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REVIEWS:
Erasingclouds.com
A few years ago, San Francisco-based Darla Records was instrumental in bringing out a growing genre of electronic music that they dubbed "drum and bliss." Spotlighted on their two Drum and Bliss compilation CDs, as well as on installments of their Bliss Out and Little Darla Has a Treat For You series, this was electronic music rooted in pop melody and dream-like mood as much as beats and rhythms. While a few of those groups (Junior Varsity, Sweet Trip) represented Cali, and one was from Japan (Color Filter), another, Flowchart, was from Philadelphia. Flowchart's sound was a bit more dance-oriented and beat-heavy than the others, but shared a habit of amplifying the pretty side of electronic music. Sean from Flowchart was also a part of Mall, a similar but even more grounded group also hailing from Philly. Both groups are part of a thriving electronic music scene which is partially documented on Vibon, an inexpensive compilation released by tbtmo, a DIY electronic music label founded by Rob from Mall. The comp spotlights sixteen artists, including Mall and Flowchart. The bulk of the artists are from Philly, and a few of them are other names used by the members of Flowchart and Mall. Even a cursory glance at tbtmo's web site will demonstrate (through mp3s and an extensive catalog) that Philadelphia is filled with talented musicians doing interesting things with electronic music. Every track here is impeccable. Most fall into the category of both spacey/dreamy and danceable, though some are more one than the other and every artist has too distinct a voice to be wrapped up and summarized quite that easily. Some of my favorites include the jazzy industrialness of Planet Nett's "Aimmm," the beautifully trance-inducing electronic melody line in Printed Circuit's "Diatomy," and the minimalist beats and spooky voices on Tleilaxu's "Philodendrite," but every track is superb. Each makes me interested in hearing more music by the artists included and in diving further into what seems like a vibrant, exciting scene.--dave heaton

Philadelphia City Paper, 4.12.01
Your initial impression of this compilation, culling 15 minimal electronic music makers, will probably be something along the lines of, gee, this would be great to listen to completely stoned. Downtempo electronicats have a greater claim to the title "hippies of the new millennium" than, say, Phish heads, and Vibon, the first in a series of comps distributed through Darla Records, will put you in the mood to hold hands and sway. Shuffling beats, sustained tones, subtle little vocal loops and blithe melodies permeate. It’s not dance music, exactly, and the dominant aesthetic is the musical equivalent of frosted glass. Collette Carter’s relatively uptempo "Aguante Baby," Tleilaxu’s laughter-looping "Philodendrite" and "Luv Dub" by Someone Else (actually CP contributor Sean O’Neal who also offers the Flowchart track "Cootchie") reveal layers of beauty and nascent terror while bhowson’s scritch-scratching "120300" and Timonium Vs James Figurine’s "Rae Luce" demonstrate that fucking around in the studio can be lovely. In the end, you realize that this stuff also sounds pretty nice straight and sober.   - Brian Howard.

Philadelphia Weekly (Brainsoap.com). 4.18.01 [part of dual Mall/Vibon cd reviews}
Rob Cantagallo has been releasing CD-Rs, tapes and 7-inches on his tbtmo (the blind tm organization) label for years. And now he introduces some of our region's finest couch-loving electro-gadget fetishists to a wider audience through a deal with Darla Records. On the Vibon compilation, mischievous mouse jockey and knob-twister geeks bring the textural narcosis and throbbing beats to fine form. Few stand out as breaking any new territory in the quest for new sonic flavors, but all show great craftsmanship. Tleilaxu's snips of resequenced vocal patterns and phased steam-valve percussion are reminiscent of Boards of Canada. Some fresher sounds come courtesy of Bhowson's centrifugal skitter and Collette Carter's odd vocal phrasings...

Speck fanzine
Philadelphia's TBTMO label offers an outlet for many instrumental oriented electronic bands. The 15 tracks on this compilation are all easy-going and pleasant though nothing particularly stands out as a groundbreaking sensation, I'm sure that none of this acts are too concerned about this. What Pacifica, Mall, Red Joy Reid, Printed Circuit, Air + Space, Tleilaxu, Bhowson, Planet Nett, Collette Carter, Flowchart, Someone Else, Transient, Timonium vs. James Figurine, Spintronic and Tremolo accomplish is mere peaceful works of subtle art. It's blips of beauty circling delicately, sleepy and cool.

Thumb zine no.12
A nice budget sampler highlighting lots of underground Philly and TBTMO electronic artists including highlights from Flowchart, Printed Circuit, Mall, and Air + Space. A little bit of bliss-style drum and bass, some echo-y candy coated house-pop and electro-pop that gives a nice peek into what the kids are up to in Philly.

FAC193:
Just saying that tbtmo might be one of the most innovative, small electronic labels in the US is one thing, but actually hearing a selection of their artists will hit the point home. This compilation is all the proof you’ll need. Covering a baker’s dozen (that is 13, isn’t it?) of the label’s groups, “Vibon” shows just what tbtmo is about, and that appears to be a stout refusal to create glossy club music. My personal favorites include Transient’s “Visi”, Someone Else’s “Luv Dub” (which for some reason reminds me a little of New Order) and Collette Carter’s drum ‘n’ bassy “Aguante Baby”. Oh, and I really like the “organized chaos” sound of Flowchart’s “Cootchie”. The nice thing about this comp is that this label doesn’t seem insistent on one genre or one type of approach to electronic music. Perhaps these artists are destined for long careers filled with success. Cross your fingers.

Indieville.com:
This is some awesome electronica. The first song features nice, peaceful analog synths put together to make some really beautiful stuff. The second song is a lot like the first, except with a stronger beat and a more intricate approach. It ends up being more powerful and danceable, and Aphex Twin-like. The third song is a good song with a strong beat. This is like a more jungle-ish Aphex Twin. Wow, this music is all so similar to the IDM wizard's! After that you get a bunch of different songs: dreamy trance courtesy of Pacifica, Autechre-like beats by Planet Nett, warped tribal electro by Collette Carter, experimental electo from Flowchart, and much much more. Gotta love Air + Space's effort - airy and wonderful. As well, Mall's piece is really good and it fits right in. It reminded me of Chariots of Fire a little bit, oddly enough! Then comes cool electro dabbling by Timonium vs. James Figurine. And it's all finished off with an ambient piece by Tremolo that you are sure to enjoy. Buy it and then make sure you don't wreck it. 90%

Scratch:
15 track electro sampler with Mall, Flowchart, Pacifica, Timonium vs James Figurine, Tleilaxu, etc. Trip zone smoothness.

Intellectos:
Featuring dazzling tracks from Flowchart, Tleilaxu, Pacifica, James of Figurine, Mall, and Transient. This is a great listen showcasing many up and coming electronic "IDM" and electro underground stars from mainly Philadelphia and the USA. Again, this is a great cd for someone wanting to get a sampler of new bands all at once.

? (found by Carl on the 'net somewhere):
Some of the tracks on this Darla-sold compilation sound like they were made by people playing Dust Devils which is a nice coincidence because it makes a good soundtrack for tidying up.  When you've finished, play ‘Luv Dub’ by Someone Else again and revel in your cleansed environment.  It’s a smart little tune and the vocal effect on this track gives the impression of somebody under hypnosis trying to sing but can’t because they’re being mindforced to act like a chicken.