Now it’s hard to talk about any record with the word ’emo’ in the title without fear of opening some kind of colossal can of worms. These days, the word itself is loosely used to cover an array of things, not exclusively music. But this is music, and if you’re looking for a compilation filled with tracks that sit firmly within the ‘traditional emo’ genre, this record isn’t for you.
As an opening paragraph, that doesn’t exactly scream positive vibes, but having started the series in 1997, 12 releases down the line, it seems to have out grown its emo shackles, expanding into something beyond the genre. The concept itself is fantastic; with bands being chosen through blind submissions, completely on their musical worth, the playing field is well & truly evened. Songs range from instrumental epics to folk lullabies, with stand out tracks coming from the UK’s Dedicated To Dedications & Germany’s Collapse Under The Empire.
So, ignoring the genre issue that we’ve so delicately tip-toed around, if you’re looking to hear a compilation of beautifully tailored tracks, all of which are emotionally charged & hand picked by Deep Elm boss John Szuch, you’re in for a treat.
ROB KIMBER