This compilation comes from Edinburgh label Bearsuit Records. As is their way, they have trawled the world of electronica to bring us this collection of plastic charms. As it is a compilation, I'll take the tracks one at a time
Port Mone - "River". Edgy and intense like the Foo Fighters going backwards before it overloads on gypsy rhythms.
Kirameki - "Sayonara Gangsters". Wildly groovy in that deranged Yakuza movie kind of way before spinning off with a whole bundle of weird samples into a more modern technopolis
Per Olund Band - "The Crippled Court Jester". Majestic in its scope with little fragments of synth candy and soundtrack cues from a horror movie ending up in bed with, off all things, an opera singer.
Taub - "Badlands". More conventional ambient electronica. Nicely executed if a little predictable.
The Artificial Sea - "Gloryhole". Impassioned female vocal adds life and emotion to a background of urban eeriness.
Whizz Kid "Summer Bubbles". Sparky's magic piano gets treated with anti psychotic medication after getting trapped in the grooves of a Riuchi Sakamoto record. Curiously unsettling.
Milenka - "Atta Atta Remix". Subtly elegant and hypnotic with wonderfully skewed vocals keeping it interesting
Sadomundo - "Ninth Train" - fragmented soundtrack cue from a seventies Giallo. Atmospheric.
The Temple Cloud Country Club - "A Hole in Water". A lovely piece of lightweight but clever and sentimental pop music. Sounds like it should be on an Ally Kerr album.
Anata Wa Sukkari Tsukarete Shimai - "Forsake". Dreamy Japanese vocals bounce off discordant samples over layered synthetic rhythms.
Lettelete aka Eneme - "Torn apart by unusual tailors". What you would imagine a fairy tale would sound like if it were set to music.
Mr Fritz and Magnitophono - "Singing Ringing Tree". A rather haunting reflection on alienation. Sad but beautiful.
Alone Together - "Komoriuta". A classically inspired song that made me think of the autumn rain.
Harold Nono and Hidekazu Wakabayashi - "I've Heard Giants". Mood music that is quite soothing in its own way.
As with all compilations, it can't really be meaningfully rated. I will say, however, that this particular release has been compiled with rather more than usual care and, if you like this sort of thing, then you will find much to enjoy. The Temple Cloud Country Club track sticks out like a sore thumb bit it is such a good song that it quickly became my favourite. Of the rest, I was impressed by the tracks from Milenka and Mr Fritz and Magnitophono.