Various artist compilations are a hard sell to stores and distributors,however, I don't think I know of any authentic music fan who doesn'tlove them. Thank Youis Temporary Residence's 50th catalogue number (however itchronologically is about the 60-somethingth release) and honors boththe bands and the fans by collecting a small number of great tracksfrom the best that TRL has to offer -AND- uses only fan-contributedartwork solicited from the web site. Like any great compilation, it hasbeen years in the making. (I think I remember hearing word about thisback in 2001.) For Fridge fans who didn't want to spend over $30 for aJapanese import with pesky bonus tracks, the band completes theircollection by donating the 9+ minute "Five Combs," which, along with"Surface Noise," (offered as a free MP3 from their website) makes upthe two tracks left off the non-Japanese versions. The collectioncontinues with various familiar faces and loads of blissfulinstrumental rock tunes like the acoustic fingerpicked "Jignauseum" byKilowatthours, the hypnotic 8+ minute "Bell Jar" by Tarentel, andclosing number (approporiately titled "The Closer") by Sonna. A jaggedrock number from Rumah Sakhit and trippy post-nothing contribution fromKammerflimmer Kollektief, along with the only vocal track (by HalifaxPier), give the collection a little more seasoning. Label superstarsExplosions in the Sky give up a rare track while Xian Hawkins, now 4ADartist, gives perhaps one of his most compelling Sybarite tracks todate, utilizing guitars and electronic processing reminding me howsurprised I am that he doesn't have more snotty European musicpressmongers' heads spinning. For something that's been anticipated solong and a label with as many friends as Jeremy De Vine has, 11 songsseems at first kinda slim, but clearly representative of TemporaryResidence, which has always been about quality, not quantity. It does,however represent more of the past of Temporary Residence and doesn'tserve as a good showcase of some of the newer groups on the roster,like Lazarus, Eluvium, Icarus, The Anomoanon, the faboo Nice Nice,Nightfist, or even Evergreen. With any luck there won't be 49 morereleases until the next compilation.- Fridge - Five Combs
- Sybarite - Killing the Moonshine (version)
- Explosions in the Sky - Long Spring
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