various: waves of the future

The modern synth wave scene would be significantly poorer without the keen ear and tireless efforts of Mannequin Records, run by Alessandro Adriani. Geographically situated within the nerve centers of Rome and Berlin, yet with a musical spirit that easily transcends these boundary lines, Mannequin Records' back catalog has been an important component in electronics-based independent music in the 21st century. Recent accolades and accomplishments -- being named Resident Advisor's "Label Of The Month" in May of 2017, starting the Death Of The Machines 12" series, and being given the "green light" for bi-monthly parties at the Säule room in Berghain -- have been earned through Mannequin Records' unflagging commitment to sonic diversity and Adriani's own realization that the anxious and sharp-edged sounds associated with, say, the Cold War of the 1980s can convey a completely different message today. Mannequin Records continues to go on exploratory missions to find the best and most relevant aspects of genres like acid, industrial, EBM, post-punk, cold wave, and still more. Mannequin Records' 100th release, Waves Of The Future, is a double-LP compilation which is not a conventional retrospective collection. None of the artists appearing on this collection have put out their own releases on Mannequin Records yet, despite acting as Mannequin's unofficial ambassadors (via DJ sets and other means). The set includes other scene leaders and label owners including Beau Wanzer, Willie Burns, Silent Servant, and Ron Morelli. Waves Of The Future projects a sense of aesthetic resilience and continuity; showcasing just how well the current artists allied with Mannequin Records employ and re-interpret the sonic lexicon of the label's reissues of "classic'" acts. Each track here pivots around a couple of key sound elements that seem to set the stage for the next track to come: see the sputtering/chopped ghost voices on Morelli's "Charges Won't Stick", which easily informs the slicing drone and authoritarian beat of Shawn O' Sullivan's "Ill Fit", which then lays down the emotional foundation for the sequencer-powered "With You" from An-I and Adriani or the glassy landscape of Illum Sphere's "Exhaustion". Elsewhere, the wired mischief of Not Waving intersects easily with the spherical electro-funk and coded commands of Beau Wanzer. When all the disparate parts of Waves Of The Future are soldered together, it perfectly illustrates Mannequin Records' non-linear philosophy and Adriani's suggestion that listeners engage with the music rather than try to analyze or dissect it.