Tympanik Audio’s "Emerging Organisms: Hidden Forms Compilation Series Volume One" is a very interesting two disc compilation that beats Nine Inch Nails’s "Ghosts" to the punch with its brand of ambient/industrial soundscapes from artists such as Rekt, Flint Glass, Lucidstatic, and Nebulo. The compilation offers a mixture of traditional ambient compositions, clanking industrialized rhythmic tracks, and instrumental EBM and IDM pieces. The nice thing about this compilation is that while it is comprised of contributions from different artists, the collection as a whole has the cohesiveness and flow of an album put together by a single artist. What is most impressive about this compilation, aside from its nice packaging, is the fact that it sounds surprisingly fresh and new, which is a major accomplishment given that so much of the "new" EBM and IDM being put out are bland and uninspired throwbacks to :Wumpscut: and Leaether Strip circa 1998. Instead, the contributions on this compilation infuse these two dying genres with hints of classical, musique concrete, and electro jazz, which is why the young Tympanik Audio has been able to build a reputation as a leader of innovative electronic music. In sum, if you are looking for some good instrumental EBM and IDM that thinks outside of the box, then Tympanik Audio’s "Emerging Organisms" compilation is the record for you.