Audioglyphs by Various Artists – Tarantella – Album Review
Release Date: March 20, 2025
Label: Tarantella
Everything about this album is very heavy. It’s a big metal vessel with a large crew, lots of firepower and roaring engines. With beats shaped like bismuth and bass sounding like a victorious re-entry roar after the conquering of an alien planet, hide your shitty stereo, humans; because they’re coming for blood.
Released by Tarantella, Audioglyphs is a compilation of sonic misfits, each with their own unique backstory. This cast of characters give their own showcase of waveform weaponization. The production here is top notch – you can identify every drop of hot exhaust and every metal wail. The great thing about compilations is that they assemble themselves into a theme and a lot of the music blends together in ways that surprise you. For instance, Enzo Caselnova‘s track “E Vamp” harkens back to their “This Could Be Us” album, but this time instead of slamming a door or dropping the hammer, Enzo comes with the full artillery.
Audioglyphs just feels like a catharsis for those involved – carnage, but catharsis nonetheless. They gave you a warning, too. Desdemona Club made it clear from the beginning that we’re heading into a dark place – I mean, the track is titled “Depression Bells” for fucks sake. And if the realization didn’t set in, you realized it when you heard EƎ’s and Scott Arford’s tracks. For me, it’s the continuity that makes it fun to listen to. Bore Tide brings the sound of creepy decay in real time and Family Trust doesn’t ease the tension with sharp and relentless beats – very mechanical. Øbsrvr’s track is equally mechanical but much more playful – that makes it insidious.
occurian’s track voidcurrents feels like a swarm of drones and the vacuum of space collapsing all at the same time – I’ve seen him live before and that tracks. 8cylinder’s track Misalinged Trajectories is nuts – where every kick and snare feels just a fraction off-kilter (not off-center), like a machine learning how to dance in real-time. Seaclones’ contribution is filled with gated madness and a rolling storm surge – ghostly. Speaking of ghosts, Golden Donna’s track Phone Calls is what the ghosts dance to on a Tuesday night – very catchy. Production Unit Xero’s track Dexter’s Ephemiral Nkisi is filled with PUX’s signature liquid percussion and precise programming – it’s sharp and almost feels like a ritual we shouldn’t be watching. BADROBBO’s track Jellybeans shouldn’t work given the sample used throughout, but it fucking does. This ride isn’t malfunctioning, sir – it’s working as intended.
Mouthfeel is Duran Duran Duran’s contribution and it’s a banger – fits perfectly with the theme of destruction. Both this track and SLAMMIN by Wet Mango comes barreling in – a full-force assault of distorted kicks and pure controlled demolition. The production on these is tip top. GDS’ track Pop Your Balloon actually feels like a rail gun – fun, nostalgic samples may lull you, but there’s something unhinged here. I have similar feelings on WMX’s track What Is Left. It’s giving massacre and mayhem, but the bitcrushed drums on here are the chef’s kiss. And finally, we pick up the pieces with Disheveled’s track Vichkipari. It kind of feels like a eulogy and a compressed version of the whole album. It’s got a little bit of everything – hard bass, crushed drums and soulful drones whimpering behind it all. It’s the smoldering wreckage of everything that came before it.
Great compilation of music here. Would definitely recommend it.
