Synthetic Allsorts

The Front End Synthetics family prove that the ‘Ground Floor’ compilation was no fluke with another batch of leftfield gems. With ‘all-Irish’ compilations in the past, there’s always been tendency to ‘go easy’ on whatever it was, because, feck it, we don’t want to knock one of our own. But there’s no need to stoop to that with Synthetic Allsorts.

There’s enough quality and originality on display here to rival anything you’ll get on the like of De:Focus, Warp and the like. To pick highlights (and it’s difficult) Hotpress plumps for Booger’s fucked-up Prescription-esque quirk house, Decal’s frankly disturbing electro and Dunk & Unit’s beguiling collaboration – but the other nine cuts have their own charms. Another plus is the albums programming – it really doesn’t sound like a compilation. Fantastic.

FES are a cottage industry that will grow into something bigger. Get in on the act now.