Compilation masters

Moonshine Music has separated the trip hops from the jungles

by MIREILLE SILCOTT

Bless those pointed heads at Quality Records. They've finally woken up and are proud to bring us Prodigy and Underworld packaged in their umpteenth package. But the "wake up" is significant, because what the souls at Quality are pushing to farmers in Wichita is the very thing that has made America "wake up" to electronics: the compilation. A whole pulsating world, shrink-wrapped and prearranged.

Los Angeles's Moonshine Music imprint has sold more electronic compilations in North America than any other record label. It has sold more compilations than Prodigy have albums. And it triumphs at the ready-made. Heard about trip hop? Try Moonshine's Trip Hop Test. Jungle? Check The Law of the Jungle. Ambient? Just grab United States of Ambience. It's all there."Electronica--that word's a brilliant thing," says the 30-year-old, fast-talking, British-born John Levy, president of Moonshine.

Levy's label is just what the doctor ordered. A sprawling independent, thoroughly for the people (and not the DJ), it makes the twang-less seem less daunting to Joe America. Levy and his brother Jon were rave promoters in L.A. and started their company because they realized that the music that was making thousands go crazy at parties wasn't easily available domestically. So Steven put together a comp featuring what he called "real deal" techno artists like Baby Ford and Guru Josh (this was 1992), struck jackpot from the get-go, and left parties for a life of licensing tracks.

And he's crafty at it. Levy picks the tunes for almost every Moonshine comp, visits Britain often and has a fast commercial ear. Two years ago, when a sound called "big beat" was burgeoning in England's Sunday club scene (the sound now acknowledged as the Chemical Brothers'), he picked it up as fast as the UK labels did and released a compilation called Hardhop and Trypno, which sold as well in England as it did here.

"England's an influence," says Levy quickly. And then, eagerly, "But over the last couple of years, domestic talent has exploded. So now we're pushing domestic artists on their own."

Right now Levy is plugging easy sellers like flamboyant New Yorker Keoki and derivative Californian breakbeat-ists Cirrus. But he's just signed an experimental big-beat producer named Omar Santana, who comes with a stage show and allegedly fresh ideas. Moonshine's A&Rs are prowling, bloodthirsty now, because Levy knows that no pop can have any longevity on a solely import basis. Just think of the fleeting, anglocentric new romantics of the '80s. When was the last time you saw one of those at your local Provi-Soir?

"I had opportunities to sign British acts," says Levy. "But I knew that for us to have any value, we needed our own artists. I mean, we can make compilations in our sleep now. We could keep doing it, but then we'd just be the K-Tel of electronic music."

Moonshine's DJ Keoki plays at Sona Friday, Aug. 15. XL & Tiga spin too. $20, doors at 11pm. 1439 Bleury. 273-CREW