Various Artists Index02 (DiN sampler) Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband   Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Chiasmata')

An infectious and rather cool groove gets the opener 'The Regained Paradise' from Subsonic Experience underway. Slow blissful lead lines float over the top but really it's the beats which have the greatest effect and get under the skin. The combination of sounds chosen are also excellent. 'History' by Ian Boddy and Markus Reuter is a very inventive but quite relaxed track with chopped up / backward vocal samples over an exquisite start / stop rhythm. A sublime delicate melody moves in and out of the mix like a will-o'-the-wisp. Even though there are beats present they are used in such a delicate way that the mind is caressed by them whilst the lead line soothes the senses.

'Hydrosphere' by dbkaos is a very atmospheric track and suitably watery, like listening to sounds whilst swimming in the depths. There are some samples used that I swear are from Klaus Schulze's 'Sebastian im Traum' though heavily treated. We drift seamlessly into 'Ecliptic' by Ian Boddy. It is as if these tracks were always meant to be together but of course they weren't. A rather slow but complex bleepy sequence starts up, its intriguing but also rather tuneful. Restraint is the order of the day. 'The Mystic' is also by Ian and quietens things down still further as we get lost in an abstract collection of spacey sounds and effects. On 'Edge of Nowhere' Ian is joined by Robert Rich. The main feature is a splashing rhythm. Arc comes to mind but this is more subtle and restrained with eerie almost wailing Siren type pads floating over the top. Dbkaos return for 'After the Migration', a track which makes use of wonderful shuffling syncopations, a staccato lead line then gorgeous melodic pads.

We now move onto extracts from one of my favourite albums ever, Arcturus by Arc. 'Arcturus Part 2 (intro)' initially uses strange animal noises and half heard speech over windy effects. An organ type sound then comes forth giving a rather gothic feel which gradually changes in character to one of more ethereal beauty before once again returning to the dark and windy effects which take us through to the simply awesome 'Arcturus Part 2 (Sequence)'. The sequence in question is of the rapid bass variety. Yet again it is simply stunning as are the other sequences that are brought into play around it. The pace and intensity are then increased still further. Take the best bits from 'Rubycon', 'Ricochet' and 'Encore' then add the pure genius that Mark Shreeve and Ian Boddy posses in abundance and you will get some sort of understanding of what to expect.

We go back to Ian by himself for the highly atmospheric Aurora. About a third of the way in the pads obtain a sighing vocal quality. It's all very calm and ethereal, little water droplet notes providing a rather delicate melody. There is great depth to this track as there is to his next number, the rather moody Chiasmata. Lovely slow but strident metallic drums mix with superb subdued lead lines. This is a piece dripping with 'attitude' and venom. 'Tuning Out' sees Robert joining Ian once again and provides a few minutes of tranquil float, developing a spooky quality. Robert is now replaced by Markus for 'This Life'. Cool grooves come and go causing a gentle nodding of the head rather than a whole body moving frenzy. Just let those gentle beats and stunning sonic touches float through you. Markus makes way for his fellow Centrozoon partner Bernd Wostheinrich on Moire which will get your body gently moving but without requiring too much energy. Inventive but accessible stuff. Subsonic Experience is deployed once more for 'Treasures of the World'. A really cool organ sound mixes with a restrained percussive loop. Very blissed out stuff.