Projekt 100 - The Early Years 1985 - 1995
4 out of 5 stars (Outstanding)
Commemorative release from a pioneering label turns back the clock

Some have perceived Projekt as a label fashioned after England's groundbreaking and respected 4AD. The fact that Love Spirals Downwards and Eden sound a lot like the Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance surely fostered this notion. But as a label founded by Sam Rosenthal partly as a means to release his own music, Projekt also became a venue for like-minded musicians. Never purely a gothic label, Projekt reflects Rosenthal's emotional and expansive vision, which includes ethereal and ambient music. Renowned artists like Steve Roach and Faith & Disease would eventually join an increasingly diverse roster.

Never imagining the Projekt catalog would reach 100 releases, Rosenthal wasn't content to commemorate such a milestone with a mere "best of" collection or sampler disc. He wanted to create "The Great Lost Projekt Compilation" that would reflect "an era gone by." By gathering together unreleased and remixes from Projekt's early years, this compilation lets the past come rushing back. While evolving with the times, Projekt has remained so close to its roots that any one of these tracks could be released today and seem just as fresh, but hearing these unheard and/or alternative versions of tracks by black tape for a blue girl, soulwhirlingsomewhere, O Yuki Conjugate, Lycia, Attrition and Thanatos only reinforces the fact that art and commerce needn't be mutually exclusive.
- Mark Burbey

Ethereal Darkwave Gothic: A reflection upon an era gone by (4 of 5 stars)

Projekt 100: The Early Years is for those fans who have been with Projekt since the early days... or an introduction to bands perhaps missed, if a newcomer. This compilation is successful both as a retrospective (featuring favorite Projekt artists) and as a collectors jewel(featuring early unreleased songs and mixes). The hallmark ethereal elements of the music which the label showcases include dreamy, open spaces of sound; expansive and sustained washes of harmony; and sweet, sometimes melancholy lyrics and melodies. Yet the collection of Projekt artists here exhibits quite a range of distinguished styles as well, from Lycia's distorted, ambient dirges, to Eden's emotional gothic pop, to O Yuki Conjugate's tribal new age experimentalism. Additional featured artists include Black Tape for a Blue Girl, Attrition, Thanatos, Love Spirals Downward. and more. Intriguing liner notes from Sam Rosenthal and the musicians accompany each contributers listing, lending an intimate touch to this recommended release.
-Laura Haynes

I clearly recall joking goodheartedly about the status of one with Projekt releases in their collection, a good 6 or 7 years ago. At the time it was, especially in Europe, quite impressive to own several Projekt cds and I remember verbal battles filled with elitist and envious undertones regarding the subject. Projekt has come a long and impressive way since then, and even more so since its inception in 1983. Sam Rosenthal and co. have established a prestigious distribution system over the years, bringing Projekt releases within reach of everyone and marketing each new release in the most graceful and effective way. Projekt's line-up of talented bands continues to grow as well, with new releases now hitting the stores on a steady monthly basis. And throughout it all one thing has consistently remained the same: Projekt delivers the finest ethereal, ambient and darkwave music available.

To commemorate its rich and succesful history, as well as 99 Projekt releases to date, the label has released Projekt 100: The Early Years 1985-1995. Instead of your typical run-of-the-mill compilation with widely known hits and milestones this cd is dubbed by Sam as The Great Lost Projekt Compilation. Rare, unreleased and remixed songs by Projekt's most respected artists such as Black Tape for a Blue Girl, Lycia, Love Spirals Downwards and Thanatos are accompanied by Sam's interesting recollections of "how" and "why", inside the stylish booklet.

This makes Projekt 100 a great disc for both new listeners as well as us longtime fans.

Both Lycia and Black Tape for a Blue Girl appear twice on the cd, which is more than appropriate considering that they were Projekt's very first signings. Lycia's "Excade Decade Decada" and "Byzantine" respectively begin and end this compilation, which is quite effective. Both compositions stem from the production of Lycia's first release, Ionia, and bear the mark of the band's slow and dramatic sound. The booklet explains that Ionia was originally titled Byzantine and dual in its nature: slow and harsh on one side, to which these 2 tracks belong, and spacey and ambient on the other, which eventually resulted in most of Ionia.

Any unreleased Black Tape material is a must-have for me and I fell instantly in love with "Griffith Park". The song is sweet and beautiful, with enchanting vocals by Sue-Kenny Smith and a lightly drifting composition. Originally recorded for Ashes in the Brittle Air, "Griffith Park" was left out because Sam wasn't happy with the mood of several songs. "The Magnet and The Metal" is equally enchanting. This song had to be left out of the track listing for Mesmerized by The Sirens, since the album was first released on vinyl and that meant space limitations. It can be found on the Hex Files II compilation, but this is its first US release.

Atrition presents an early mix of "Feel the Backlash", less polished than the version on Smiling, at the Hypogonder Club, but, as the booklet correctly states, it serves as an insight into the recording process. Other early mixes of album tracks come in the form of Eden's "Dreaming among Stones", Terrace of Memories' self-titled track and "Valerian" by Loveliescrushing is a different mix of its 7" single version. It's fascinating to discover these different renditions of songs you're familiar with.

The third band with 2 songs on Projekt 100 is SoulWhirlingSomewhere. The demo version of "Opening the Ten-End" is a short, dreamy piece and "I Dream We are Blind" proceeds to drift along in that same timeless fashion, the trademark of SWS. And speaking of timeless...that's certainly a justified description for Thanatos and Pat Ogl's warm, rich voice. Represented here with "The Shattered Sky Now Settled", the only complaint I could possible have is that the song isn't very long.

Of course the great Love Spirals Downwards is present as well on this compilation. If you haven't heard "Kykeon" yet, then it's by itself reason enough to seek out this cd. This song (here in a slightly different mix than on Ardor) never fails to leave me awe-struck. I fear that all too often I refer to most of Projekt's bands as dreamy, but to me this is the sound dreams are made of, even moreso when it comes to LSD. Ryan's music always has that subtle unearthly touch, and with Suzanne's sweet vocals as the ideal finishing touch their music is always nothing short of stellar.

Projekt 100 is a must for the label's fans, as well as an excellent introduction for those who aren't too familiar with Projekt yet. (What rock have you been hiding under?) The label's finest artists are represented here and it's a great opportunity to find some of their rare and unreleased songs. The elegant photographs of Black Tape's Lisa Feuer and the insightful reflections of Sam Rosenthal only add to the quality of this release.

It has been a great plesaure to watch Projekt evolve over the years, taking the shape of a giant without ever losing its intimacy. The journey to Projekt 200 will without a doubt be filled with just as much quality and beauty as the label's past. Congratulations, Projekt!
~reviewed by Wolf