Q: When is an album not an album? A: When it’s a compilation. Compilations are a notoriously dodgy bunch. For every boutique showcase of uber-cool no-wave band b-sides, there’re a thousand soul-destroying Best of Bland 69 disasters, designed to soundtrack a night of wine and quiet suicide in a suburb somewhere near you.

This particular compilation has been designed to celebrate the seventh birthday of indie label favourite, Wichita, and as its heritage suggests, it steers clear of any dinner party nightmares by a city mile. Bands you’ve heard of (Bloc Party, The Cribs) snuggle up alongside bands you will be hearing about (Los Campesinos!, XOXO Panda) in a not-quite eclectic fashion, but in a way that will leave you quietly pleased about the state of modern ‘indie’ music. It spanks along at a charming pace (Espers’ offering aside), with Los Campesinos!’ claiming the prize for best song.

One point though. In a dramatic twist, Wichita have rung a death knell over the conventional album, arranging the songs in alphabetical order of artist, with the express command that you sequence it yourself, claiming that no one bothers to listens to albums all the way through anymore.

So, the album is dead then. Long live the compilation.

Three Stars

Josh Farrington

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