The Well: The Independent Project Records Collection II

Following four years after Source, an overview of the Independent Project Records label released by them as part of their return to regular activity, 2025’s The Well acts as complement, sequel and extension of the original compilation’s brief. At over forty songs over two CDs, it’s very much a deep dive, but it’s also a way not only to sample some of the label’s all time acts but a wide variety of obscurities and one-offs across the years. Some of the most welcome tracks are from older acts yet to get full reissues or selections from acts new and old fitting with the label’s goals, including Fourwaycross, driveway ceiling, Bpeople, NEEF, Deception Bay and Kommunity FK. Newer acts to the label feature as well, including David J and Alison Clancy, while For Against are represented by a solo selection from Jeffrey Runnings from the album recorded before his tragic passing from cancer. Add to that songs from label stalwarts and standouts like Scenic, Shiva Burlesque, Half String and of course Savage Republic, and the whole is a remarkable portrait of a label and an aesthetic still developing over the years.