These exquisite soundscapes simultaneously coagulate and decompose within an amalgam of nonlocal arteries somewhere amidst: ambient noise, the Steve Albini strain of the hard rock sound, and some wonderful contrasts of high production value and low-fi sounds. There's no lack of guitar dirge but no drum machines either. Just an awe-inspiring mix of abrasive and gentle textures. Jim O'Rourke's work never collects dust, it always moves. The final 25-minute crescendo also features Henry Kaiser adding a few waves of quirkiness. --S.A.

(first appeared in Reign of Toads #4)

last update 1/17/97

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