irst things first: benefit albums usually aren’t very good, right? I mean, they’re good in a karmic kind of way but usually not as far as the tunes are concerned. Thinking back on all the charity comps I’ve managed to trudge through (ahem, Tibetan Freedom anyone?), I can’t remember being won over by any of them in particular. I suppose there are grounds for this sort of thing, especially when the matter at hand is particularly pressing, as it is with the album in query.

The grapevine insists that West4East, Vol. 1 came together in less than 30 days. Now, forgive me for coming off prickish and/or distasteful, but is that really enough time to come up with a decent product? Sure, it’s been done, but when you take into account everything that comes with preparing such a unit for retail (artist coordination, track submissions, packaging design, pressing, promotions, etc.), maybe 30 days is shortchanging it a little. But then, of course, there’s the whole tsunami relief thing, which is the matter at hand with the West4East organization. So in this case, perhaps 30 days is about right (in the sense of making a necessary album but not inevitably a good one).

And yes, for the first time, an album has prompted me to ask myself, “Am I an awful person for not liking this record?” And even more so, “Will the good side of the Schwartz strike me down if I give this album less-than-stellar marks?” You see folks, to quote Howard Hecht of Unschooled Records, “ALL money collected goes straight to [Direct Relief International].” It’s refreshing to see that even the smaller indies are able to contribute to large-minded charitable ventures. However, bringing the tunes might have been a fun bonus.

The Unschooled roster consists primarily of second-rate IDM producers from the US, Australia, and Scandinavia. And the music featured on West4East is, well, second-rate IDM. Four years ago, I could have easily stomached this sort of thing. At this point, it basically goes in one ear and out the other. (I hosted a weekly IDM radio show for four years, so I know this stuff, but I’m also fairly burned out on it.)

If you’re familiar with the Unschooled label and its regulars (Books on Tape, Plat, Doofgoblin), these tracks won’t come as a surprise. That’s not to say there aren’t a few winners here and there. The standout track would easily be “The Tree That Got Fired” by Dutch producer Kettel. This piece features gentle, lonely synths and pads alongside minimal percussive pitter patter. Rebokoneko’s “Smile and Dream” exercises a similar dreamy, melancholic sonic palette. Most of West4East, though neither bad nor good, would have been much better suited for release in the late ‘90s, as it tends to sound particularly dated and oblivious to current progressions in the genre.

Now, since I do believe the Schwartz would have its way with me if I dissuaded you from purchasing the product in question, I will do no such thing. Compiling a tsunami benefit compilation is certainly a nobler gesture than much of anything I’ve achieved lately. Come to think of it, the last good deed I performed involved dog-sitting and a GameCube. In any case, perhaps the saintly act of buying this album will make it sound that much better. I wouldn’t know. Mine’s a promo. Tee-hee!