Amongst the plethora of top-notch, dancefloor house and techno releases from the Soma stable are a number of special hidden gems designed specifically for the afterhours. With artists like Slam, The Black Dog, Alex Smoke and Octogen controlling masses of bodies across the world’s clubs, the SOMA COMA series aims instead to bring attention to the atmospheric, melodic and mesmerising side to the label’s music.
With the success and support of volumes I & II, Soma couldn’t resist the opportunity to peruse the back catalogues again. This instalment of the series has a beautifully thoughtful feeling to it, with some darker and more introspective tracks alongside some playful, inquisitive and really rather moving pieces.
SOMA COMA Vol. III opens with Alex Smoke’s ‘Intro’ setting the scene for the cerebral and spaced out journey. Slam continue with the mellow ‘Weekday Mourning’ from their most recent studio album ‘Human Response’. Vector Lovers then steps up with ‘Melodies and Memories’ - a dark and retrospective work. The Black Dog then hit a double-header with ‘Transmission Start’ and then the massive ‘Train By The Autobahn (Part 1)’ taken from DJ Mag’s Best Album of 2008, Radio Scarecrow.
We are then drawn into the first of three Mirror Music tracks on the compilation; the wonderfully titled ‘Pretty Toastie Girl’. Skintrade’s 1994 AA-side, ‘Psalm’ and Alex Smoke’s ‘Prima Materia’ turn up the intensity, with an orchestral twist. Vector Lovers continues with the placid and twinkling ‘Rusting Cars & Wild Flowers’, while Slam take a more sinister route on ‘We Medicate’. Percy X of Edit Select and Bloodsugar (aka Andrew Weatherall) team up for ‘-3 (Emissions 2)’, while the beautiful ‘Ghost Vexations’ from The Black Dog bring us towards a close. Finally, Stuart McMillan and David Holmes finish off the compilation with the magnificent ‘Total Toxic Tranquility’.
SOMA COMA Vol. III raises the bar even higher in a series that will stand the test of time. So sit back, relax and enjoy our fruitful pickings.
