VARIOUS ARTISTS

10 YEARS OF PHONICA (Phonica)

14/20

This writer’s main memories of entering one of Soho’s classier institutions involve shuffling up to the rows of blokes with satchels and super-rare Nike Airs by the new techno releases, double-taking at the price of whatever slab of vinyl caught his eye before shame- facedly tiptoeing over to the bargain bin, taking some Italo represses to the counter, then realising that the eight quid he was about to splurge would be better spent on some pulled pork at the Bodeans across the road.

So let us praise all those involved in this expansive three CD compilation: in an age of austerity, they’ve offered us an abundance of riches – two discs of previously unreleased material bundled with a final platter of tracks curated from Phonica’s in-house label. As an overview of contemporary club culture it can’t be faulted: taking in the likes of Roman Flügel (with the off-kilter slump of Giant Talking Vegetable), Mr G (going in with the rugged thump of My Thursdayz) and Legowelt (all grind and bump on Lovecraftiannature), dishing out hot new jams from Joakim and DJ Kaos, Joe Clausell and John Morales, Steve Moore and Special Request. Some curmudgeons might argue that a compilation of this kind sucks the fun out of crate digging, instilling a sense of laziness in the consumer, providing them with a readymade record collection that’s on-trend enough to act as a barometer of considered, studied taste. Fuck them and their deep, deep pockets.

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Words: Josh Baines