Various Artists, Hope (Fluid Audio)

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A new label presents itself with mostly electronic reflections on the theme of ”hope”, that most exclusively human emotion. Admirably, half the proceeds from sales are earmarked for impoverished children in Latin America and the ”eco-conscicous” pedigree of disc and packaging is impeccable.

Most of the artists hail from the United Kingdom, like Ishq, who sets the tone with ”Forever”, a showcase for his distinctively otherworldly but inviting and glorious space-making abilities, the kind of space you drift through freely and smilingly, having the best time of your life.

The calming skank of Snakestyle´s "Hope" continues in a similarly easygoing, off-planet style, though in the comfort of an indoor, space-age lounge. But the decidedly earth-bound ”Regenzeit” by Germany´s Field Rotation is the sentimental favourite. It is a child staring expectantly and restlessly out the window at the rain keeping her locked up indoors, going deep into her own imagination to keep herself amused.

Iambic´s ”Turn the Seasons" sounds like a small chamber orchestra with its head in the clouds, as does Digitonal´s ”We Three”, though it sounds like far more than three and stomps its feet on solid, if crunchy ground.

One or two tracks skew dangerously toward reassuring banality, a few others are bagatelles but pleasant ones which move the listening experience seamlessly along. Film and documentary composer Ben Beiny´s ”Start Again” is eye-wateringly beautiful until the drums kick in at about 1:45 which although shattering a dreamy revery continues nicely. He also concludes the album with some pretty acoustic guitar surrounded by breaths of candy floss synth.

The most memorable moment of all is the Bersarin Quartett´s ”Was Uns Bliebt”, a perfectly composed piece appearing about midway through Hope, in which a distant piano chord echoes in the lonesome distance, jets of warm air blowing around it, before a whole band enter and give it juicier, more human flesh. Reminiscent of, but further evolved than fellow countrymen Tied + Tickled Trio´s work some years ago.

A fine project one hopes will find as large an audience as possible.

http://www.fluidaudio.co.uk