Brain Pilot - Cerebral Navigators: Anthology 1993-1997

What we've got here is the kind of thing that makes a mockery of those early December best of the year lists. 2019 aint over just yet fellas, and in some style! Kalahari Oyster Cult (whoever those pisstakers might be) have put together a two disc set collecting the assorted recordings of the Van Elsen brothers, a Belgian production duo probably more widely known for their Trans-4M work. This was my first encounter with Brain Pilot, and from what I can find about them online, I wouldn't be surprised if it was yours too, but this is essential stuff. The period tells part of the story, informed by the activities of their Warp counterparts and the local R&S crew they no doubt ran with - post-acid, ebullient techno with a striking melodic sophistication, biting the same cherry as early Aphex with those lilting arpeggiated synths. Slightly different feel to that E.M.U. reissue (get both, feel the difference!), but this set serves a similar function in revealing hidden histories of electronic music. I said just the other week I thought we were going to start seeing a lot of reissues of this era of music given the sheer volume of creative output during that period. Not too dissimilar to post-punk in that sense. A lot of kids were doing it for themselves. Brain Pilot seem to do it as well as anyone. Absolute stone cold.