Various Artists - X

A Closer Listen

On August 31, 2025, Glasgow’s Bricolage label introduced itself with Bricolage: VA Volume 1. Exactly ten years later, many of these same artists, along with new ones who arrived along the way, return to celebrate the imprint’s tenth anniversary. With every track exclusive to this release, the two-hour, forty minute compilation is a perfect way to enter Bricolage’s sonic world.  The label was self-described back then as “covering a diverse range of ambient, glitch, techno, drone and experimental sounds,” and has held true to its vision. As John the Founder writes, “X marks the spot and X marks the years.  Community and music.  Always.”

A wide variety of styles is on display here, all within the electronic realm.  The collection starts off in subtle ambient fashion and follows a loose trajectory to the swift and upbeat, with a few curve balls along the way.  As there are 27 tracks, we’re going to zero in on our favorites, but suffice it to say that the entire roster is of high quality and should send listeners down numerous rabbit holes as they seek to hear more of these artists ~ especially the names new to this release.

One of the interesting angles to the sequencing is that the first two tracks are titled “Heartbreak” and “Troubled.”  The implication one might glean is that one enters this club forsaken, but leaves with newfound friends.  Restrained as these pieces may be, they exude warmth, and colab‘s piece is so soft and restrained that it also manages to communicate empathy, especially in the bell-laden breakdown; although it’s hard to call a shift in an already ambient piece by that name.  Then one of our favorite collectives arrives; Jilk has taken a vocal turn in recent releases, so it’s pure joy to hear them in all their instrumental glory.  “Tomoo and Yatsu” is an early highlight as we knew it would be, chiming and glitching its way to a peaceful conclusion.

The best track title is “When the Mobile Spins Counterclockwise, It’s Already Too Late,” the Belial Pelegrim track more shrouded than its companions, with an engaging percussive break at 2:50 that marks a shift to tougher territories.  After a couple surprising drone entries, No Arrival offers industrial rhythms on “The Flood,” in which buried conversations seem blissfully unaware of the deluge to come.  By the time the track ends, the timbre has switched to electro, and it seems the crisis may have passed.

If Bricolage has a signature artist, it is likely Fragile X, one of three to release an album on the label this year and one of two to be represented on this compilation.  “Ahwhizlitat” starts with the sound of a steam engine, reminiscent of “Last Train to Lhasa,” after which the artist proceeds to demonstrate why J. Gorecki is worthy of such accolades.  Each section of the track is like a stop at a different station, a different lesson learned in every leg.  Then IDGlitch speeds the whole thing up, and we’ve entered a new era of transportation and a new phase of X.  Synths and breakbeats jump onboard, but the vibe is so happy that nobody wants to take a seat.  No wonder the track is titled “Cloud Nine”!

Sulci is the other artist appearing here to have released an album on Bricolage this year, and also contributed vocals to Fragile X’s “The Nature of Motion.”  “Hessa” is a sedate piece, a rest break, a place to gather one’s energy before the next DJ set: soft and tender, with a haunting final echo.  The energy rises through the next few pieces, leading to a stellar, crowd-pleasing conclusion.  “Neamh” (Old Irish, from the Celtic “heaven, sky”) sees Arran Trax channeling classic Noel, resurrecting a treasured era.  Urgula‘s “Black Moon” is pure techno, a call to the club floor, the BPMs rising even higher.  We’ve come a long way in two hours and forty minutes; Bricolage has come a long way in ten years.  Happy anniversary to Bricolage, and many more to come!  (Richard Allen)