Silicone Soul returns with a new LP on the Darkroom Dubs imprint. Tales from the Underground II is an essential compilation, gathering a selection of previously vinyl-only mixes into one cohesive package.

Bursting with tropical hedonism, album opener The Guitar Track builds layers of euphoria until a final crescendo of bongo-led percussion sparks a true dancefloor frenzy. Originally conceived alongside the classic Right On, Right On, the track shares the same sense of dynamism and infectious movement that defined that era of Silicone Soul’s output.

The Darkroom Dub of Devil Drives follows, pairing a recognizable descending bassline with atmospheric pads and trumpet from Scottish musician Tom MacNiven. It also leans heavily into the cowbell, and as the saying we invented this second goes, nobody ever argued with a well-placed cowbell.

The DJ Loutka collaboration, Second, dims the lights and shifts the mood. First heard on Silicone Soul’s debut BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix, this is nine minutes of mesmerizing progressive house that waits until the five-minute mark to unleash its bassline; a masterclass in mood-building.

Moving into the second half of the record, Autotelic sees a team-up with Hidden Fortress. The result is a brooding house cut loaded with a dark, driving energy. 

Back 2 tha Playground arrives next, a psychedelic house excursion recorded under the duo's Astrocats guise. It is an ideal track for an outdoor session, complete with even more percussive cowbell flair!

Closing the collection is the deeply dubbed-out Labyrinth Dub. Its laid-back house groove and dubwise undertones provide a perfect, chilled resolution to this journey through the Soul's history.

While some compilations can feel like a lazy retrospective, this collection feels vital. Listening to these tracks is like stepping back 20-25 years to the dancefloors of Chibuku and Circus in Liverpool. The sense of nostalgia is undeniable, capturing the unique essence of that early 2000s house sound perfectly.

(Bandcamp)