Released
1999

Label
Asphodel

Reviewed by
Kiran Aditham

Contact
Asphodel Promotions

Visit
Asphodel Records


Last Edit/Update
29 June, 1999

Various Artists

Asphodelic

         
Track Listing

1. Tipsy- Grossenhosen (WE remix)
2. MixMaster Mike- Supa Wyde Laces
3. Tipsy- Tuatara (Remix)
4. DJ Spooky- Soon Froward
5. The X-ecutioners- Raida's Theme (Remix)         
6. WE- 3/10th of the Population
7. Mix Master Mike- Audio Mass
8. X Men Rob Swift- Dope on Plastic (Large Professor Mix)
9. DJ Spooky- Synaptic Dissonance
10. Mix Master Mike- Audio Mass
11. Badawi- Enter the Heretic
12. Tipsy- Bunny Kick (Your Mothers Mix)
13. WE- Chango

    One of the most interesting and innovative record labels to emerge in this age of bubblegum pop and lackluster rock is Asphodel Records. They have consistently put out great music by such arists as DJ Spooky, the X-ecutioners, and the Invisibl Skratch Piklz, to name a few. So why not put out a compilation to showcase their talented roster. Asphodelic is just the record.
    Beginning with the cool, jazzy drum-and-bass number "Grossenhossen" by Tipsy, Asphodelic takes off into many different sound excursions, covering everything from turntablism, a brilliant form of music that is steadily gaining notice, to hip-hop to lounge to droning dub and trip-hop soundscapes. The tunrntablist tracks such as "Supa Wyde Laces" and Billie Klub" by Skratch Pikl member Mix Master Mike meld extraordinary scratching skills with sampling and beat mixing to showcase the tremendous talents of the creators of this emerging art form. Another great turntablist collective, The X-ecutioners, also known as the X-men, mightily display their skills by mixing hip-hop with turntablism on tracks "Raida's Theme (Remix)" and "Dope on Plastic".
    Still, one of the most engaging and amazing tracks on Asphodelic belongs to Asphodel mainstay and sonic mastermind DJ Spooky. Spooky flexes his musical muscle on the brilliant "Synaptic Dissonance", which begins with a droning, trip-hop sound, adds scratching,and slowly launches into an all-out dark jungle track that will send shivers through your spine, especially when listening with headphones. Another excellent addition to the CD is "Enter the Heretic" by a relatively unknown artist known as Badawi. The track has a very Arabic, tribal feel to it that could make one feel like theyre roaming through the Sahara Desert at night.
    Even if you aren't a fan of the genres of music covered on Asphodelic, be a little open-minded because it provides a very interesting and entertaining listen nonetheless, which hasnt been happening often in the industrial/EBM scene the last few years. Many of the artists on this record are brilliant and comprise the new urban underground sound that could one day take over the airwaves and flush out the shite that is mainstream music today.