Various Artists Inkeys 18 Play: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi   Download: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi (Excerpt from track 'Sarah Edwards / So Glad')

Inkeys were a series of cassettes done in a similar format to a radio show. Andy G has now resurrected the idea but this time as a CDR. After a welcome from Andy we are passed on to Kath G who introduces the first proper track, 'Living the Dream' by Steve Roach. It nicely demonstrates one of his recent returns to the more sequencer driven style of Electronic Music, bouncing along with subtle rhythmic accompaniment, hardly a drone to be heard!

Next up are a couple of tracks by Arthur Loves Plastic. Not sure if this is SMD type stuff or not but if you like it please let me know and I will see what I can do about stocking it. It's highly rhythmic stuff mingled with spoken sound samples, very much in yer face. The second track is particularly heavy with the use of what I assume is distorted virtual guitar to give it that extra bite. Darkhalf donate a very atmospheric track called 'Transmitter'. It's all rather cosmic, but constantly evolving so holds the interest well. The Omega Syndicate are represented by an extract from the over half-hour long track 'Analogue Waves' which is also the title of their wonderful debut album. This is completely OTT Berlin School sequencer driven mayhem. Just how I like it! In complete contrast Sarah Edwards comes up with a track called 'So Glad', a gently rhythmic melodic piece with the odd vocal touch here and there. It has an appealing slightly lazy Sunday afternoon feeling to it.

Otarion's 'Sleepwalker', initially features massed strings and mellotron creating a hint of melancholy. The pace starts to quicken, sequences and lead lines coming thick and fast accompanied by infectious rhythms to then finish as moodily as we started. Awesome! David Wright and David Massey's 'Callisto' project was debuted at the National Space Centre to rapturous applause. The rhythmic programming is excellent throughout and when combined with an almost instinctive feel for delicate melodies the results are a marriage made in heaven. What we have here is a completely unique mix of the track 'Naiad' from the 'Signal to the Stars' album. Things now take a decidedly dark cosmic twist with Observation Point's 'Pavillion'. Very atmospheric it is too with some delicate piano being played over the top, nicely echoing into the distance.

The next two tracks are both from bands featuring David Hughes; that is T Bass UK and Skin Mechanix. The former is represented by 'Gazing at the Edge of Forever' an excellent moody rhythmic chugger with gorgeous breathy lead line, picking up quite a head of steam as we go; the latter uses 'Dimension Jump' to just as impressive effect, wonderfully hissing sequences storming from the speakers. Finally we get an interview and two tracks from Dundee based band Altres. Must admit I hadn't heard of them before but from the evidence presented here they seem to be a band who produce music ranging from quirky little melodic tracks full of humour to full blown sequencer driven pieces.