Innature

The inaugural release by the Barge label, the ten-track Innature compilation, serves as both a calling card for it and a celebration of the worldwide flow of psych/drone/rough-edged rock experimentalism that shows no signs of letting up any time soon as an international cult. As with any number of labels that work in that vein, Barge's interest is less in one variety of such a sound than in many of them, and the roster shows it -- any compilation with figures ranging from Canadian experimentalist Tim Hecker to avant-guitar legend Loren Connors to space rock/metal monsters Circle isn't out to squeeze everyone into one particular box. That said, Innature tends towards a quieter approach in general, part bedroom tape-effect aesthetics ("Purity Music/Purity Sound" by the Kallinak Family's choppy, demi-glitch approach shows that there's life in lo-fi yet), part formal, measured arrangements (the Fun Years' slow-burning build "Electricity Is a Scarce Commodity," and Circle's own never-quite-exploding-but-close 12-minute contribution "No Battle, No Fire"). Hecker's blurred exultation with "Dungeoneering" is the closest the compilation gets to shoegaze -- generally speaking everyone else prefers a cleaner or at least less crowded mix -- while Animal Hospital's big feedback blast kicking off "Late Summertime" upends the calm atmosphere of the disc in one unholy roar. Geoff Mullen's queasy, acid/desert riffs fighting through distortion and compression make "Gold Eyes" another standout -- like the Fun Years, he followed up his appearance here with a full-length effort on Barge, and all together shows that the label was off to an excellent start. ~ Ned Raggett|