Okay, I know this albumis about five years old but I strongly think it's worth mentioning. Acouple weeks ago I found a place online where I could order the UKpressing of this disc, which I had always known was clearly a differentversion than the US release which I have owned for years. I was notready for such an incredibly pleasant and drastic surprise.Everything's beefed up and played out with the force and energy thatblows the US release away completely. Although Justin Warfield's rap isweak, the opening tune, "Bug Powder Dust" hits hundreds of times harderwith a powerful pounding driving bass line and an incredible melodycompletely missing on the one I already had. Other guests and othertracks follow suit with an abrasive side of dub completely void on theother version, currently collecting dust in my collection. Playingthroughout the disc on nearly all of the tracks is a star-studded teamof various Dub Syndicate veterans Skip MacDonald, Doug Wimbish, KeithLeBlanc and Bim Sherman. Guest vocalists and players include SineadO'Connor, Jah Wobble and other singers. An 11th track, "5ml. Barrel," aspoken word piece from Will Self backed by some incredible music wasn'teven on the US version. It's no wonder to me, looking back how thisdisc bombed in North America.

samples:

• Bug Powder Dust (the better version - from the UK CD)
• Sleepyhead (with Bim Sherman)
• Somewhere
• Bug Powder Dust (the crummy US CD version - just for comparison sake)

Nearly everybody who'sfamiliar with Sylvian has an opinion on him - either he's too mindnumbingly nauseating and pretentious or he's an unrecognized genius.

Finally, this is the album we all knew Matt Elliot could make.

With their latestrelease--their 6th or 7th perhaps?--the Austin via Houston duo ofChristina and Tom Carter have created a disc of subtle psychedelia,imbued with reverberating guitar echoes and luscious drones.

I really had no idea what to expect when I put this disc on, and was quickly blown (okay, washed) away.

Three new cd offeringsfrom the Berlin based Basic Channel / Chain Reaction family: Fluxion"Vibrant Forms" and Hallucinator "Landlocked" on Chain Reaction and"Round One to Round Five 1993 - 1999" on Main Street Records, allavailable domestically in the U.S. via EFA/Caroline.

Despite their seeminglyunlikely French origin, Rajna's latest album Yahili so stronglyreflects the band's passion for South Asian music that their nativecountry becomes easily forgotten.

Once again, JonathanWhiskey hits one out of the ballpark. Kicking off their split 7"series, the concept behind it being one unknown band and one known, theonly thing I could possibly gripe about is the near-impossible to openmailer sleeve.

This is a tasty introduction to anyone who's fans of the hard, fast, campy, meaty, zesty and beaty.

 Tigerbeat6

 

 

Another collection thisweek from a brainwashed artist, this mid-priced NWW release collectsvarious collaborative efforts from 1980 - 1999.

Drag City releases thisCD this month, previously only available through FSA's own "Heartbeat"in the UK in a limited edition of 1,000 clear vinyl LPs and 2,000 CDs.

Glitch glitch click clicksk-k-k-k-k-k-k-ips. Perhaps it's Oval, but no, the cuts are sharper,faster and it makes less musical sense.

"Smiling Pets" is a SonyJapan tribute album to the Beach Boys available domestically via theSecret Chiefs 3 / Mr. Bungle "Web of Mimicry" web site.

After disbanding in 1996, two-thirds of the masterful German drone trio Maeror Tri moved on to a new project, Troum.

Boyd Rice has indeedreturned to the purity of the innocent with this release. Loops andnoises live and breathe on this record, unharmed, naturally flowing,swelling and crunching in what is my favorite full-lengther from Boydfor quite some time.

Various Artists isallegedly the name of this duo of highly regarded producers who wish toremain anonymous. This limited edition CD release from FatCat featuresthe three tracks, "no. 8", "no. 8.5" and "no. 9" along with remixes ofeach by Arovane, Funkostrung, Autechre, Pole and Monolake.

What the world needs now is more instrumental Germans sounding like Can.

The Rootsman is anEnglish DJ/dub musician with 15 years experience and a discography thatincludes over two dozen EPs and albums since 1994.

Although the popularityof bands featuring phat beats and female vocals has risen immensely,few artists have been able to perfect the style and display enoughoriginality in doing so to stand out amongst the more mediocre of suchacts.

Although it's not quite like catching this electronic performer live, it is a nice artifact to own.