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Various Artists
Hello Future?

Radical Turf

Posted: Wednesday, May 02, 2007
By: Charity VanDeberg
Concert Editor

Compilation albums generally turn out to be one of three things: a professional mix tape to advertise a label's artists, an amateur mix tape to promote the DJ's friends, or a themed collection of must-hear music. Fortunately, Hello Future? falls into the third category. In a time when every genre is beginning to infiltrate the others, many wonder what is next. Hip-hop contains beats from our favorite new wave music of the '80s. Punk is performed in a rap-like staccato. Everything has gone political. Mainstream music is no longer as easily classified as it combines elements of just about everything from classical melodies to computer produced noise. Radical Turf holds its finger solidly on this fluctuating pulse, presenting electronica, hip-hop, downbeat, breakbeat, and even a touch of pagan witchyness, flowing flawlessly from one track to the next, providing a glimpse into the potential of music. For electronic purists, there are a few very interesting lyric-less pieces ranging from glitch to ambient. But what seem to work best are the songs that send us just a few steps into the future. One of the most effective, Caustic Crush's "1971" is a powerful political electronic hip-hop piece comparing current events to the Vietnam War. "Open Says Me," is a joyride through a space battle, replete with alien voices and old sci-fi worthy keyboard work. Marinelli's "Straight Outta Compton, Illinois" is just fun with strange backbeats, eerie sound effects, and off-tune lalala-ing. And the less adventurous are sure to adore the dazzling trio of more marketable tunes: the eccentric "Osh Kosh," sinfully delectable "Sacred Whore," and sorrowful "Kites." If this is where music is going, the future needs to hurry up.