downundaground ii
Francisco Espregueira
If you’ve been scanning the fringes of the internet for fresh sonic perspectives, then the Australian underground scene, portraited by La Sape Records’ compilation Downundaground II is worth a deep dive. Recorded from a wide‑net submission call, this collection curves away from obvious genre tropes and leans instead into bedroom‑studio moodiness, rhythmic invention and textural depth. The label — Melbourne‑based but firmly national in reach — has made a name for highlighting boundary‑shifting instrumentalists, and here they shine a light on producers in sync with machines, the space and momentum. With tracks written in home setups, late nights and drift‑spaces between scenes, the compilation feels less like a neatly curated set and more like a loosely framed map of Australia’s next wave.
Now, with the next chapter in the series — Downundaground II — La Sape deepens that project. The roster expands, the textures thicken: we’re hearing ambient swells meeting broken‐beat momentum, dub‑wispy atmospheres sliding into club‑friendly grooves, and the sense of something self‑organised spreading outwards. The first instalment, Downundaground I (2019) introduced artists who’ve since grown in their respective niches; this second instalment affirms that whatever this scene is, it’s alive, curious and shifting. Whether you’re skimming for new sounds or just idling in rhythm, this record invites you to sit back, listen close, and catch the moments where machines meet intuition. Available on vinyl.