Golden oldies

Over the last decade, Old Gold Records has rounded up and released experimental, adventurous and otherwise not-so-accessible recordings from an unruly stable of musicians residing in Atlanta and beyond. Artists as varied as Sebadoh co-founder Eric Gaffney to the "disabled but able to rock" local crime-fighter known only as Danger Woman have worked closely with the label. In honor of its 10th anniversary, Old Gold owners Marshall Avett and Ben Young have reached deep into the vault to churn up a 2-by-12-inch compilation spanning 10 years of the label's best unreleased material. The release, bound by a handmade sleeve, is a lavishly homespun document that coughs up a hodgepodge of noise, indie rock and field recordings. The artists included are far ranging: Eugene Chadbourne, Jad Fair, locals Zandosis, DQE and Justin Hughes (Ladies Night/former Rock*A*Teens guitarist) performing under the name Buford Highway. The pace of the record brings each act together in a collection of raucous and totally nonlinear musical expeditions. "It's a mishmash of music," Young says. "We didn't make any rules, we just tried to pick the best stuff we had and put it all together into one cohesive package."

In the case of this recording, "cohesive" is a subjective term that doesn't do justice to the artfully erratic nature of the music. "Well, it's semi-cohesive," Avett adds. "It's all over the place and a little high-end for us, but what the heck, you only turn 10 once."

i>Old Gold hosts its 10th anniversary and record release party at the Earl on Thurs., Dec. 23, 8 p.m. $8.