Shortly before Vladislav Delay became the toast of the ambient techno scene -- or at least the laptop scene -- the California-based Phthalo label quietly released some of his early recordings under the moniker Sistol. The eight tracks compiled on this eponymous album aren't as epic, adventurous, or daring as his later work for Force Inc, but they showcase a rudimentary style that would evolve with each of Delay's successive releases in the early '00s. The dubby beats and crackling textures that would become synonymous with Delay are here. Each of the tracks moves along rather briskly, driven by a strong undercurrent of surprisingly stable rhythms. Unlike Delay's more ambient recordings for Chain Reaction, these tracks don't wander toward unknown destinations. Rather, they stay on track and could almost work as dancefloor tracks. However, unlike Delay's more straightforward Luomo recordings for Force Tracks, these tracks eschew convention. There are no vocals and no melodies but rather muddled distortion and uncanny rhythms. Everything Delay would go on to do as a producer is here. In a way, you can view Sistol as the prototype for what lay ahead for Delay in the early '00s. But don't get too swept away by the album's rarity and mystique. While Sistol is no doubt revealing to those familiar with Delay's later work, it's best reserved for completists. ~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi

1		Keno
2		Hac
3		Nuomo
4		Kaste
5		Haaska
6		Kelmi
7		Luomo
8		Kotka