We all know what a diverse bunch of musicians reside in this city, a growing trend that has been encouraged by the plethora of music colleges in the area and the deeply ingrained cultural and artistic eclecticism that continues to flourish. Over the years there have been plenty of compilations that have attempted to shine a light on the current scene, none rarely better than Hidden Brighton #1, that was released back in 2013. The people behind that, Hidden Trail Records, have decided to release #2, and it's another very fine selection of cuts from new bands and artists, again crossing the divides between folk, electro, psychedelia, soul, punk, country and any number of cross-pollinations you can think of.
Beginning with the mid-tempo alt-rock grooves of Jetglo, and their gently driving rhythms a la Teenage Fanclub, Hidden Brighton is a journey into the lesser known recesses of the current Brighton scene, some of whom no doubt will go on and enjoy some success with their chosen pursuit.
Highlights include Becky Becky's House of the Black Madonna – a quirky, old school, lo-fi electro, over-the-top epic, with all those disco sound effect cliques deliriously thrown in, her wayward voice offsetting the precision yet faintly distorted electro beats (it should be noted that this is a live radio session recording) and Cate Ferris's Fly (Roslo Remix). Already a relatively established artist, Ferris recently ditched the guitar and traditional singer song writing after being inspired by Imogen Heap's one-woman looping extravaganza, and employing her wonderfully soulful voice and multi-instrumental abilities, in creating atmospheric songs, layered, then de-layered, her multi-tracked voice the key to it all, and supplemented by the beats and production nous of Roslo.
Elsewhere, the Brighton-based Swede Eli Ivarsson, who has a interesting Cyndi Lauper kind of voice, with added husk, has come with the gorgeously brooding and melodic Another Day Will Come, while Matthew the Oxx's country-folk flavoured A Mighty Good Time is a showcase for his ridiculously fluid guitar playing, intelligent lyrics, and fine ear for melody. The song also features the voice of Ellie Ford, who appeared on the first compilation, and is an extremely talented artist in her own right. Special mentions also go to the 80s synthpop inspired melodrama of Further Still, Clowwns joyful Dead Kennedys style Idiot Bouncing, Alex KP's arresting blues vocal and driving acoustica of Roaring Forties, the woozy psychedelia of O Chapman, and the dark urban electro-soul of Momotaro.
Truth is there isn't a dud on here, every track has its merits and it is too Hidden Trail's credit that they have once again put together a very solid compilation of musical hopefuls, as well as managing to sequence the highly diverse offerings in a manner that makes the record flow in one sitting. It's a labour of love for them, and with proceeds being diverted to The Clock Tower Sanctuary, there is more than one to support local music.
Jeff Hemmings