There's No Place Like Home - Geek Scene Recordings, Various Artists
Rule number one of successful compilation making: Make the tracks flow. It really bugs me when I hear a compilation and tracks jump all over the place. It just makes for a disjointed listen and no matter how good the tracks are it just isn’t something I’ll like listening to if it’s got no flow to it. Unfortunately this compilation breaks rule number one and is an awkward listen throughout.
It is essentially ‘a whose come and played Margate and Canterbury in the last few years’ affair but told through the memories of the compiler. As in each track apparently represents a memory from a period in the guy’s life. Very personal indeed but rule number two states; don’t alienate the listener. Again this provides an awkward listen as unless you know the guys taste it all seems like a bit of a random compilation.
There is some good music on here though from bands from across the world i.e. America, Germany, Sweden, Norway and the UK. The bands cover a lot of genres on here too which is always nice I suppose. To name drop some bands, we have; BEEZEWAX, CATHARSIS, JR EWING and 30 SECONDS UNTIL ARMAGEDDON creeping in amongst seventeen others.
Whilst this gives quite a good indication into the strength of the scene in South East England, I don’t really know what its primary aim is. It doesn’t appear to be much of a label sampling exercise, it’s not really promoting too many of the areas local bands as it has bands from across the globe. It just seems like a soundtrack to the creator’s memoirs of days gone by. Unless you share a similar taste in music to the compiler or come from Margate and Canterbury it’s unlikely you’d find a reason to buy this. In its defence however, it does cover a lot of ground genre wise and has a lot of tracks, twenty one in total.
Geek Scene Recordings
Mike
