In Case of Escape - Phonokol

Whoops. Must admit, was rather excited to hear of an Atmos mix from Phonokol. Even though it followed Yahel’s tragic Mixing In Action release last year (those shades! those trainers!) there was hope for a nice smooth set of scando-prog-psy from the master of that particular art, as we wait around in between "proper" artist albums like commuters waiting in between trains. However just seeing the tracklisting makes you weep. Now regular readers will know that we’re not afraid to call a spade a spade; and not afraid to call a disappointment a disappointment; and not afraid to call a sellout a sellout. However, j’accuse Atmos: disappointing sellout. The tunes may be not all bad as tunes go, and even though the mixing is a little off at times it’s got progression. But it could be so much better. Atmos is a great producer who, to a more or less extent, created his own style, and he certainly knows what makes a tune work. On top of that, he’s a good DJ and can certainly tease and rock a crowd. So this could – perhaps should – have been an essential purchase. However nothing hides the fact that he’s spinning a lacklustre collection of predictable and utterly non-psychedelic set of tunes borrowed from Digweed and as such we have a moral duty to advise you to steer clear. Steer clear, in fact, as though it was a blood-stained gentleman with an axe hitch-hiking at the side of the road.