VARIOUS ARTISTS

Alfa Matrix is celebrating its tenth anniversary already, and on this occasion they released a genuine 4 CD box set, including a download card giving access to even more songs. Don’t let the abbreviation “EBM” misguide you: even though you’ll notice plenty of EBM tracks, this compilation is actually more a survey of the wide range of contemporary alternative electronic music. As Alfa Matrix manager Séba Dolimont pointed out himself, this isn’t a mere ‘best of’ collection but an overview of the many talented musicians in the scene nowadays. Evidently all of the Alfa Matrix bands are featured, but also artists who are very popular on the sister site Side-Line, such as Nitzer Ebb, Covenant and Nachtmahr. More than 80 bands made a contribution, providing a fine balance between the great ones and rising new talents. To top things off, most tracks are previously unreleased. A must-have!

Didier BECU
30/03/2011