ASTRALWORKS - FOLLOW OUR TRACKS: 2005

Each year, Astralworks releases a sampler of albums they're planning on releasing. I picked up this sampler because it had an edit of The Chemical Brothers track, "The Boxer". I later got a version of the single with the edit on it, but I still have this interesting piece of music in my collection. The opening track is enjoyable. K-OS delivers a strong vocal on this number. It features a rapped verses over a sung chorus. I quite like it. The VHS Or Beta track sounds like a total Cure ripoff. It's ok, but the similarities in vocal delivery with Robert Smith makes it almost unbearable. The next track by the Caesars is also ok. Nothing to write home about. The 22-20s sound like an alternative country band circa The Cult. I like this number a lot. In fact, I could picture this number in an episode of 'True Blood'.

The Röyksopp song is also nice! The lead singer reminds me of Teri Nunn and some of those early 80's female new wave singers. Except she has an accent. Still, it doesn't detract from the track. A Band Of Bees sound like something from the 60's. They have that whispy sound favored by bands from that period. I can't even think of a band they resemble because I've never been partial to that sound. The Gabin song however, is another track I like. Dee Dee Bridgewater has a great voice and she delivers an excellent performance on this track. I could take or leave the Turin Brakes track. It's got elements of country. But nothing overly fascinating. The Athlete song sounds almost like Owl City. It's followed by one of my favorite tracks on the entire record. It's by Audio Bullys. It's a techno remix of Nancy Sinatra's "Shot You Down". I just love these old songs remixed and new versions released. Someone did it with a couple of Elvis Presley songs not too long ago and I loved them.

The Black Dice number sounds like something you'd unleashed a two year old on an unsuspecting synthesizer. Very incoherent. The Juan Maclean number is fluff electro at its finest and enjoyable to listen to. It has a wonderful bass line and features shouted party lyrics. The Ben Watt number is probably my second favorite number on the record. It's different and features a spoken narrative over the sparse arrangement. Next up is Kraftwerk's live version of "The Robots". This number is entertaining and exciting to listen to. Makes me wanna hear Kraftwerk live. Shape:UK's offering is another example of fun house party beats in the grand tradition of C&C Music Factory and Black Box. The vocals are great and you will totally groove to this number. It's definitely one to blast out the window. The Beta Band sound like a grunge leftover band trying to sound important after their genre collapsed. It's not a bad song, but it's not exciting or remarkable either. Why Astralworks chose to include some of these songs and not others is a giant mystery. It certainly shows a broad spectrum of styles, but also demonstrates a limited vision on what the label is producing as far as artists. Still, not a bad listen and fun to have.

My final words: EXCELLENT DEAL SINCE IT WAS FREE. I MIGHT CONSIDER PAYING FOR IT.

ASTRALWORKS - FOLLOW OUR TRACKS: 2005
01. K-OS - Man I Used To Be (Edit)
02. The Chemical Brothers - The Boxer (Edit)
03. VHS Or Beta - You Got Me
04. Caesars - It's Not The Fall That Hurts
05. 22-20s - Devil In Me
06. Röyksopp - What Else Is There?
07. A Band Of Bees - Those Are The Ghosts
08. Gabin Feat. Dee Dee Bridgewater - Into My Soul
09. Turin Brakes - Over And Over
10. Athlete - Half Light
11. Audio Bullys Feat. Nancy Sinatra - Shot You Down (Edit)
12. Black Dice - Snarly Yow
13. The Juan Maclean - Give Me Every Little Thing
14. Ben Watt Feat. Estelle - Pop A Cap In Yo' Ass
15. Kraftwerk - The Robots
16. Shape:UK - Back To Basics (Edit)
17. The Beta Band - Dry The Rain