Various - F*>k Dance, Let's Art: Sounds from a New American Underground (Cool in the Pool/!K7)

It’s always nice to know what’s going on in the “underground,” and this compilation, while not completely, thoroughly engaging, gives an interesting glimpse into the indie electronic underground of today.

Rather than the incessant, pounding house that typically characterizes !K7 releases, F*>k Dance… is much more laid back, the artists taking elements of glitch, dubstep, ’80s electronic new wave and electronic krautrock to mold individual styles that are more fit for lounging about a coffee house than hitting the dance floor. The opening two tracks by Baghdaddy and Balam Acab are definitely dubstep/glitch influenced, but things really pick up on track 7 with Slava‘s “Anything,” a pulsing, 4/4 meditation that’s as much Klaus Schulze as Chus and Ceballos. Washed Out follows with “Feeling It All Around,” a total throwback to the ’80s new wave and new romantic scenes. Truman Peyote‘s “Kartwheels” could pass for a Frankie Goes to Hollywood dub instrumental. “Paradise” by Psychobuildings blends electronica with post-punk, effectively creating a track that’s early Cure with blips and beeps. Animal Collective offers “My Girls,” a stellar track that’s a bit of Kraftwerk and a bit of Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Crystal Castles‘ “Crimewave” gets special treatment from HEALTH. Other standouts include The Phenomenal Handclap Band‘s “15 to 20 (Bim Marx Remix)” – a blend of ’80s Kraftwerk and maybe E.S.G., oOoOO‘s “Sedsumthing” – a spacey, Portishead-y trip-hop number, Memory Tapes‘ “Bicycle (Horrors Cosmic Dub)” – once it picks up and becomes a trance-inducing Orb-like meditation – and “Lovesick Teenagers” by Bear in Heaven, an odd combination of shoegaze, electronica and glam rock sensibilities.

While there are some dull moments, F*>k Dance… has more interesting listening than not to offer. It’s a good one to put on for a relaxing evening with friends from work, when you don’t want to scare them away with your punk rock and black metal collections.