Various Artists -'Shifty Disco 10' (Shifty Disco) Released 22/01/07

Mo-town? Ryko? Def Jam? Ok, perhaps Shifty Disco isn’t the next step in this list of record labels, and indeed it wouldn’t want to be, but judging by this triple CD release celebrating 10 years of the independent Oxford-based label, they certainly have a back catalogue that is worthy of the utmost praise. The collection features 3 CDs that roughly cover the past ten years. The first disc is a showcase for the labels current high flyers, the cream of the current crop that are making sure that the label continues to thrive. Called quite simply 'Now', the album starts with The Unisex, a Swedish band whose radio friendly Row My Friend is a very familiar, comforting opener.

The 10 songs that make up this CD are a pretty fair reflection of the indie, alternative sound that is sweeping the nation at the moment. The Race, PaperLung and the Cages all get an outing and all shine. Domes of Silence with their led zeppelin-esque drum intro have big things ahead, as do all of these bands but it is King Of Spain whose star burns the brightest.

It is the second disc though that is the real find and reason enough on its own to investigate and delve through this collection. It is, essentially, a run down of the labels most popular singles to date and what a collection it is. Dustball start things off with a majestic piece of writing that is the blueprint by which all fast paced indie records should be based. The reason why the label was set up in the first place according to founder Dave Newton, Talkback back is pop perfection.

Elf Power are quick on their heels with what sounds like ACDC on the recorder which in turn gives way to AM60 with their Just a dream. Quite how this song isn’t embedded in the psyche of the population is a mystery. It is fantastic and defies you to just hate its sugar coated sickliness. The same could be said of Murry The Hump (perhaps it was the name?). Thrown like a stone drifts with unmistakeable charm. It may be surprising to some that The Young Knives are on this and not the first CD. Yes they are receiving a lot of coverage at the moment but actually released their debut album on Shifty Disco back in 2002 and 'Walking On The Autobahn' is a showcase of why they are finally receiving the attention they deserve.

The third disc, entitled 'Maybe' is a collection of songs from the archives and opens with the magic surrealism of Backgarden by Beaker. Check out the lyrics, they have to be some of the most ridiculous yet somewhat enchanting committed to music. “I left my tongue on your toothbrush, so I can taste you”. Then there is the sheer audacity of Vigilance Black Special with their very un-subtle take on the seedy side of life. The flaming lips can be heard in The Corsettes before they fall into a Neil Young harmonica interlude that makes the world a better place for its presence.

There is not enough space to sing the praises to all these songs, all these bands that have for whatever reasons failed to enter the cultural consciousness. But you shouldn’t matter, they are ours, they are yours, they are there and they are real. Life affirming, original and all encompassing. You would have to have a heart of cynical, unimaginative ooze not to get something out of this. This is a real find that just scratches the surface of a record label that has a multitude of hidden gems that are just waiting to be unearthed and a bright, healthy future that will ensure that the 20 years collection is just as memorable.