Having listened to this showcase of the Hill Drop Records current roster I am in two minds. On the one hand I admire the efforts of this small independent label based in rural Wiltshire in promoting the talents of such a diverse collection of new and original new music. On the other hand none of these tracks are as ground-breakingly original as they would like to think they are.
For instance the opening track by Neiad is an instrumental minimalist psychedelia track featuring the obligatory backwards samples, very much indebted to the original pioneers of the psychedelic sound in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Much in the same vein is the final track, March of the Union’s Afterford. When listened to on repeat it gives the whole compilation an unfortunate cyclical feeling like you’ve just been travelling in a large pointless circle for the last 45 minutes or so. Even the standout tracks for me on this album such as Oliver Wilde’s Say Good Luck and Zoe Meade’s Sonnet of London are very much rooted in the traditions of the folk genre from the late 60’s and 70’s, along the lines of Neil Young’s early ouput.

Unfortunately despite the obvious talent in evidence in terms of both musicianship and production, the claims of being so superior to their more mainstream peers simply for, in my opinion, referencing slightly more obscure genres of the past than the current clutch of chart topping charlatans is a bit irritating. For those seeking an antidote to the retro rebels among today’s mainstream acts will possibly derive some pleasure from the slightly more unusual and surreal sounds being offered from Hill Drop Records. For those after something a truly groundbreaking and worth getting excited about, best look for it elsewhere.

By Adam Tolladay

Rating: 5/10
www.myspace.com/hilldroprecords