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.

Thanks, Mute for making these available now in the USA. While Red Star did reissue Suicide's first album in 1997, this version is coupled with a second CD.

Peter Rehberg, well-knownfor his work in Rehberg & Bauer, is also prolific with his solooutput as Pita, featured on the Austrian experimental techno label MEGO.

I feel a littleembarrassed browsing through my local record store's New Age section,but only a little. I find the latest album by the Brazilian group Uakti(wa-ka-chee), and am vindicated.

Alas, the final installment of the 20 minutes to 2000 series from Germany's Raster-Noton label. ELpH (a.k.a. Coil) constructs the December issue, the most interesting and least minimal bit from the entire series.

Not just your regular remix album. This one kicks major booty withtracks from previous Laub CDs that have been reworked by folks likePole, Schneider TM and Coldcut.

What is it with theJapanese and their interest in releasing different music in differentcountries? More annoying than them goddamned European two parts, thisremix EP has three different versions, three different tracklistings,yet one's released in Japan, one in Europe and one in North America.

Bill Rieflin (Ministry, the Revolting Cocks, KMFDM, SWANS, NIN, etc),Robert Fripp and Trey Gunn (King Crimson) first pooled their impressivetalents on Rieflin's debut solo album from earlier this year, "Birth ofa Giant", also on First World Records. "The Repercussions of AngelicBehavior" is 53 minutes of instrumental improvisations from the samesessions. Whereas the majority of the tracks on "BoaG" were wellcrafted experimental pop songs, the 10 untitled tracks found here arelittle more than self indulgent, masturbatory jamming ... unfocused,leftover session fodder better left in the vaults. The music rangesfrom laid back ambient atmospheres, courtesy of Fripp and Gunn's uniqueguitar tones, to rapid-fire and somewhat random, headache inducingguitar/drum/bass noise blasts. There's a lot of talent in the room butto my ears there's a serious lack of soul. I'm sure the prog rock /acid jazz crowds would be able to find whatever it is they find in thissort of stuff ... but it does nothing for me. Save for three of thelonger (7+ minute) tracks of the more ambient nature, "Repercussions.."is really disappointing. "Birth of a Giant" makes much better use ofthe talents of Rieflin, Fripp and Gunn (and several others) and remainsone of my favorite new albums of 1999. Get it instead ... - Mark Weddle