Every few years it seems someone strikes on the idea of releasing a compilation album celebrating something of Guernsey’s music scene. From the Guernsey Rock Album in the early 1980s through Twist Records GBG series they have acted as a glimpse into what’s happening in the island’s ‘scene’ at a specific moment in time.

New release Out Of The Box certainly does this too, but with its own twist as it comes with a theme, highlighting issues around mental health and breaking down the stigma that still surrounds discussing it.

That possibly sounds like the record is going to make for some heavy listening but, thankfully, sixteen tracks of Guernsey artists being miserablists or sounding dangerously worthy this is not, as it spans styles from pop-punk to folk to electronica all touching on the subject of mental health in different ways.

Things kick off with the punchy emo punk of Burning At Both Ends before we wind through some of the best acts the islands have to offer from Toby Falla to The Recks to (a brand new one from) Fly Casual.

Just that gives an idea of the breadth of things and, while those are some of the bigger names featured the collection, it also gives a voice to some lesser heard artists including Carmen Stella, Osiris and Between The Signs.

What really stands out is that, regardless of how established and well-known or otherwise the acts are, all the tracks sounds great and are produced with an exceptional degree of professionalism. While some of the tracks submitted have been produced independently others were either re-recorded from demos or given some extra polish by the team at Apocalypse Studios which really elevates the whole record.

Out Of The Box then, I think, is highly successful both in its expressed aim of focusing on and widening discussion of mental health while also acting as a fine example of some of the music on offer on Guernsey’s live scene right now (and with a track from Nic Dinnie of Hot Plastic a hint of Jersey’s too) and sits strongly alongside the past compilations of Guernsey music with a strong set of songs spanning multiple styles so there’s something there for everyone.

You can listen to the album on most major streaming services (including Spotify as below) and its available for download via Bandcamp by clicking here (there’s also been a suggestion there might be limited physical run some time in the future).

I don’t usually do this but given the type of album it is, here’s the complete tracklisting:

• Burning At Both Ends – Leave These Thoughts

• Toby Falla – Socialize

• The Recks – Spanish Relations

• Nic Dinnie – Mountains and Plateaus

• Fly Casual – Slept Too Long

• Flexagon & Joe Hind – Alright Mate (Feat. GDog)

• Kiya Ashton – Sweet Decadence

• Tumbleweed – 2017

• Carmen Stella – Break Away

• Seigneur Hedge Veg – Bereft

• Ukuladeez – Swinging Brick

• Asia Gulcz – Towards Your Freedom

• Osiris – S.M.D

• Between The Signs – Light

• Track Not Found – Code Red

• Tantale – Wicked Shelf