Experimental duo High Places, aka New York folks Mary Pearson and Robert Barber, bring together the four singles released between the dates of the compilation title, all originally on 7”. Refreshing in a Ting Tings age where even a group’s shoddiest early vinyl release can go interstellar on eBay. So there’s no need to get mouse-finger trigger-happy.
All eight tracks from the singles, plus two more from random places, are here. The sound is one of ambient washes (quite akin to Panda Bear), but with a melodic teasing that drifts in and out. It’s hard to find traces here of the hardcore that High Places claim influences them. Sandy Feat and Granola are the best tracks, A-sides as they were, but the overall feeling aroused by listening to this disc from start to finish is, perhaps obviously, one of a dream state; the moment before you wake up when you are snoozing to simply the best music in the world that doesn’t actually exist at all.
But then you wake up – or this CD floats onto another somewhat pointless cotton wool passage (extended mixes and alternate takes don’t really serve anyone). But 60 per cent of the time, High Places hit exactly the right places.
