Have you ever dreamed of going on a digging trip around the world to find rare sounds from around the globe? Yeah, it's pretty much what all vinyl collectors and DJ's wish to do, but seldom have the time and the means to do it. Thankfully, this incredible collection of cuts compiled by Dublin's Compassion Crew is like a veritable trip around the world in very rare sounds (at a fraction of the cost!). The Irish DJ/Producer appears to have some of the most eclectic and hard-to-grip records by any collector nerdus standards, and lovingly puts them together for Compassion Cuts Tapes & Acetates. The scope of sounds and genres is incredibly wide and diverse, with something for everyone, especially those with wide open ears and minds. Even the most jaded collectors will find something to geek over, whether it's PlusTwo's funky italo tune "Stop Fantasy," Frak's feel good house groove "Uttoz Gives A Song," Admas' african boogie mega jam "Kalatashew Wega," Olivier Rogg's proto-vaporwave viber "Final," or the myriad of out-there sounds by the likes of San Francisco experimentalists Big City Orchestra, Defuser, Phillip Jeck, and more. It would cost a small fortune to actually acquire all these original records featured here, so do the right thing and cop this comp while it lasts. Comes in glossy gatefold sleeve with restored and mastered by Thomas P Heckmann. Recommended.

• gatefold sleeve
• music label: Major Problems 2016

reviewed by Hamster D. 05/2016