Vibraspirit Vol 11.23

The fourth in the Vibraspirit series is a long way off the groundbreaking, multilayered kaleidoscopism that the first release personified. Hang on, was that just me saying something along the lines of, “it’s not as good as it used to be?” If it was, shoot me. This compilation comes across as a game of two halves, with some amazing moments wedged in between tracks that make you ask quite what they’re doing on here.

I believe most of us would agree that while there is some fantastic music around under the morning/fullon bracket, the chief culprits in producing the shit stuff happen to be Israelis. This isn’t bias, it’s fact — in as much as any musical opinion can be considered “fact”.

It comes as some surprise then to see that both label and series, previously rocksolid reliable for giving us new things, seems to be content to dig from the same barrel as Agitato.

Jigsaw’s Organic Panic has that post-Juno-Reactor quantized thing going on, not bad in itself but the lack of spark in the rest of the track doesn’t give you much to focus your attention. Magnetic Force’s Chemical Brothers (Chemical Trolls Rmx) has some good sounds and moves nicely, but the final section is characterised by a painfully over the top highend melody line – first of those I’ve heard in about an hour. Anahata does well with Seditions Delicious, with a stripped-down and almost progressive vibe that stealthily gathers energy, hooking you right into its core at the breakdown. Neat stuff.

Israeli Sphinx’s Human has some of the most saccharine melodies ever heard outside a Space Buddha DJ set, and ITP’s Sunrise does exactly what it says on the tin, probably until the guitars come in and sent things in a decidedly Eurovision direction. Magical Sex’s Ping Pong has some great moments with sounds springing all over the stereomix, but then at the end it all gets very Israeli: high-end melodic rushes, squeezing every last bit of saccharine grin from you. Ion’s forgettable Weak Me is aptly-titled, Domatek’s Like A Dream sounds flat and unmastered, and Alt Anesis feat Mike A’s Radiant Ablaze is forgettable.

The only solid, confidently own-two-feet track here is Terrafractyl’s Psychedelic Acoustics, where the range of sounds, their subtle manipulation, and a lovably quirky sense of melody all shine through in a track that’s a standout in every sense of the word.

All in all this really disappoints me. Steer clear of this, and pick up any older Sundance release instead.