Komfort.Labour Presents Native Lab

WMF records is an offshoot of Berlin's famous WMF Club, which has teamed up with audio-software developer Native Instruments to create a regular event titled "Native Lab." This compilation, which consists almost entirely of previously unreleased music, features a number of artists who have participated in recent Native Lab events, including such well-known names as Kid 606, Richard Devine, and Vladislav Delay (as well as relatively obscure artists like Solar X and Vert). The music is all completely computer-generated and therefore a bit chilly despite being, for the most part, quite genuinely funky. Richard Devine contributes a nicely swinging glitch-fest entitled "Pulsion Mirror," while Vert's "Drawers of Water," with its xylophone-like obbligato, evokes the early work of American minimalist Steve Reich. Siegmar Kreie's "Zen Ist Nichts Dagegen" and Mike Dred's "Soutenir un Feu Roulant" both play around the edges of drum'n'bass without ever making a firm commitment, to nice effect. Errorsmith wins the prize for best artist name, but not for his monotonous "Free for All (Breaks Version)." As a special bonus, the album 's final track is a user-interactive "data sector" that uses REAKTOR software to allow the listener to create his or her own dancehall grooves. Very nice. ~ Rick Anderson|