VARIOUS ARTISTS

Dhyana-records #50

LP+CDR / CD, Dhyana Records

Dhyana-records is one of my favourite record-labels on this planet. It’s one of those labels which make this world a more beautiful place. Yes, I am biased. Completely partial to their side. Don’t ask me, if you want to know something about Dhyana-Records, because I will sing their praise. And I have done so on several occasions. Nevertheless, I’ll stick to throwing all my journalistic ethics of not taking sides and objectivity out of the window. When it comes to my absolute favourites, such as Dhyana-Records, I’ll state my case freely and without hesitation: they are doing everything right.

From their work-ethics, which are completely DIY and democratic, funded by strenuous day-jobs, to their artistic attitude, which is also DIY but very avantgarde and fun-oriented at the same time, to their musical choices, which span a broad spectrum of very different kinds of music. From folk-pop to noise-rock to classical avantgarde to gabba-techno to experimental electronics to grooving disco music and back. What all these artists and musicians have in common is an attitude towards music and making / producing music that is both very experimental yet still wanting it to be fun. It has to shake people up, be new and original but also has to be entertaining. Sort of Avantgarde meets Punkrock in the Shopping Mall. Or on Broadway. Or in a stadium. Wherever people like to hang out.

And the compilations on Dhyana-Records, which are a main part of their regular releases, combine all that into a beautiful mixture. I have stated that often enough, and there are already quite a few compilations, where you can experience that yourself. This one, the number fifty, is different, maybe even better. Who knows. The other releases are also very special: lots of seven inch singles b almost completely unknown artists, albums, CDs, more compilations. Whatever they want to do, they are gonna due, so it is thanks to their great taste in art and music, that makes this label what it is. Now, what’s so great and different about this one:

First, it is an anniversary-release, so special care, attention and energy went into it. Fifty is a big number, especially if you have started from scratch. Bernd, label-boss of Dhyana-Records, was so exhausted when the work was finally done, that he had to go to the hospital for a week. Okay, so it was just a coincidence, but compiling 56 artists is a load of work. And the come from all styles and genres: die grenzlandreiter, jean bach, deep (of course), tarkatak, panzerboy666, minmae, onq, wartoys, yacopsae, f.s.blumm, harald ‘sack’ ziegler, alexdee, nhlsm, bantu mantra, morose, die frucht, istari lasterfahrer, kitty empire, and more and more and more. Way too many to mention them all. It will take you hours to listen to them all.

Second, there is a special gimmick worked into this release. Half of the tracks are on the left channel of your stereo, the other half is on the right channel. So, you have four album-sides on the vinyl-version and two on the CD-version. It is not suited for DJs in Clubs, of course, but you can do your own Bastard-Mix, just using the knob for balance. Funnily, a lot of pairs of tracks, though put together almost by coincidence, work really fine together, while others are askew and on the limit. Seems like you’ve got a lot to listen to, if you get this release, and it is true.

Third, there is a track by Doghouse on there. The first real release with Doghouse on it. What a day it was, when the package arrived. And, yes, that makes me even more biased. I also had a minor part in creating the cover-artwork, which makes me even more proud of myself. Which I shouldn’t. Pride is a terrible terrible thing, yet I can’t help it. It is a good feeling, too.