Rolling amazing new COMPILATIONS thread (any genre)

Yeah i know it's all playlists these days but i'm still a sucker for a good comp, either as a celebration of a particular scene or as an entry point into it, or merely as a way of obtaining those elusive tracks that you've been dying to own for ages. Or maybe as more of an insight into the compiler, or as a journey in itself a la a good dj mix album?

What new comps have you been enjoying? What were your favourites of 2024?

this one has been ruling my world recently:

Nigeria Special Volume 3: Electronic Innovation Meets Culture And Tradition 1978-93
https://soundwayrecords.bandcamp.com/album/nigeria-special-volume-3-electronic-innovation-meets-culture-and-tradition-1978-93

It's crazy how many good comps Soundway put out, and all beautifully packaged too. As per the title, this one focuses on the creeping spread of electronics in Nigerian music in the 80s. Am particularly loving the unstoppable drum machines on this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZZTSYyjqd0
Chimex G. Udensity And His Afrikan Band - Okpoko Na Azo Eze

and i already knew this beautiful tune but the dub version that they included on this comp is something else:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ExQEeS2mb0
Sonny Okosun - Highlife (Dub Version)

Good thread idea!

Thanks for the heads-up on Nigeria Special Vol. 3--I was working in a record store back when the first few Soundway 'Special' comps came out, but am now much more out of the loop. That Ayo Manuel dub on there also sounds great IMO--v. in line with that early '80s NYC dub-disco on Easy Street/Prelude remixed by Francois K/L. Levan/T. Humphries, or even early Laswell/Material:
https://soundwayrecords.bandcamp.com/track/do-good-dub

The one comp that stuck out to me recently is Leaving Records' Staying fundraiser set--not to be overly bean-counting about it, but I end up liking 38 of the 98(!) tracks on it, which given its scale is not a bad batting avg IMO (plus, the cause it supports is a no-brainer):

https://staying.bandcamp.com/album/staying-leaving-records-aid-to-artists-impacted-by-the-los-angeles-wildfires

Good thread idea Nick! I get quite a few of these for exactly the reasons you mention, and I'm a sucker for sleeve notes and essays about the scenes in question that you often get with a well put-together compliation.

A few I have been enjoying from 2024:

Weird Scenes From The Hangout (Psychedelic & Freakbeat Dancefloor Anthems 1967-1982) https://two-piers.bandcamp.com/album/weird-scenes-from-the-hangout-psychedelic-freakbeat-dancefloor-anthems-1967-1982 (Richard Norris of The Grid compiles favourites from his early 80s Liverpool club night)

Down To The Sea & Back - Volume Tres: The Continuing Journey of the Balearic Beat. Compiled By Balearic Mike & Kelvin Andrews https://downtotheseaandback.bandcamp.com/album/down-to-the-sea-back-volume-tres-the-continuing-journey-of-the-balearic-beat-compiled-by-balearic-mike-kelvin-andrews (Balearica is the perfect compilation fodder)

Once Again We Are The Children Of The Sun compiled by Paul Hillery https://bbemusic.bandcamp.com/album/once-again-we-are-the-children-of-the-sun-compiled-by-paul-hillery (more Balearica!)

Some older ones I've picked up recently:

Suburban Annihalation (The California Hardcore Explosion From The City To The Beach: 1978-1983) https://two-piers.bandcamp.com/album/suburban-annihalation-the-california-hardcore-explosion-from-the-city-to-the-beach-1978-1983

Strum & Thrum: The American Jangle Underground 1983-1987 https://strumandthrum.bandcamp.com/album/strum-thrum-the-american-jangle-underground-1983-1987

Welcome To Paradise Vol. II: Italian Dream House 89-93 https://safetrip.bandcamp.com/album/welcome-to-paradise-89-93-vol-2

Boca's 50 Rap 45's @ 50: https://boca45.bigcartel.com/product/boca-s-50-rap-45-s-50

I recently listened to this Ace Records compilation, Fantastic Voyage: New Sounds for the European Canon 1977-1981, which got me to listen to Simple Minds' early albums for the first time ever.

Those Bob Stanley Ace CD comps are so solid--have picked up 3 or 4 of them so far, incl. Cafe Exil, the precursor to Fantastic Voyage (https://acerecords.co.uk/cafe-exil-new-adventures-in-european-music-1972-1980-1)

Incident at a Free Festival is by them & also great https://www.acerecords.co.uk/incident-at-a-free-festival-1, like that Finders Keepers Man Chest Hair one from a while back

there are some really great cuts on this comp of Finnish electro obscurities:

https://coldblowrecords.bandcamp.com/album/bonus-beats-rare-unreleased-finnish-electro-1990-2002

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJkQzUXR23w
Dr Robotnik - Own Commands

Orchestra Guacamole—a collaboration between the late Mika Vainio and Darude producer Jaakko Salovaara

had no idea about that those two had worked together and it sorta blew my mind

this is sounding great :)

really loving this compilation of “visionary” tape music from california. kinda like “i am the center”’s weirder little brother

https://goatytapes.bandcamp.com/album/lost-coast-some-visionary-music-from-california-1980-1992

holy shit at the comp NickB posted. Eppi Fanio puts me in the mind of great later day Can. But all i've listened to basically RULES

Motel California. From the Numero Group. Spectacular 70s obscurities they describe as Cosmic American Music. Not a bad song on the entire thing. Compulsively listenable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV747Z0JZ24

this is so ace

https://fundamentalfrequencies.bandcamp.com/album/telepathic-fish-trawling-the-early-90s-ambient-underground

The first-ever illustrated compendium recounting the seminal underground South London ambient party that surfaced at the axis through which the likes of Ninja Tune, Warp and Rising High flowed. Telepathic Fish shared fertile waters with Megatripolis and The Big Chill, moving the early 90s London back room chill-out space into the kaleidoscopic spotlight.

Documenting the sights and sounds of South London’s seminal Telepathic Fish ambient parties. Hosted by Chantal Passamonte (aka Mira Calix - RIP), David Vallade, Mario Aguera and Kevin Foakes (aka DJ Food) - collectively named Openmind. With the help of Mixmaster Morris (The Irresistible Force) and Matt Black (Coldcut), they put on some of the earliest chill out events in London.

Charles Bals' comps are always terrific and I can't stop playing this new one he put together for Smiling C, Neon Castle

https://smilingc.bandcamp.com/album/neon-castle

Neon Castle hones in on a fleeting sub-genre of early to mid-’80s female fronted ambient folk. For a brief moment, glistening slide guitar, ethereal voices, fretless bass, drum machines and satin sounds all intertwined, conjuring a sound at once familiar and otherworldly—pop structures laced with strange visions. Some songs sway with the warmth of open ranch-land—originating from the same myths Stevie Nicks devoted herself to; others are shrouded with candlelit mysticism, crafted with the very staff Kate Bush might have wielded. Together, these pieces reveal a singular tapestry.

Compiled by Charles Bals—now in his third collaboration with Smiling C—Neon Castle affirms his rare gift for storytelling through sound. Each track unfolds like a scene from an imagined film: castles glowing with noble gas, kingdoms awash in purple haze, wild horses roaming free, hair cascading to the waist. The collection sketches a realm both new and 'upon a time', a world where fantasy takes shape through music. With Neon Castle, attentive listening becomes narrative.

the Judie Tzuke song that got left off the streaming version is amazing btw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahgwLsunnKs

that looks awesome. i love that black rain comp of folk rock from lasy year on smiling c. and the kevin mccormick/david horridge stuff is beautiful guitar stuff in the realm of the durutti column/maurice deebank.