VA - Mysteries Compilation - Chapter Two (2020)

The second chapter in the Mysteries compilation series is a departure from the airy, ethereal style of its predecessor, and instead offers an energetic, vibrant selection of tracks that fits with the summer season of its release. This comp is characterized by broken rhythm and lush ambience from a range of accomplished artists in New York and beyond, including but not limited to Tin Man, Abby Echiverri, rrao, Clay Wilson, M Parent, and label artists Nathaniel Young and Matthew Patterson Curry.

This is an anthology characterized by thought and intention; each track is a shining example of the artist’s distinct sound and craft. The first few arrangements bring to mind the natural world: a jungle’s canopy or a sweltering day. Tin Man contributes a bright, tonal opening, amplified by the distant sound of birds, before tdel’s “Nu,” minimal and percussive, leads us into deeper territory. Abby Echiverri’s “Varzea” builds off of this organically, providing rhythmic depth and hypnotic layering in a style reminiscent of the late 90’s.

The tracks sonically gel, and yet there are deviances in genre that make this a dynamic, compelling release. M Parent’s “Mysteries of the Street” is restrained, atmospheric electro at its finest. Clay Wilson and Obelus provide sparse, IDM-tinged rhythmic dreams, at once transcendent and visceral. “Shyama,” from rrao, is filled with meditative vocal loops that resound like a mantra. The contributions of label artists Nathaniel Young and Matthew Patterson Curry are examples of exquisite sound design. Each production is a testament to the skill and vision of each artist. Whether you’re seeking rhythmic or arrhythmic varieties of experimental music, this compilation is a superior selection of tracks, primed to withstand the test of time.