FOR FRIENDS [fader magazine/Japan]
The chill these days doesn't wake me up. I even take a nap in front of the stove. I introduce you the snug sound that perfectly fits with this season.Firstly, the second release of the well-known compilation, For Friends,which made the TOMLAB label famous... This time, Audio Dregs produced with TOMLAB label and AEJANDRA&AERON of Lucky Kitchen, INKBLOT, EE Brothers from Germany, E*rock, E*vax, F.S.BLUM, DIMDIM, JON SHEFIELD and others are on this CD. Originally, the first release was 100 limited CDR as the Christmas present for their friends and others whom they wanted say thank you to. This second release is also full with such gentle feeling and makes your heart warm. If you love tiny cute stuff, definitely try it.

FOR FRIENDS: Tomlab-Audio Dregs
[XLR8R #57] US
Tomlab honcho Tom Steinle launched For Friends a few years back as a series of limited-edition CDRs to be given to the friends of the label's pals; here the Cologne house teams up with Portland's Audio Dregs to offer an internationalized version of the idea. Electro-organic textures fron Jurgen de Blonde, Jon Sheffield, E*Vax and Casiotone for the Painfully Alone predominate, making this a solid contribution to the growing field of "bucolica," but there are surprises; Alejandra & Aeron weave a delicate, electro-acoustic for on "Shanghai Harmonica," while newcomer Ekiti Son turns in a bizarre and captivating amalgam of two-step, electro, and ragga-inna-chipmunks-sylee. [Philip Sherburne]

 

FOR FRIENDS Tomlab Vs Audio Dregs
[Ici d'Ailleurs/France]
If first For Friends had like only and single ambition to make act of generosity towards the friends close to the Tomlab label, mixing of the artists of the label distributed on a purely free basis under the sleeve and a hand paused on the court. this second shutter, if it always keeps in prospect user-friendliness and the reciprocal exchange, proposes to make discover more in front of the friendly musical entities and of the affiliated labels. A little with the manner of Sub Rosa (and its exchanges with Kompakt, harmed Shi-ruffle) or more close to us Quatermass (Kitty-yo, rather Interesting) Tomlab makes us divide the universe of Dregs Audio, structures based in New York Co-directed by E*Rock and its brother E*VAX (of the pieces at Morr Musique) while again plunging us in his fish pond of talented, young and prolix signatures. Compilation divides according to various currents of sensitivities: Atmospheric light (Alejandra & Aeron, Dim Dim), wobbly and pretty electronics (Carpet musics, E*rock, Inkblot, Supersprite, E*Vax), easy listening casio (Dz, Fs Blumm & bikini, Lineland), obsessing Post-rock'n'roll-No wave and folk cheap (Casiotone, the fabulous piece of Juergen de Blonde (alias Kohn), Zammuto) without forgetting Ovalien Hoffnung of AD Lib or Gemini disco style music of Ekiti San. Not to mention of the brilliant piece going in Jon Sheffield, which I adore. A subtle compilation, full with rhythmic ambushes and small electronic symphonies which will increase without any doubt the circle of your friends (not of moved puns). Two exemplary labels to collect urgently. JJ

FOR FRIENDS (CD by Tomlab + Audio Dregs)
Years ago Tomlab did a series of self burned CDR releases by which they presented christmas songs by their artists and send out to friends. Later it grew into a real CD, and is now expanded to a collaborative effort with Audio Dregs, the US label, who releases similar music. Electronic popmusic of the more daring sort... Take for instance the opening piece by Alejandra & Aeron which is steady tone experiment without any pop reference. But that's a rare example on this CD. Most of the bands play electronic songs, mostly instrumental and mostly, though not exclusive electronic. Most these bands play joyful and naive small tunes on the simple sets of electronics, sometimes with the addition of guitars or real drums. I have been playing this compilation for some days now, and everything I had a pleasent time, but also everytime I thought there was no outstanding piece in there. Artists included are Carpet Musics, Inkblot, Ekiti Son, Grace Period, E*Rock, F.S.Blumm, Lineland, Adlib, E*Vax, Zammuto, Dim Dim and many more. [frans de waardt]

[V/A] "For Friends" (Tomlab/Audio Dregs) CD
Last year's "For Friends" was releases as sort of an internal 'audio x-mas present' by the Tomlab label in Germany; this year they team up with Audio Dregs in the U.S. to expand the scope and players. Intimate and playful, it's a Christmas record by implication only -- lots of toy noises, and the tracks are ones that the artists wanted to share with each other rather than make a grand statement (NO CHRISTMAS SONGS!). Informal, cheerful, sweet, and very cheap, too. If you haven't heard anything on either label, it would make an excellent introduction to the melodic, irreverent electronics that most groups on the labels produce, from the known quantities (Zammuto, Dim Dim, F.S. Blumm, E*Vax) to those with imminent albums: Grace Period, Carpet Musics, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. Jon Sheffield and Ekiti Son turn in especially nice tracks, too. [RE] Other Music