116 & Rising HessleAudio * * * *

The secret to a great label is smart curation, and Hessle Audio co-founders David Kennedy, Ben Thomson and Kevin McAuley have yet to put a foot wrong in this regard. As producers Pearson Sound/ Ramadanman, Ben UFO and Pangaea, respectively, the trio know their futuristic sonic onions, and they're swell talent spotters. Proof of this comes in the tracklisting for Hessle's first compilation, which rolls out previously heralded cuts from James Blake, Joe, D1, Untold, Blawan and others. The label's output since 2007 has pushed the experimental boat out, illustrated again and again by the dozen new tracks on the compilation. Producers Cosmin TRG and Joe are now pulling and pushing in a different direction, while James Blake's Give a Man a Rodshows a more sleek and dancefloor-facing side than you'll find on his acclaimed debut album. See myspace.com/ hessleaudio

Download tracks:James Blake, Give a Man a Rod; D1, Sub Zero; Blawan, Fram