DIY Diversions
Various Artists
Instinct
DIY Diversions is yet another solid abstract/downtempo release from the Homebass Records camp, distributed by the infinitely tasteful Instinct label. This disc, as the title suggests, is a disc for couch warriors and daydreamers, and it offers a more-than-welcome musical path for the listener to venture off into.
The disc starts out with Calm’s “Ride the Night Home,” a late-night downtempo number with a lazy bassline and beautiful drum programming. Future Beat Alliance’s “No Return” is a spaced-out, unclassifiable track that moves at a breakbeat pace but certainly doesn’t fit in with the latter, while Men O’Harlick’s “Glade” hovers somewhere in between house music and downbeat, with a spattering of funky bass guitar and analogue synth yelps. Infamous Pork Recordings artists Baby Mammoth contribute a track here, as well – “Retold,” a beautiful, organic piece with a saxophone solo (see: 1992 acid jazz). Almost-pop stars Groove Armada come through with the instant downtempo classic “Older And Wiser” – probably the best track I have ever heard from them – and Digs, Woosh, and Atjazz close out the disc and conseequently bring up the energy just a notch with the abstracted house of “Jaywalkin’.”
DIY Diversions is a subtle, diverse, well-put-together compilation from this slept-on record label. Pop in the disc, put on a pair of nice headphones, and close your eyes and just absorb this one. Downbeat electronic music doesn’t get much better than this.
Instinct Records, 26 W. 17th St. #502-A, New York, NY 10011
