Supple Selections Vol I and II Comps
(Supple Records Inc./ POB 212 / Hicksville, NY 11802-0212)

Two different comp CD's featuring #1: Frances8, Velvida, The Trinity Project,
Blurred Images, Petracovich, Sylva, Kewb, #2: Josodo Joseph Innacelli,
Project Skyward, Non Finire Mai, Panophonic, Newagehillbilly, Delta Waves,
and Ksine. Icecake is on both CDs. I'm reviewing them both together. Hope that's not a problem (They are comps after all.) I like these. Charming
ambient sounds, perfect for a cozy herbal tea moment (or maybe another herb.)
Agreeable stuff. Sometimes genius. Some real shining moments in here.

NEO-ZINE

Supple Selections Volume I & II

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Supple Selections Volume 1 CD-R (Supple) Compilations are easy to review. A good comp is
even better. The songs and artists speak for themselves. Supple collects some of the better, yet more unknown, bands from the
ambient and downtempo schools. Eight bands and sixteen tracks. Frances8's first track lost me because it sounded empty for
most of the song, but the next track ("So Small") adds a more Cocteau Twins sound over their alt-country flavor. The Trinity
Project bring Enigma to mind, but sound less like porno music than Enigma does. Icecake starts off the major highlights of
Volume One with two tracks. New ones, as neither are from his awesome ...An Ambient Experience EP. Sylva bring to mind
DJ Shadow and UNKLE on one song (complete with xylophones, man!), and Irresistible Force and Human Mesh Dance on the
next. Velvida needs a name change, but songwriter David Melbye can write some amazingly smooth electro-funk. Blurred
Images are a blend of laid back space pop and passion alternative. Petracovich is a mix of classical music and electro, some jazz
fusion and trip-hop. Their second track "The Place" may give Portishead fans something new to listen to, look at and spend
money on. Kewb sounds a little like a mix between Autechre and Future Sounds of London. Did I happen to mention this comp
is only $5. (July 24, 2003)

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Supple Selections Volume 2 CD-R (Supple) If the first sounded good, the second is almost as
good. Icecake start it off on a real high note with two tracks of Robert Kaminek's lullful guitar driven ambient. Ksine are another
highlight and can be described as what Aphex Twin sounds like when Richard James feels calm and sedated. NON FINIRe mai
made me think Boyd Rice may have something to do with it, but I was mistaken, as Ales Uratnik is the sole member. Quite the
opposite of Boyd's NON, NFm is accessible bursts of ambient and some techno. Newagehillbilly picks up where NON FINIRe
mai leaves off and takes the techno into fields of trance and break-beat. Jososo Joseph Innacelli's "The Common Wheel" was too
world-beat for me, but his "Untitled II" was better, and similar to Muslimgauze or Trail of the Bow. Project Skyward is a spacyer
(more electro, less jazz) Everything But The Girl. One of my favorites on Volume Two. It was another highlight to hear
Panophonic sing their brand of dark electro-pop in my native tongue of Spanish. Delta Waves ends this disc first with an amazing
drumless shoegazer sound, and for their second track a psychedelic jam - yes, with drumming, keyboards and guitars a'plenty.
Drop Supple another $5 and get both Volumes. (July 24, 2003)

FEAST OF HATE AND FEAR