Since forming in 2004, the Bristol based Multiverse has been one of the key creative studios for developing the city's flourishing culture of forward thinking electronic music. Supporting both international and local artists based in their recording studio at the heart of the city, the collective have created a series of seminal releases that have helped shape today's current musical landscape. Its focus is to explore the uncharted spaces between genres, bridging together today's cutting edge sonic possibilities with electronic music's rich and diverse musical history.

Dark Matter: Multiverse 2004-2009 is a double CD featuring various artists. It's very "in your face" British industrial music and dubstep fused together.

Opening disc one we hear a mix of dubstep meets sonic. It's deep and pure in all its entirety, this is certainly one for the hardcore fans of this genre. Not sure I would be able to listen to it for long without getting a headache.

Track 5, has a reggae vibe about it which is held in place with sonic and dubstep. A weird sounding combination, nevertheless it doesn't sound too bad, apart from it's a little repetitive, and someone please switch off those damn police sirens!!!

There's a distinct oriental feel to Track 6 which when played out sounds a little like the music from an old spectrum computer game, ah those where the days, although I never thought I would be listening to this style on a CD.

Brightening things up is Track 11, there is somewhat of a euphoric feel to this tune. It's lively and plays out a pretty cool tune and at last we have some soulful vocals. This is by far the best track on the album.

Finishing off this half of the compilation is Track 12, with it's heavy beat and danceable tune to get those feet moving too.

Ready for round two on disc two, we open with more of the same beats and bangs as on the previous disc.

Track 3 gets my attention with its oriental vocals and slick drum beats, although after a minute or two it becomes a little annoying and could do with a bit of a change in direction.

Track 6, I have to say, is one of the dullest songs I've ever heard, it's quiet, faint and has no backbone to make people want to listen. Fast forward quick.

Thank goodness for Track 7, it breathes life back in to disc two, with its groovy beat and head-nodding tune. Although still not my styling anything is better than the aforementioned track.

I really like the melody played out on Track 8, it's light and magical sounding which when mixed with the sonic and electronica gives it an edgy dark feeling. This is a cool song.

Track 10 on the, other-hand, sounds like a distorted speaker in a club which you end up standing right next to whilst damaging your hearing. This is not music but just noise which doesn't do anything for my poor little ears. Unfortunately Track 10 turns out to be more of the same! Help!

The final track on disc two is, thankfully, calmer and more easy going on the ear. Although still not a great tune but at least I can make it out.

Well what can I say? This is certainly not my type of music, I even cringe to call it music as most of the tunes I've endured have been mostly noise.

CD one is definitely the best out of the two but I'm really not understanding where this music would be played and who would sit and listen to it whilst socialising?

Call me old fashioned but give me a good old song with a melody to sing along to and get my feet on the dance floor and if that's what you're looking for too, then stay well clear of this album.

3

Helena Rea