Various Artists - Splashed with Many a Speck

All Music Guide

The Dewdrops label previously put out a compilation of covers of songs associated with the 4AD label, so it comes as little surprise that this double CD is very much in the 4AD mold. Ambient (not the techno kind of ambient) washes of sounds, high female vocals, layers of lush guitars, dronish melodies -- all are here, to the extent that it almost feels like a retro tribute album, even if the peak of 4AD's influence was a mere decade or so before the release of this anthology. Twenty-nine bands here, only one of which is well known, that being the Cocteau Twins, who were the chief progenitors of this whole genre. Scenic is about the only other act with even modest name recognition. Many of the selections were previously unreleased (though not, as it happens, the Cocteau Twins' contribution). The most ear-catching song is also the oddest: the FloatingHouse's "Train" features vocals by Naomi Weiss that come pretty damn close to sounding like British folk-rock great Sandy Denny, in both to...ne and delivery. - Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide Read more Less