A fascinating album this is too, full of mood & colour, each artist complimenting the other's work, blending, contrasting in beautiful, harmonic colours. If the rest of the label could be compared to this I'd say they're something akin to 4AD or how 4AD used to be. Side one opens with "From Foam", the first of two tracks by LYCIA, and if this duo claim to have never heard of the COCTEAU TWINS, well lets just say I'd very much doubt their word. This track is very much like the 'TWINS' music circa "Treasure". "Down" has similar, although tighter, less brilliant music over which a tense PETE MURPHY - type voice is laid - very atmospheric! Next up are two presumably old tracks from POPUL VUH (both credited 1971), "Deine Liebe Ist Susser Als Wein (Your Love Is Sweeter Than Wine)" follows neatly in the wake of LYCIA, shimmering guitar work creating crystal spiders webs of music while the distinctive VUH electric guitar meanders here and there over the top and the female vocalist adds her charms here and there. "In Der Halle Salomos (In The Hall Of Salomos)" is one of POPUL VUH's more constantly rhythmic pieces, chugging along in virgin white and gold braid beauty. ATTRITION continue the relaxing atmosphere with "I Am" Julie's voice reaching for the heavens over simplistic music. "Fusillade I" has her voice appearing through reverse echoes over yet another simple piece of music comprising mainly bass guitar with subtle synth additions & drums. Having said which it is probably more effective for it's simplicity, and has an insidious way of entering the memory, becoming familiar. SKINNER BOX offer the next two, starting with "Always Dear Iris", again along similar lines to the old 4AD sound. Although I'd say her voice is not totally disimilar to Liz Frazer or Siouxsie, she still has a distinctive sound to it. "Isola" continues the atmosphere with meandering, soaring, reaching keyboards, and a firm foundation of acoustic guitar creating a marvellous piece of music which is distinctive - I can think of no-one to compare them too, although they in no way disturb the atmosphere of this album.Side two opens with two tracks from AREA - "Our Corner Drowning" is a wholy beautiful song, again following in the previous mentioned footsteps, although judging from this they stand a chance of breaking out of Indie into 'Commercial' charts. "Robin Song" is another delicate and beautiful song with a more 'approachable' flavour to it. On this she reminds me a lot of SINEAD O'CONNOR. Theres a whole list of releases on the fold-out label, all of which must be worth investigating. VICKI RICHARDS offers the next track, "Prayer Of The Heart", a gentle instrumental piece of gradual rippling acoustic guitar & tablas, over which VICKI plays her violin, reaching for the firmament, falling back to bare earth, then gliding upwards again, cycling, circling, weaving and slow-dancing, she gives a traditional - dare I say old - instrument a whole new vocabulary with which it sings a modern song without compromise. "Eden Now" by SLAP changes the atmosphere a little with its strangely loose construction. An ambient baokdrop of rainfall provides a steady foundation over which echoing percussive bass and other plucked instruments provide a gentle atmosphere, while what sounds like muted saxophone plays in the distance. Very relaxing, if you are one of those who feels secure in a rainstorm. It metamorphosizes into a garbled, dense amalgam of 'found voice' from radio/television/film, under which the instruments are barely heard. This carries on for a while before blending into a warm bassy electric rhythm which finally draws the track to a conclusion with a final gasped breath. BLACK TAPE FOR A BLUE GIRL offer us "The Turbulence And The Torment", following the general feel of the tape, except for being a lot darker, not evil, or exactly threatening - more a sort of warning, in deep resonant bass waves and white whispers. It reminds me of something off the old CHERRY RED compilation "Perspectives And Distortion". "Melting At The Inbetween" by STEVE ROACH follows in it's deep and calming footsteps perfectly, another drifting piece of music, not exactly Industrial, not quite Evil, but a close cousin. This is music to drift to, music to fall into a deep slumber or trance to, wonderful amorphous, drifting sounds which lure you into a more relaxed state.A wonderful album. My advice is that you buy it as soon as humanly possible. Working from sides 'A' to 'B', this is the perfect album to relax to and drift off into Morphean Worlds.Originally reviewed for Soft Watch.

This is a wonderfully textured compilation with a very good flow, excellent for introspective wee hours. There is, however, one notable error in the liner notes. Track 4 is listed as "In der Halle Salomos (In the Hall of Salomos)" by Popol Vuh, with a release date of 1975. It is actually titled "In der Halle des Lernens" and is available on Vuh's 1978 release, "Die Nacht Der Seele: Tantric Songs." The Celestial Harmonies re-release combining "Die Nacht" and "Hosianna Mantra" edits several tracks from the former, including this one, which is a shame. If you want the song in it's original context, you'll have to hunt down vinyl or the generally more expensive and much harder to find import CD version on Spalax.

Popul Vuh are an amazing German band with a long history working with Werner Herzog, so props to Projekt for including them. Really enjoyed Skinner Box's "Always Dear Iris," and Area's "Our Corner Drowning." It's a shame those bands didn't become more popular. Nice female vox. Vicki Richard's violin-lead instrumental is also quite touching and under rated by new fans of the label. This is probably my favorite Projekt comp of all.

This compilation has some kickin' exclusive tracks by Black Tape for a Blue Girl, Lycia, and Attrition, but other tracks that probably should not have seen the light of day. A truly mixed bag... Worth a listen, though, if you can get it. If asked, I would say I would definitely buy this again, even if just for Lycia's "Down".