- Brisbane label Pocketmoth are set to release a compilation titled Skies. Featuring an array of music both national and international, label founders Zach Degnan and Iti Memon provide an interesting snapshot of the contemporary dance music landscape, here and abroad.
Especially gratifying for me is the amount of Brisbane music the compilation contains. Locals From and DJ Friendly kick off the comp, From’s Draw Me In being a pleasant slice of breakbeat. It builds in the first two minutes before dropping away to some lush keys and then that bass bops in. DJ Friendly’s aptly titled Body High is a floaty house track, with celestial pads pinned against a solid bassline that becomes rather elastic at points. Ceruluean by Quin is another tasteful bit of house, this time based around some smooth electric piano and a subtle acid line. Local duo Penelope Two-Five provides a club banger with Nimbus, featuring the Woo-Yeah break (which is always satisfying). It has a low-slung acid baseline matched with minor chords and great vocals. The housey Synchronous comes courtesy of Chris George. Its hypnotic bassline percolates throughout, drums and chords shifting endlessly.
The international artists have some excellent contributions too. I love the electro swing of I Am Dreaming by Ozacure & Mr. Moustache. It starts off subtle and subdued, some vocoder squeaks punctuating a bouncey bassline and cut up drums. Things fall away while the vocals become slightly more audible. Dystopian Soundscapes serves up a near twelve-minutes of dub techno with Ankh – delayed chords ricocheting in and out for two minutes before the kick comes in. Feels more like Robert Hood than Basic Channel (to me).
I’m honestly appalled with myself that I’ve been blissfully-unaware of most of these artists (particularly those from Brisbane). I’m grateful to Pocketmoth for exposing this talented array of Australian and international artists. I’ll be keenly following their next releases and events. As should you!
- Hill Folk.