By Luke Fuller
Ravepal, Vol. 3 is my new best friend, and it should be yours too. The concept of the Ravepal series is ambitious, daring, and uniting — something that the ETA45 record label is no stranger to. For the third year in a row, they have gathered en masse a group of artists’ work and created an eclectic electronic experience like no other. This 25-track beast boasts the very best of Utah (and surrounding local areas’) artists, all of whom have gone out of their way to create tracks fitting of this massive third installment.
Beholden to its name, many of the songs you’ll find in Ravepal, Vol. 3 are high volume, high tempo, and high energy. Chock-full of hardcore, trance, techno, and jungle tracks that are sure to plow through your sound system like a raging bull, this compilation album is a true showcase in the beautiful and electric diversity of the Utah underground — every artist in the lineup really brings something completely unique from the ones before or after it.
It would be impossible to sum up this work by discussing any one song, as every track is the work of a different creator with their own visions and style. There is so much diversity within this 90-minute experience, you cannot reasonably celebrate one individual piece more than the others, which I believe is the beautiful part of this album.
With Vol. 3, sometimes you’ll be floating on clouds and other times you’ll have to fight to stand up against the blasts of harsh distortion. What more can you ask for? Andy Doors, for example, brings us a taste of smooth east coast butter with “ms new jersey,” while Speed Limits’ “Poing 2” juxtaposes a hardcore jumpstyle track with a literal cartoon bouncing sound, throwing the listener off guard and easing them into a sudden and enormous drop at the end.
Artists like CHILD OF GOD., PRYVYD, and Field Recordings make their presence known with some classic club techno with “Zoobieville” and “Telecom.corp.” Others, like Asa and Rilagotchi, crank it up a notch, such as on the acidic jumpstyle track “Khrysalis.” This electronic potluck makes sure each and every one of these creators, be it newcomers or seasoned artists, gets a highlight and a seat at the table.
If I could ask for one thing and one thing alone, I would ask for RavePal to happen more often. For the past three years it has been a connection point for everyone in the scene and it is truly magical what happens. There are so many talented and skilled individuals working on this project that it feels like it could easily be done two if not three times a year given proper preparation and strict deadlines. But maybe a yearly dose is just enough to keep that magic alive.
If you’re looking for an experience you won’t forget, and a lead into some of your new favorite Utah (and other local states) based artists you will not regret listening to Ravepal, Vol. 3 and diving into the back catalogue. You can stream them on any available streaming service and, of course, find them on Bandcamp through the ETA45 label.
Be sure to follow ETA45 on Instagram and check out “Zoobieville” by PRYVYD and CHILD OF GOD. below!