v/a: Anthology of Noise and Electronic Music, Vol. 5

Label: Sub Rosa

This estimable series of electronic music courtesy of Belgium’s Sub Rosa label is now up to its fifth volume, and it is once again impressive in its breadth and choice of material. The list of artists has a more international flavor this time around, and the theme is the voice, but don’t expect anything on the tranquil side (they put “noise” in the title for a reason). Here we find the voice in all its raw, screeching complexity, sometimes expressed through roars that make Yamatsuka Eye sound like Melanie. We get everyone from Charlemagne Palestine (“Seven Organism Study”) to Pere Ubu (“Sentimental Journey”) and loads of other unreleased tracks from the early days of electronic music to the more recent, as per previous volumes. Not for the faint of heart to be sure, but for devotees of all things raw, noisy and adventurous, this anthology is as good as it gets. With a beautiful deluxe digipack sleeve and a 54-page booklet. (James)