Theelectro of Ersatz Audio's 'Misery Loves Company' comp is pretty damnthin. I don't really understand why, because all these artists (Adult.,G.D.Luxxe, Solvent, Gold Chains, etc) should be interested in qualityof sound, since they are, essentially, electronic musicians. But thebeats on this CD are SCRAWNY, and I don't know if it's the minimalaspect of these tracks (most songs are just a drum machine and one ortwo synth lines, with vox), or if Ersatz needs to start getting theirCDs mastered somewhere else (the Adult. full-length has a similar lackof punch). Or perhaps my ear is getting a little too picky. In anycase, sound quality aside, this compilation is fairly enjoyable butsomewhat forgettable. There's nothing groundbreaking going on here, but'Misery Loves Company' has done a pretty good job of compiling artistsfrom America and Europe whose approach to their drum machines andsequencers are roughly on the same wavelength: simpleretro-dance-electro, with a big nod to the Detroit sound (and a smallnod to Miami) and a slightly ironic presense. The obvious names standout with some of the best tracks (DMX Krew's "Touch Me" and Lowfish'sIDM-electro instrumental "Dead House"), but there are some intriguingnew names here, including Detroit's Tamion 12 Inch, whose "Thin BoysMurdered" straddles the line between being really irritating andstrangely charming. Other bigger names fail to deliver quality tracks,most notably Solvent & Skanfrom's collaboration "Expect Delays" andGold Chains "Could Care Less," which is the purported inspiration forthis disc. At its worst, this comp is a kind of redundant after awhile, as every song sounds pretty much the same. But most of thismusic doesn't take itself too seriously, thankfully, and overall it'spretty non-intrusive. I'd probably put it on at a party. Or maybe playit really loud while taking a nap.
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