Another sampler I have been listening to is the sampler from the Bratislava based Start-track.com. This is a label that specialises in cassette releases, being founded by the same person who was behind the sadly now dead Z-Tapes, Filip Zemčík. There is also a blog of the same name, and the label has released four excellent compilations covering artists featured on that site.

Some of the names on their roster should be familiar to you such as Swiss Portrait, Beach Vacation and FUVK. Incidentally, the latter has just released a vital and lengthy retrospective on the label titled 2016-2023. New to me via way of this release is the jangling bedroom pop sounds of Rosetan as well as the dreamy DIY music of Porch Kiss. Coincidentally, both are from Washington, so it must be something in the water!

Unsurprisingly, there are a few Slovakian artists on the label, and two I will pursue are Eversame and Urges. I liked the latter’s post-punk and Joy Division tinged guitar sound on their contribution titled Polaris.

The sampler is available on a pay what you want basis from here. Dig in!