot of regular punters and hard working Oxford bands had hardly heard of most of them. Here, Aaron from Phantom Theory has taken this as an opportunity to compile a collection of those Oxford bands which are really out there, gigging, making music and working hard. If you follow the local scene then you’ll recognise the bands spotlighted here; Black Hats, Dead Jerichos, Dial F, TROT, Ute, Spring Offensive et al. This isn’t a surprising compilation by any means, and the songs collected here are among the respective bands’ most well known. It’s a simple idea - just as Jon Spira’s upcoming documentary Anyone Can Play Guitar will attempt to give a history lesson on Oxford music, Spires catalogues some of the city’s best current bands. Don’t lament the bands which have been left off this compilation, the idea behind Spires is admirable and it’s free, so go direct those who have been misinformed by NME to go download it.

http://spirescompilation.wordpress.com/

[Originally printed in Oxfordshire Music Scene magazine, issue 12, February 2011]

http://www.oxfordmusicscene.co.uk/images/oms_issue12.pdf