Systematic Colours, Vol. 2

This compilation follows on the success of its predecessor, and continues the project of showcasing the particular brand of electronic genius on offer from the German label Systematic Recordings. While the first volume was mixed by Stephan Bodzin, this one was put together by label head Marc Romboy himself, and betrays the latter's taste for funky but subtle house and breakbeat rhythms, almost robotically clean textures, and quirky sonics. The opening track, "Helen Cornell" by Chelonis R. Jones, is billed as a "Macro Version," which must be intended as a joke — if this mix is macro, the micro version would be practically inaudible. The Bodzin and Romboy collaboration "Callisto" is distinguished by a pretty near-melody and by nicely displaced rhythms, while Romboy and Blake Baxter's "The Club (Version 1)" is characterized by a strange sense of urgency and playfully sinister vocals. On "Softuer" Hugo & Daniele Papini bring more complexity to the beat while, paradoxically, simultaneously relaxing it and making it a bit more slippery. The whole program is really quite brilliant, with only Spirit Catcher's "High Control" threatening to slip into tedium.