Milky Disco 2 by Various Artists
LABEL: Lo Recordings

“Another wonderful aspect of this compilation is that while it uses the atmosphere of the late 1970s/early 1980s, you never get that nasty kitschy aftertaste.”

Milky Disco 2 has, for me at least, officially received the award for most metaphorically appropriate compilation title in history. Disco it’s not, at least not entirely, but milky it most certainly is. Throughout this double disc set, foggy scenes of late night club memories flash through the listener’s head, as if after a copious amount of substance coupled with a copious amount of dancing. Trails follow the disco ball reflections, voices become blurred, grooves become tribal.  This compilation by Lo Recordings functions as the soundtrack to an epic party night that afterwards may or may not be remembered, which also is one of its pitfalls.

While its sequencing creates a great flow and its artist roster develops a perfect atmosphere, many of this compilation’s tracks go by with one being hard-pressed to recollect a distinct feature of what one has just heard. Of course, not all the tracks operate in the beige, but there is enough fluff that would have constituted this release being condensed into one disc instead of two (providing an alternate reality with justifiably shorter track lengths.) For instance, Pollyester’s “You Are Amen” feels like it never quite gets in the groove into which you want it to fall.  It begins well enough, with a decent build for the first minute or so, but the song soon becomes as monotone as the unenthusiastically accompanying female voice droning along the undeveloped beat. Additionally, Canyon’s “Big City Lights” drudges along like a bedroom hip-hop-head playing around with his sequencing software, never really going anywhere substantial.

“...takes you with them through a drug-addled nightmare, presumably had while passed out in a club back-alley or in a taxi backseat.”

However, fluff or not, this compilation does have some extremely impressive tracks to counter-balance those that fall somewhat flat. After the one-two letdown of the opening tracks, Milky Disco 2 kicks into a decent gear with two songs underscored with exotic percussion. “Roll” by Secret Circuit cooks along at a decent samba-esque pace, after which Ghost Note’s “Pissed and Passed Out” takes you with them through a drug-addled nightmare, presumably had while passed out in a club back-alley or in a taxi backseat. Expanding Head Band lays out another highlight with a decent funk jam in “Sounds of Breaking Glass,” which could easily underscore a 70s detective television serial.

Another wonderful aspect of this compilation is that while it uses the atmosphere of the late 1970s/early 1980s, you never get that nasty kitschy aftertaste. Most of the tracks on Milky Disco 2 live in the memory of their respective decades, with the glossy synths, all-too-present bass, ubiquitous bass/snare combo, flashy conga fills, but none of them take a full step into the past. They remain refreshingly reminiscent while simultaneously enjoying the benefits of living in the “future.”

Overall, Milky Disco 2 is an admirable compilation, showcasing some of the greats of the “Nu-disco” movement while allowing a few up-and-comers to flex their muscles. Aside from the few snoozers, the dual-disc set paces itself very well, and often forces the listener to lose themselves in the groove. It’s as pleasant as an all-night after-party, without the messy cleanup.


REVIEWED BY GUY THILLET
GUY’S FAVORITE TRACKS:  “Roll” by Secret Circuit • “Don’t Just Stand There (Eric Brouceck Mix) by Soft Circle • “Free for the Girls(Richard Sen Mix)” by Black Devil Disco Club • “A Raining Patterns” by CFCF


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