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As varied as the recent Funk D’Void compilation Sci-Fi Hi-Fi Vol. 4 or last years’ 2007, Soma are firmley cast as house/tech-house/techno dancefloor. This is probably a little unfair as if you add in their sub-labels (Fenetik Music, Fifth Freedom and Pnuma) they cover the full range from reggae to dub, IDM, ambient, electro, downtempo electronica that the Coma series is out to celebrate.

Like Soma Coma Vol.1, there’s the usual suspects of Vector Lovers (‘Piano Dust’ is just a brilliant introduction), not one but two gems from the ever special Alex Smoke, label founders Slam and electonic legends The Black Dog.

Talking of The Black Dog, when we said, “while tracks such as ‘King of Sparta’ and ‘The Crete That Crete Made’ would sit happily in the Best Of compilations” and here they both are on this ‘Best Of’!

Like so many of these comps, the style is of ‘a journey’ and this one starts with the appropriately entitled ‘Prologue 1’ scene setter and includes the very first artist on the label, Rejuvenation (with ‘Life Is..’). There’s a couple that seem a little dated. Chaser were Funk D’Void’s 90’s jazz project and the Abacus remix reaches out to the white beaches of Ibiza with half an eye on Carlos Santana along with Silicone Soul’s ‘Dreaming Again’

‘Kill The Pain’ is not Slam’s best (note: these guy’s were doing remixes for Gilles Peterson’s Talkin’ Loud label as far back as 1992; remember ‘Feed The Feeling’?). Anyway, that’s a small gripe as their ‘Beaneath’ is one of the most experimental and longest on the album.

Especially good to be reminded of Sidewinder (see the interview Sidewinder returns to Scotland from São Paulo via London and Butch Cassidy Sound System with ‘Here What I Say’ that was (and the rest of Butches Brew) was a huge favourite of our mate Bigga. In fact, the ‘Hear What I Say’ 12” has been in and out of my box for nearly 4 years now as its a particular favourite of the current Mrs Hectic.

So its Funk D’Void’s Sci-Fi Hi-Fi Vol. 4 for movin’ ya feet and Soma Coma Vol. 2 for puttin’ ya feet up. Even so, it won’t put you to sleep and with their super fine roster of artists, I bet they’re working on Vol 3 even now; superb!

Hectic Mix nominations — ‘Piano Dust’, ‘Plain Song’, ‘Hear What I Say’, ‘Life Is…’, ‘The Crete Thate Crete Made’, ‘Beneath’, ‘A Moment To Myself’, ‘Kings Of Sparta’, ‘City Lights From A Train’

Reviewed: Various — Soma Coma Vol. 2 (Soma Recordings) Cat. No. SOMA CD 68 Release date: 12th May 2008
Tracklisting:
1 Envoy Prologue 1 (1:49)
2 Vector Lovers — Piano Dust (4:08)
3 Chaser — Blue Planet (Abacus Remix) (6:49)
4 Slam — Kill The Pain (4:44)
5 Alex Smoke — 6am (6:09)
6 The Black Dog — The Crete That Crete Made (5:13)
7 Rejuvination — Life Is… (7:02)
8 Sidewinder — Plain Song (4:57)
9 Butch Cassidy Sound System — Hear What I Say (3:06)
10 Silicone Soul — Dreaming Again (4:01)
11 Repeat Repeat — Squint Shapes (1:12)
12 Alex Smoke — A Moment To Myself (4:57)
13 Slam — Beneath (8:53)
14 The Black Dog — Kings Of Sparta (4:13)
15 Lee Van Dowski & Quenum — Dune (6:03)
16 Vector Lovers — City Lights From A Train (4:51)

Links:
www.somarecords.com
www.myspace.com/slamofficial
www.pnumarecords.com
www.myspace.com/alexsmoke1
Movement: Detroit Electronic Music Festival 2008 Sat 24 May — Mon 26 May inc Moby, Pete Rock, Alex Smoke, Richie Hawtin, Carl Craig, Peanut Butter Wolf, Alex Under, Cobblestone Jazz, James Zabiela, Konrad Black, Kevin Saunderson, Lee Burridge + many more.
www.myspace.com/stanwaysrevenge