4 out of 5

Label: WéMè Records

Produced by: Various

The now traditional every-ten-years compilation from WéMè kicked off with this set, showing a clear idea for how to effectively represent such a broad – but precisely curated – label: by not being nearly as broad as its roster could represent. It’s kind of a fun trick when you know it, picking and choosing more tempered offerings from occasional goofballs like Ceephax and CN, or pretty unrepresentative snippets from François De Roubaix, but of course the downside there is exactly that: if you’re relatively new to WéMè and its artists, this doesn’t necessarily give you a full picture, and if you are a seasoned listener, slobbering over such a stacked tracklist (of like 5/6ths all new material from DMX Krew, and Der Zyklus, and Global Goon…), while you really won’t be disappointed, it can also take a sec to get on board with the pitch and realize you’re not in for the heaviest acid or grooviest garage or glitchiest IDM doses this time out: WeMe10ans is pretty chill.

But okay, new listener, that’s actually a treat, because you enter on the ground floor of some fantastic artists, and you have the opportunity to get your mind blown by their catalogs (versus the opposite problem of sometimes getting hyped up by a great single on a comp); and fans will get on board especially because of how slick this comp is, appreciating how damn grooving that DMX track is, and how lusciously dense the beats on Ceephax’s and MNLTH’s offerings are. Plus, we can fully step outside of the WéMè assortment – okay, plus or minus again, because that’s kind of false advertising to include someone not on the label, but you get introduced to some adjacent artists that way – with this kind of more muted soundscape to step into the ambient, eletro-classical realm of Giles Lamb.

It might sound like I’m pitching this as somewhat beatless, but it’s absolutely not: the A and D-sides of the set are definitely geared towards acid and electro with Steve’s opener starting us off on an especially funky foot, and it’s not like Ceephax’s track is not an acid workout. Even in the midst of Der Zyklus’ more experimental offering and the aforementioned Lamb track, Ed DMX goes pretty grimey, and Acid Kirk keeps his namesake style alive. I more just mean to suggest that the compilation’s m.o. is set on keeping us listening for the entirety of the album, and wants to make room for more chill and expansive moments, which means avoiding giving us any 100% standout tracks.

As a result, then, the album becomes a standout, and a compilation that’s actually worth revisiting on its own terms, and not just cherry-picked for your favorite artist.