The Borderland was a large music review website administered by British music journalist John M Peters and featuring music that was generally produced by underground artists and small independent labels. The site closed in 2018, and I guess that all of the reviews were then lost as I can't find any on the ephemeral internet. The Borderland reviewed many of my early albums in the 2000-2010 decade, and when I asked about these in 2018, John sent me copies of his reviews, so for reasons of information preservation I've decided reproduce them here verbatim for posterity, one post at a time.
Mark Sheeky - Arcangel
Arcangel began as the soundtrack to one of Mark's computer games that he programmed. I have no idea how the music fits in with the game but as a collection of standalone tracks this is a superb collection of electronica. Seven tracks of varied and extremely ear-friendly tunes follow: Mnemonic pulses with energy and funkiness, Epitaph is more eery, simple synth lines set up an atmosphere of unease, SPDF is another slow burner with a lovely cyclical melody line, Lepton has one of the killer melodies on the whole CD and a dance mix of this would [should!] be a massive hit in the clubs if the DJs had a chance to hear it, Pioneer is another slow burn winner with a 'tubular bells' type lead and a nice line in minimised atmosphere, Requiem For A Scorpoid is another lighter piece with a pan-pipe-cum steel drum sounding lead, Inside Messiah concludes the album with a slow choral flourish that leaves you wanting more.
- John M Peters/The Borderland
