I want to start off by stating that I wanted to like this record. Ireally, truly wanted to be able to say that Hefner have really bouncedback after their woefully unimpressive last album, 'We Love the City'.Sadly, it was not to be.

After straying into realms of harsh noise and power electronics onalbums like 'Obsessis', BDN returns to darker territory. The allegedlylimited vinyl-only '1890' is a good example of a minimal record—howless is more.

One of the newer signees to the collective-based Dtrash Records,Venom8888 veers away from the label's usual (and excellent) digitalhardcore stylings and instead offers up a fine blend of noise,soundscapes and glitch.

A simple title for the most simple music New Wet Kojak have ever created. True, the sex is still in this rock, more libido than most records combined. But where is the substance?

Usually when I'm shopping around in a record shop there's a good chanceI'm trying to ignore what's being played overhead. Sometimes the musicis okay but I'm normally just annoyed. Today was a little different. Isimply became entranced and forgot what I was originally there topurchase.

Poignant and introspective guitar/piano sounds from this new duohailing from Westmead, Australia, 'It's Humbling...' is a gorgeous setof instrumentals that wax and wane, caressing the psyche with a warmand subtle touch.

A delicate and mesmerising 6-song mini-album (at just over 35 minutes),"Windmills vs. Shrapnel" is the latest exquisite offering from thisotherwise obscure Australian quartet.

The first release from new Irish label Spitroast kicks off superbly. Asyou would guess by the title, this is quite melancholic stuff, not 4/4pumpin' house.

Released on the Anticon label, whose motto 'Music for the advancementof hip-hop', sets out their aim to put into the marketplace analternative to money and ass-obsessed pop-hop. Inspired equally byindie rock, electronica and old-skool hip-hop, their output isexperimental, eclectic and among the freshest, newest sounds out there.

One of the few remaining pieces of the digipacked and remastered re-issue puzzle, 1994's The Great Annihilator is reclaimed from Invisible Records for Michael Gira's own Young God Records.

Fans of Mojave 3 and the legendary (and sadly defunct) Slowdive haveawaited with baited breath and in sweaty anticipation the solo debut ofNeil Halstead, the frontman of both groups. Having performed quite anumber of live gigs prior to the release of 'Sleeping on Roads,'Halstead's ease as a solo artist is apparent.

Although Halstead is the former Slowdive member currently receiving themost attention in light of his new solo record, Christian Savill hasremained active as well, recording with Sean Hewson as Monster Movie.

Keigo Oyamada, the boy genius better known as Cornelius, has finallyreturned from a three-year hiatus which followed the release of hiscritically acclaimed 'Fantasma'.

Not to be confused with the album of a similar name, 'Paws' is a cleverly-titled four song EP of remixes from Kieran Hebden and friends.

The ambient/electronic/noise collage veterans' latest CD features eightunreleased improv pieces recorded live in Europe and the U.S., plus onestudio piece that also appears on the 'Wiretapper 7' CD compilation.

Yes, more Anthony Rother. This one is not as good as Little Computer People, but it's still good.

Initial disclaimer: I'm not really a big fan of electro music (i.e. Drexciya, Bunker, Adult, etc. .. not the EBM stylings of Metropolis Records). Most of it just really bores me, and the "gimmicks" that seem to be found often within them (oldschool/retro sounds, vocoder vox, etc.) never really grab me. UNLESS, however, we're talking about Anthony Rother, the mastermind behind Little Computer People (and Psi Performer, and maybe some others).

Arc starts things off with 2 tracks recorded live in Toronto - reallywell done, slithery tribal stuff a'la 'Culling'- era 23 Skidoo.

Bless Ba-Da-Ben Goldberg's sweet heart for keeping the magic going... Publishing a +200 page book with a various artist compilation CD doesn't happen easily, overnight, nor is it probably financially rewarding. Thankfully he's got the support of a number of great writers and wonderful musicians which I'm sure make the realization of the project worth it. The writings in the fifth book (I can't call these magazine issues), as Ben describes, is lacking a thematic tie. The music, however (recorded especially for the compilation) is somewhat of a tribute to Raymond Scott's classic, 'Soothing Sounds for Baby' LP without doing any cover versions or reinterpretations of the original.

While this Mego release from O'Rourke may go completely off in theother direction of his concurrent "Insignificance" in that it's a"Powerbook" disc, the compositions which make up the three title tracksvary themselves...