Leaf Records -- Osmosis -- Various Artists, 1999

The label that brought us dub destroyers The Sons of Silence, weird beat destroyer Witchman and art school junglist Boymerang has returned with this, a sampler stating its direction as we head into the millennium. All the tracks here are exclusives except for one and all are stunners a trulu fine example of the expansive nature of Leafs electronica. Sourcing artists from all around the world, Osmosis covers a variety of styles from the crazed funk-house of German producer Beige to the frantic percussion assault of former Laika drummer Lou Ciccotelli's Eardrum project. A definite highlight is the inclusion of two tracks from Japanese techno maven Susumu Yokota's new album which was licensed from his own Skintone label. The organ, voice and percussion sounds of the tracks are miles away from the pounding techno and melodic house that Yokota is known for and will destroy any preconceptions that you have about this master producer. Occasionally this album does descend into self absorbed wankery but for the most part it's a stunning collection of future music. mad beats, new sounds and all for the price of a cd single, what more could you ask for?