- Remember The Sound Of The Cosmos? It was Global Communication man Tom Middleton's massive 3xCD mix from 2002, which ran the gamut from New Order to Roots Manuva to London Elektricity with grace and finesse, finding common sensibilities—lush melodies and atmospherics—in disparate tracks. Fast forward to the present day and he's reviving the name for a label, with the first release focused on 2-steppy beats from a new breed of producers. Originally due out in mid-2012 but suffering production delays, it's credit to Middleton that Sound Of The Cosmos 001 still sounds so fresh well over a year later.
There are some familiar names here. A collaboration between Silkie, Distal and Mite on "Something Went Wrong With Daisy" is a great way to start a new label. It lives up to their reputations, starting with swelling funk-dubstep before house hi-hats are foisted onto the structure. It later melts into furious acid rapids, leaving you wondering if you're listening to the same track by the time it's over. "Arrival," by Texan VVV, is no different, with a tinfoil rattle that shows considerable growth from his early Burial soundalikes.
The newcomers are just as promising. Sapience presents a highly dubbed-out roller in "Nocturnal," full of sizzling basslines and roughed-up drums. Jabru provides the top-heavy "Glass Floor," which lumbers with a sci-fi wanderlust. But it's Forgold who might have the pick of the litter with "Sleep Cycle," a dazzling assembly of arpeggios and quivering Reese basslines.
Tracklist01. A Silkie, Distal & Mite - Something Wrong With Daisy (Mite's Daisy's From Chicago Edit)
02. Jabru - Glass Floor
03. Vvv - Arrival
04. Forgold - Sleep Cycle
05. Sapience - Nocturnal