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Various Artists — The Early Years 1985-1995
(Projekt 100, 2000, CD)

by Mike Ezzo, Published 2002-04-01

The Early Years 1985-1995 Cover art

The Projekt label comes across as ostensibly a rotating roster of musicians who all guest on each other's recordings in a multitude of odd permutations. On this 100th commemorative release, three names stuck out from the pack simply by virtue of their divergence from the label status quo: O Yuki Conjugate — a pared down version of what Jorge Reyes did on his first two albums; Attrition — an 80s synth-pop project with a Bowie-like vocalist; and Terrace of Memories — an ambient instrumental collaboration between Vidna Obmana and (Projekt mainstay) Sam Rosenthal. With the rest of the groups on the CD (approximately seven out of the total of ten) you find a strong sense of commonality. Almost every song, no matter what group is playing, features acoustic guitar and droning synth backdrops. They eschew bass and drums, and play in simple structures with minor modalities, and more reverb than you would ever dream of. This is the kind of pop music that takes the gothic mystery of UK labels (4AD) and bands (Dead Can Dance) to the extreme. But it lacks something that those entities have, due to the different cultural heritage between America (where most of the Projekt musicians reside) and Europe. If this kind of sound interests you then you would probably be wise to dig for treasure in the 4AD / DCD circle first. And then come here if further exploration is desired.

Filed under: Archives, Issue 24, 2000 releases

Related artist(s): Lovespirals / Love Spirals Downwards, Black Tape for a Blue Girl, Dirk Serries / Vidna Obmana / Fear Falls Burning, Various Artists, Thanatos / Illegal Teenage Bikini, Sam Rosenthal / As Lonely as Dave Bowman, O Yuki Conjugate

 

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