Various Artists - IIKKI mix (ten years) [Review]
*** This blog post first appeared in TSMM's September 9th Newsletter, where you can get all the tips (and more) first ***
About IIKKI
It looks like ambient mixes are becoming something of a thing in the newsletter, and long may that continue, especially when they emanate from imprints like IIKKI, one of the best to have ever done it. Although my interest is in the music, the project is actually a dialogue between a visual and music artist, each release getting a fine art book and vinyl record. If I wasn’t taking one for Team Earth and still collecting things, then I’d probably have a separate shelf for the series; they really are objects of beauty. Just take a look at the latest release:
IIKKI mix (ten years) [Review]
The imprint is based in Brittany, France and curated by ambient artist Mathias Van Eecloo, although it’s fair to say that his label curation overshadows his music. First there was Eilean Rec., that ceased operation on it’s hundredth release and was a firm TSMM favourite, and its successor LAAPS, now into the second half of its hundred release life cycle, releases consistently great ambient music. If ever there was a three-headed ambient wormhole to tumble helplessly down, there it is; fill your boots and see you in 2028.
But back to IIKKI. It’s ten years old, so hearty congratulations are in order, especially as in that time there have been thirty-two, exquisite-looking, wonderful-sounding collaborations. What a feat, Eecloo should be proud, and to mark the occasion, he’s pulled out a varied selection of his favourite ambient, and ambient-adjacent tracks from the imprint’s first decade, and stitched them together into a genuinely wonderful trip down memory lane for him, but probably more of a voyage into the future for most; although watch out for something of a surprise in the second half - I’d forgotten about the Trance Farmer’s release :) You can download the mix for free from IIKKI’s Bandcamp page, but make sure you take a look around; there’s some nice birthday discounts to be had on new and archival releases.
Let me know when you’re done with the 186 albums. And once you have you should check out the latest Home Normal DJ mix, for a showcase of one of the UK's best ambient labels.
