Various Artists

"Blisscent I" CD

Blisscent Records

Genres: shoegazer, dream pop, noise pop

Blisscent Records
11 South Angell St.
#486
Providence, RI 02906
USA

June 17 - 23 2002

A wide collection of bands have pooled their efforts for this compilation, and the results are of corresponding excellence.  Electro-popster Collette Carter contributes a pleasant, dreamy piece that sounds a bit like an electronic-ized Loreena McKennitt song.  Meanwhile, Alcian Blue contributes a blazing space rock song that packs a lot of power, yet still manages to be thoroughly, well, blissful.  Asobi Seksu is the creator of one of the best of the fourteen songs, a Pulp-influenced tune called "The Words Live Longer".  It's like brit-pop that's been sent through the meat grinder of shoegazer music.  And then there's a wonderful track by Twigs, a surprisingly scorching track that just works perfectly.  And if that weren't enough, there's also top-grade contributions by Sunstorm, Readymade, The Emerald Down, Lovespirals, and more!

Perhaps one of the best elements of this compilation is the mixture of styles and flavours within it.  A whole number of genres are represented - from dream pop to shoegazer; space rock to brit pop; electro-pop to drone rock.  As well, the contributions come from a number of different areas, including the USA, Canada, England, and Germany.  As you can see, the songs on this collection are an extraordinarily varied, eccentric lot - yet they all come together flawlessly, maintaining a calm, yet powerful mood.  It is this continuity, and the tremendous talent involved, that makes "Blisscent I" such a successful collection of tracks.

Catchy, dreamy, spacey, moody... they're all good words for this compilation, but I think the best one is... Blisscent.

80%

Matt Shimmer