"Bip-Hop Generation V.3 & V.4"

Possibly the most consistently good series of electronic musiccompilations over the last two years has been the Bip Hop series out ofFrance. Each disc features musical contributions from six electronicartists from all over the world. The accompanying booklet gives a briefbio, selected discography and website/contact information. Thistechnique is arguably far more effective in introducing new acts thanreleasing something to the effect of a triple CD set with one song fromeach contributor and fuckall for background information.
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"KING SIZE DUB CHAPTER SEVEN"

Most modern dub just doesn't do it for me. Ditto most straightforwarddance floor music. Put the two together and it shouldn't fare too muchbetter, right? Well, strangely enough, I'm pleasantly surprised howmuch I've been nodding my head while this disc spins.
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TWELVE THOUSAND DAYS, "THE DEVIL IN THE GRAIN"

Martyn Bates (Eyeless in Gaza) and Alan Trench (Orchis) return withtheir second album as Twelve Thousand Days.
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Dan Bern, "New American Language"

There are a few prerequisites to enjoying Dan Bern's music: you mustenjoy at least new folk music, great harmonies, and quirky lyrics.Fresh after his departure from Sony's Work label, Bern returns onMessenger Records with this, his fourth album.
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Alistair MacLean's "Puppet On A Chain" Original Soundtrack

There are some soundtracks that stand on their own.
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OCOSI, "GUIDED"; HORCHATA/OCOSI; NOS, "NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED"

Do you think Mick Harris, aka Scorn, ever regrets supporting all theguys that try to make music that sounds a hell of a lot like his? The'dark hop' category - beats, bass and deep ambient atmospheres - isfull of imitators and occasional innovators. Here's three more discs toadd to the pile.
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Anthony Rother, "Biomechanik Remixes"

Yes, more Anthony Rother. This one is not as good as Little Computer People, but it's still good.
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Little Computer People, "Electro Pop"

Initial disclaimer: I'm not really a big fan of electro music (i.e. Drexciya, Bunker, Adult, etc. .. not the EBM stylings of Metropolis Records). Most of it just really bores me, and the "gimmicks" that seem to be found often within them (oldschool/retro sounds, vocoder vox, etc.) never really grab me. UNLESS, however, we're talking about Anthony Rother, the mastermind behind Little Computer People (and Psi Performer, and maybe some others).
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SHORT STORIES BY 310, "NOTHING TO SEE HERE"

The majority of NYC duo 310's catalog has been released by the UK'sLeaf label, part of the Post Everything collective, but this disc isthe debut from Manifold sub label Desolat Recordings.
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DAVID SHEA, "TRYPTICH"

New York-based composer David Shea is an exemplar of the old clichethat necessity is the mother of invention.
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