Various - Free The Future
[Type Records]

In a recent interview here at Angry Ape, Type Records head-honcho John Twells discussed the ever revolving policies of his vibrant record label. Type has forged a reputation as a top-notch experimental imprint that transcends many genres and has a keen eye for picking up the best talent from around the globe.

Twells also pointed to "Free The Future", a compilation (available only at Boomkat) that provides an indication of the direction Type intend to move in. Costing less than £2, this compilation displays a number of varied acts that all have one thing in common : Quality. From the dusty acoustica of Brad Rose's The North Sea project, to the spell-binding orchestral movements of recent signing Peter Broderick, Type's future burns like the brightest star in the experimental galaxy.

Canadians Letters Letters' offering, "Favorite Hands", comes across like a lo-fi version of Nine Inch Nails. It's all mechanical percussion, metallic clangs and anguished vocals. Our Sleepless Forest, a group of London-based teenagers, construct a psychedelic ambient sound that defies their youth. A mix of folkish guitar picking, skewed sound effects, hissing ambiance and shimmering reverb, "The Tinderbox" displays enormous potential. Our Sleepless Forest are definite ones to watch.

New Zealand based duo Skallander, meanwhile, represent a real departure from the usual Type sound. Incorporating a melancholic acoustic approach much like Scotland's The Zephyrs, "Misery" is a slice of dreamy acoustic-pop.

However, it is psychedelic experimentalists Zelienople that, perhaps, will set the benchmark for future Type releases. Using a mix of homemade instruments and vintage gear, "Moss Man" starts like a spaced-out folk vision with reverbed vocals and subdued guitar washes. It bubbles and gurgles for several minutes, before spiralling into a series of seering guitar wails and acidic white noise, much like the glory years of a certain Sonic Youth.

"Free The Future" acts as an excellent pre-cursor to the objectives and prospective directions Type Records appear to be moving in. Folk, Ambient and Psychedelia compositions will sit side by side with essential releases like Deaf Center's "Pale Ravine" and Khonnor's majestic shoegaze/electronica classic "Handwriting". They are all certain to be excellent additions to the Type Family.

With tracks culled from various unreleased EP's and albums and packaged along with efforts from scene stalwarts like Sylvain Chavenaeu and Keith Kenniff (as Goldmund), this compilation is essential for anyone with even a remote interest in the progression of contemporary experimental music. A wonderful imprint, Type brings together a startling array of talent in one release, more than most labels manage in a lifetime.

Free The Future Track Listing:

01. Letters Letters – Favourite Hands
02. Skallander – Misery
03. Rameses III – For Elise (Cherry Blossom Falls)
04. The North Sea – Take it from me Brother Moses
05. Grouper – Second Wind, Zombie Skin
06. Goldmund – Ouendake
07. Our Sleepless Forest – The Tinderbox
08. Peter Broderick – Another Glacier
09. Sylvain Chauveau – Composition 8
10. Zelienople – Moss Man