Art Form 5 / Form@ Records

Tokyo’s Form@ Records have just released their latest compilation, “Art Form 5”. The first 2 editions of this highly acclaimed series originally hit Japanese stores in the late 90s, and, due pressure from collectors, they were recently reissued, globally, by WRWTFWW. While Form@ initially ceased operations in 2003, the imprint began business again in 2020. “Art Form 3” then appeared in February of last year, followed by the fourth instalment in August. This, fifth, volume collects 12 fresh exclusives from a range of international artists. Most of whom are making their Form@ debut. Where the album’s predecessors could be called “IDM”, everything here is a little more “house”. A dance floor 4 / 4 drives the majority of the music on offer. Creating compositions for minds and feet, situated toward the mellower end of techno. There are still tons of nods to 90s electronica innovators. Kuni Ron’s “Learning”, for example, is very Detroit-y, very Carl Craig, very “Virtualsex”. Sophisticated,…