V/A - Tronic: New Wave of Electronic Sounds Vol 1

Despite sounding like a sci-fi drink, Tronic is one of Glasgow's finest collection of electronic artists and a regular club night. This is their first release bringing together thirteen artists. Jeye begins with Sun Sun Son, ethereal electronica with ambient glitches, pulled together with Laurent Garnieresque melodies. Ocean Reformatique by Sean Kerwin picks up the pace with bare beats and clicks bursting into drones and accompanied by soft operatic singing. It's trancey, acidic, and deep with a flash of Detroit. Ambient swells follow on Thousands by FAOJesus, while Espion provides a stand-out track with Silence and Solitude, building a scene of contentment through melodies and beats that are supportive rather than directive. Acidfairy is the only female to make an appearance on the LP (On the Seventh Day), starting in with an almost gabba beat steered into 4/4 territory - akin to a harder Born Slippy (Underworld) to get the party geared up. Be sure to also check out Fiction, Ives, Binary Zero, Darkmode, Chikuma Tsuboi, and closer Rochelle Salt by Scopeboy, a lo-fi Schneider TM style of soft rock. [Struan Otter]