IRIS - Appendix EP (Alienor Records 7")

1] Appendix 2] Best, Newton, Dylan, Rasputin 3] Wit & Wendy 4] Spiel

First up, I'd like to apologise for reviewing a record that's 5 years old, but I only got it a few weeks ago and it's just so damned good.

Iris are/were a Derby based band although this EP was released on the French Alienor label. To give you a flavour of the bleak despondency running through this their main influences would appear to be the Beatles, Velvet Underground and Simon & Garfunkel. And the combination is spot on as you get twisted pop music with heartfelt vocals and acoustics.

If you drooled over the Tinsel release a few months back, then it may be worth your while trying to track this down. I got a copy through Kim at Bliss whose address you'll find appended to the Aquamarine review elsewhere, but just in case you live in Derby or Bordeaux and can check them out here's the contact addresses.

Iris, 14 Cowley Street, Derby DE1 3SN, UK

Alienor Records, 4 Rue Baurein 33000, Bordeaux, France

NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL - Holland, 1945 (Blue Rose 7")

1] Holland 1945 2] Engine

Undisputed record of the month, and for so many reasons!

No 1 - it's a damn good record. "Holland, 1945" is taken from the album "In The Aeroplane Over The Sea" and is a stonkingly good example of the more back to basics sound the Neutrals have adopted since "On Avery Island". If you enjoyed the fuzzfolk sound of that, you'll love this. "Engine", which is not on the album, was recorded live in Piccadilly Circus tube station to a rousing response from passers by.

But here's the 'and'. In glorious audiophile fashion it's a limited edition hand numbered 7" picture disc with poster! Got all that? An absolutely marvellous package which must have cost a fair bit to put together. So rush out and buy it now.

It would be worth it for the music alone, which is both passionate and frantic, but the whole package can't be recommended highly enough. Hurry!

Blue Rose Record Company, 10a The Mall, London W5 2PJ, UK

1509 Queen Ave N #307 Seattle WA 98109, USA

http://www.blue-rose.com e-mail info@blue-rose.com

GRANDADDY - A.M. 180 (Big Cat 7")

1] A.M. 180 2] Here

Another lovely vinyl only release! Just the way it should be.

My first aural encounter with Grandaddy and it's a very pleasant one. A lot more trad-indie than I expected from their press coverage and with the flip being a live cover of a Pavement song, it doesn't take a genius to work out where they're coming from. But I don't want to damn with faint praise because "A.M. 180" has one of those nagging melodies you just can't shake.

Interesting enough to add them to the 'hear more' list.

Big Cat, PO Box 3074, London W11 4GY, UK

http://www.big-cat.co.uk e-mail cats@big-cat.co.uk

FU MANCHU - Jailbreak (Mammoth PY 102) 7"

1] Jailbreak 2] Urethane

Now if this had come on coloured vinyl or picture disc it might have sneaked ahead as single of the month because, damn it!, this is Fu Manchu covering Thin Lizzy!

Yup, it's that "Jailbreak". And it's astonishingly true to the original. Which is surprising. I anticipated a slowed down, greased up version, but unlike Bon Jovi, this is faithful without being reverent. Apart from some keys, some fuzz and some bass distortion, it's tempo remains unchanged. Which is good When Scott Hill drawls, "hey good lookin' female., come here," you're in that sleazy bar with him.

Flip it over and it's a track from "The Action Is Go" which is much more like the Fu Manchu we know and love. Now lets all hope that Scott Gorham was joking when he talked about a 'new' Thin Lizzy album.

Fu Manchu, PO Box 3085, San Clemente, CA 92674-3805, USA

JACK - Steamin' (Too Pure Pure 81S) 7"

1] Steamin' 2] Fall In Love With Me Again 3] Last Moments In The Mind Of Danny Sammy Jr

Sadly not a tribute to the late Steamin' Steve Clark, but instead a paean to the demon drink.

And surprisingly sprightly it is too. I'd anticipated a sub Tindersticks type drone, and was temporarily fooled by the opening few seconds but it's all rollicking good stuff. Unfortunately, the lyrics are spot on when it comes to the pitfalls of "you're the worlds most beautiful girl and I'm it's greatest lover".

Flip it over and it's much more what I'd expected. Much more low key, with Spanish guitar and angstful sighs all round, but all three tracks are of high quality and shattered my somewhat low uninformed opinion. The more I play, the more I like. Damn, yet another LP on the list.

jack@sermon.demon.co.uk

ANTHRAX - Inside Out (Ignition IGN7 4051 6) 7" red vinyl

1] Inside Out 2] Giving The Horns

Musically, the best thing that ever happened to Anthrax was the departure of Joey Belladonna, but commercially they've now sunk to the levels of Zeitgeist reviews. Which is all your fault for not buying the damn records. Believe me when I say that "Only" from "The Sound Of White Noise" strolls with ease into my all time top ten metal tracks.

But now they're on an indie. And this is probably not the best track to release as a single. It's powerful, edgy and full on. The merest tinges of commercial kornisms, but not enough to turn the stomach. But no way is it a single.

Flipping over gives you another slice of the Anthrax world view and with it's stop start, choppy rhythm is actually better than its A side. Special props for a fine percussive performance which carries the whole track.

So, I would say give this a miss and buy the album instead. And if you haven't checked out Anthrax since the tragic days of "Indians", don't be so bloody stupid.

RUNEMAGICK - The Supreme Force Of Eternity (Century Media CD 77235-2)

1] At The Horizons End 2] The Black Wall 3] When Death Is The Key 4] For You, My Death 5] Curse Of The Dark Rune 6] Nocturnal Creation 7] The Supreme Force 8] Sign Of Eternity Pt II

Assuming that you haven't guessed by now, Runemagick are a Swedish death metal band.

Old time tape traders may recall their "Fullmoon Sodomy" demo which came out back in 1992. Runemagick split up shortly thereafter, and mainman Nicklas Rudolfsson worked his way through Sacramenton, Deathwitch, Swordmaster and others, before putting together a new Runemagick line up in 1997.

What they then did was go back to the early demo-era material and re record it in a shiny, new studio. So you're getting classic early 90s death metal material, but with an up to date production. So if you ever wondered what those hoary old demos you've treasured for years would have sounded like, given a decent production, now's your chance.

To be fair some of the material does sound a tad dated, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Untainted by crossover and dilution, this is as pure a death metal album as you're going to get.

TADPOLES - Destroy Terrastock (Bakery BKCD9028)

1] Race You To The Mustard Patch 2] When I Feel 3] At Least I'm Not Like Jonathan Carver 4] Nazareth 5] Ride The World Around The Sun 6] Umbrella Smile 7] Firecracker

Recorded live at the Terrastock Festival on April 26, 1997.

Yup, it's Tadpoles overload this issue, as we end up with that most dreaded of items, the live album [:-(

Thankfully, despite the claims of no overdubs, you barely notice. But unlike, say "Live & Dangerous", where only Brian Downeys drums remained live, "Destroy Terrastock" doesn't need them. It sounds a bit thinner than the studio releases reviewed elsewhere, but you definitely get the feeling of a band stretching out and testing each other.

If you've ever heard any of The Charlatans [UK] instrumentals, you'll have a rough idea of the vibe that the Tadpoles create. I hesitate to use names like the Grateful Dead and Phish due to their inherent shiteness and noodle quality, but take that, condense into a listenable quality and musical structure, add some melodic songs, and you've made the analogy worthless.

Oh, hell, it's indie tinged, psyche spacerock, lovingly crafted and performed stylishly. Hunt them down at;

Bakery Records, POB 1996, Hoboken NJ 07030, USA

http://www.tadpoles.com

http://www.bakery-records.com

PLASTIC JOE - Insidious Mind Candy

1] Why? 2] Preacher Man 3] Hypocrisy II 4] Man From Nowhere 5] Davenport 6] Truth 7] I Dream 8] Brain Damaged 9] Worship Me!

Oh dear! A politicised rock band with rap and hiphop influences. Thankfully, we're several million miles away from the pouty, middle class antics of Rage Against My Trust fund.

Instead, we're closer in style to the early years of Faith No More, and possible a bit of Dub War. Which is a good thing.

However, the likes of "Brain Damaged" are unlikely to get heavy rotation anywhere, especially with lyrics that go;

"Ass fuck, dick lick, fuckhead

Bastard, asshole, smeg breath

Buttlick, cum fart, cock bite

SHIT HEAD, DICK CHEEZ, FUCK YOU!"

Mind you it'd be fun with subtitles on Top Of The Pops.

But, as they say, it's integral to the plot. There's a lot of hate, bile and invective spewing out from this CD, but when it's controlled and focused, it works well. Some of the lyrics are contentious, to say the least, but they know how to argue their case, regardless of your political or moral stance. "Hypocrisy II" will guarantee them hate mail.

It's unfair to say whether I like or dislike this. It's not that simple. But at least it makes you stop and think. Which is also a good thing.

http://www.plasticjoe.com

e-mail info@plasticjoe.com

BOB CATLEY - The Tower (Now & Then

1] Dreams 2] Scream 3] Far Away 4] Deep Winter 5] Fire And Ice 6] Madrigal 7] Steel 8] The Tower 9] Fear Of The Dark 10] Epilogue

It's been a while since I was this apprehensive about playing a new release. You see, I grew up with Magnum, bought the records, saw them go from support to headline to the Top 20. Of course I also saw it all go pear shaped after their lamentable last album. And Hard Rain are just horrendous. But through it all, Bob has had The Voice.

So when I heard that he was recording his first solo album, and that all the material was being penned by Gary Hughes of Ten, I was horrified - because Ten are also horrendous. But then the rumours started. Gary was talking about "On A Storytellers Night" era Magnum, a classic moment in their history. Then the first preview track appeared, and lo! it was good. But could it be sustained over an entire album?

Yes, yes and thrice yes! From the pomptastic intro to "Dreams" to the closing instrumental, this is a Magnum lovers wet dream.

For some reason, this project has brought out the best in all concerned. Bobs voice has never been better, Gary Hughes production and songwriting reaches levels of excellence I never thought him capable of, and Vinny Burns turns in his best work since early Dare.

A definite tour de force, and possibly the finest recording of Bobs illustrious career. The best moments from a great album are the title track, the immense power balladry of "Far Away", the 80s AOR of "Fire And Ice" and the pure prog of "Madrigal".

An album lovers of classic rock cannot live without.

TADPOLES - Know Your Ghosts EP (Bakery BKCD9017)

Tracks;

1] Know Your Ghosts 2] Judas, This Is Jesus 3] Snapper [video version] 4] Oops, I Lost Your Mind

This got off to a bad start, as "Know Your Ghosts" ambled along in a pedestrian manner, resolutely failing to shake my tree. Especially, as I had two full albums to follow. But from the distorted vocal intro to track 2 ("Judas, this is Jesus, it's raining silver, help me"), I was hooked.

I'd been under the misapprehension that The Tadpoles were a spacerock outfit, but although they have leanings in that direction, it's not their predominant trait. I had my suspicions when I saw the production credit for Kramer (NY indie noisemonger producer, not the Seinfeld character, whose Shimmy Disc will be familiar to some - and whatever happened to Men & Volts?). Anyway, it soon became clear that we were dealing with a fairly hard psyche band.

Ultimately, the only thing that stops a full blown yell of "BUY IT" is the fact that you could go and buy one of the albums instead. However, that would mean missing out on the joy of "Oops, I Lost Your Mind", which is a bona fide classic, and one of those dreaded 'unavailable elsewhere' tracks. Complete with hypnotic backbeat and choral vocals, it's a gem.

Contact;

Tadpoles, c/o Bakery records, PO Box 1996, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA

http://www.tadpoles.com

BORKNAGAR - The Archaic Course (Century Media CD 77236-2)

Tracks;

1] Oceans Rise 2] Universal 3] Witching Hour 4] The Black Token 5] Nocturnal Vision 6] Ad Noctum 7] Winter Millenium 8] Fields Of Long Gone Presence

This is the third album from Borknagar following on from 97's "The Olden Domain" and their self titled debut in 1996.

It's a full blown black metal noise-fest, but with some orchestral interludes and (batten down the hatches, die hard BMers] acoustic interludes.

In fact, labelling it black metal is probably a disservice as they have started displaying distinct power/prog metal leanings, and the BM tag may put off some prospective purchasers. Even the vocals of I.C.S. Vortex go from the gut wrenching growls to 'proper' singing.

However, there is an unrelenting brutality to this release, and a lot of the credit for that has to the exemplary production (by the band themselves with engineering by Matthias Klinkmann), and to some of the most powerful percussion I've heard in a while. So big props to drummer Grim.

There's no outright clunkers here, but my personal preference is for the more mid-paced numbers ("The Witching Hour" being a prime example. Highly recommended.

TADPOLES - Smoke Ghost (Bakery BKCD9018)

Tracks;

1] When I Feel 2] Snow Down 3] Breaking 4] Happy Feet 5] Jaded Jean 6] Rainbow Maker 7] Know Your Ghosts 8] Sense 9] Firecracker 10] Percolate

And after our brief diversion into the world of black metal, here we go with [The] Tadpoles latest waxing.

And as we said earlier, it's psyche to the max. [The] Tadpoles don't really sound like anyone else, which is not only unusual, but immensely gratifying. There are similarities, say to Spiritualized, but it's more a mood rather than an outright comparison.

It all works best on the more low key numbers, which have an edgy insistent feel to them, such as "Sense". "Rainbow Maker" has hit written all over it, assuming mainstream airplay, but you and I know that's not going to happen. And "Firecracker" has an infuriating melody that sticks to the membrane for days.

But panic not spaceheads, there's enough oscillators to keep you happy for months. So it's all up to you now. Make sure [The] Tadpoles end up one of those underground success stories that astonish people when you quote numbers at them.

Contact;

As the EP

CRYPTOPSY - Whisper Supremacy (Century Media CD 77242-2)

Tracks;

1] Emaciate 2] Cold Hate, Warm Blood 3] Loathe 4] White Worms 5] Flame To The Surface 6] Depths You've Fallen 7] Faceless Unknown 8] Serpent's Coil

Well, there's none of that namby pamby, lily livered, cross-genre pollination nonsense here. This is pure, unadulterated death metal.

Montreals Cryptopsy have been around a while now. their "Ungentle Exhumation" demo led to a deal with germany's Invasion Records and their debut "Blasphemy Made Flesh" was released in May 1994. A couple of years later Sweden's Wrong Again Records released "None So Vile".

But now, having shed original vocalist Lord Worm, and put in place Mike DiSalvo, Cryptopsy are ready to play with the big boys.

Because, this is very, very good. And, hopefully, by sticking to their roots, they'll pick up the purists who abhor deviation from the norm. With a guaranteed RRRROOOAAR in every song, this has all the makings of a genre classic.

IMPALER - It Won't Die (Root-O-Evil ROE002)

Tracks;

1] Goblin Queen 2] Viva Santo (Santo vs The World) 3] It Won't Die 4] Monster Maker 5] Grave Robbers From Outer Space 6] King Cadaver 7] Meat Wagon 8] Alice And Ozzy 9] Black Leather Monster 10] Shock Rock 2000 11] Welcome To My Darkside 12] Cursed 13] Too Young To Die 14] Meet Your Maker

An absolute hoot! As if the titles weren't enough of a clue, Impaler rattle through 14 tracks in 40 minutes! No widdly widdly guitar solos here, and I fear we'll have to wait awhile for their Jazz Odyssey.

Impaler have been around for 15 years now, so they know how to rattle through a 3 minute psychobilly metal thrash. If you liked early Misfits you'll know what I'm talking about, but at least this has a decent production. And everyone should own at least one tribute to a masked Mexican wrestling superhero. Not forgetting a heartfelt paean to the twin metallic pantomime dames, Ozzy Osbourne and Alice Cooper.

This is a rollicking good romp for anyone into the more humorous aspects of our beloved metal (Marilyn Manson fans need not apply). I would urge you to send your spare zombie flesh eaters to Impaler at;

Impalers Mutants (The Grave Corpse), 1252B Dunberry Lane, Eagan MN 55123, USA or contact Root-O-Evil at

Root-O-Evil records, 636 N Snelling Ave, St Paul, MN 55104, USA

theGATHERING - How To Measure A Planet (Century Media CD 77268-20

Tracks;

1] Frail (You Might As Well Be Me) 2] Great Ocean Road 3] Rescue Me 4] My Electricity 5] Liberty Bell 6] Red Is A Slow Colour 7] The Big Sleep 8] Marooned 9] Travel

Now this is a bit of a classic. A definite sleeper. I first listened to this on a train on a bright autumnal day, and frankly, it passed me by. A couple of weeks and a bout of insomnia later, I was hooked.

Broad, sweeping, expansive, almost ambient soundscapes topped by Anneke Van Giersbergens haunting vocals. What more could a poor boy ask for?

Possibly the industrial, thundering India-era Puressence crossover of "Great Ocean Road" or the mid-period Kate Bush vocal gymnastics of "Liberty Bell". Assuming she had sung on Church of Hawkwind. This covers so many bases, it's an embarrassment of riches. I just bitterly regret the weeks I left this lying around, unappreciated.

How I survived without the ambient/techno sound of "The Big Sleep", I really don't know. Not one for the usual Century Media punter, but the spaceheads out there will love this. So, stop reading, nip out and buy this immediately.

ROBERT CALVERT/MICHAEL MOORCOCK - The Hawkwind Connection (Lone Wolf CD005)

Robert Calvert demos 1976 & 1992

1] The Greenfly & The Rose 2] Lord Of The Hornets 3]Revenge 4]Fascism & Futurism 5]Bugatti 6]Isadora 7]Messenger & Morpheus / Solstice 8] Stranger In A Strange Land 9] Steppenwolf

Michael Moorcock demos 1992

1] Another Quiet Day In Auschwitz 2] Starcruiser 3] Dodgem Dude 4] Brothel In Rosenstrasse 5] Good Girl, Bad Girl 6] Time Centre 7] My New Knife 8] Peter The Vulture 9] Intro Mental 10] Harlequin

If you're a Calvert and/or Moorcock buff, you need to have these.

A lot of the Calvert material made it onto Hawkwind or solo albums, especially the earlier stuff, but Mr Moorcock kept on letting that pesky book writing malarkey get in the way, so a lot of the tracks are only available on bootlegs.

And it's the Moorcock material that I keep going back to. Probably as I'm less familiar with it, and because I'm a huge fan of his written work ( a quick count totalled about 75 MM books on the shelves). Most of the tracks here could easily have been given an official release, and this that rare beast, a bootleg that'll actually get played!

JEFF AUG - Before Then After (Corrosive Media CM001 PM002)

Tracks;

1] Dolphinwave 2] Funky Acoustic Groove Thang Part 1 3] Yeah Yeah Yeah 4] Train To Gunzburg 5] Dedication To The Saz 6] Rebecca 7] Rocket 8] Benes Bad Boy Boogie 9] Segue In Drop D 10] Kinderspiel 11] Funky Groovy Acoustic Thang Part 2] 12] Whiplash Blues 13] Quasar 14] Marienplatz 15] Rocket (live 6/12/98)

This is the third solo album from Washington, DC based guitarist Jeff Aug. Now, before you run screaming for the hills let me reassure you that this is not a Mike Varney type fretfest, rather a collection of mood instrumentals which range across a wide spectrum of musical styles.

A remarkably accurate set of titles should give you some indication of where each piece of music is heading, be it funk, blues or boogie:-)

Here in Zeitgeist towers we like it when he kicks loose a little, rather than wandering down soundscape street, but with a couple of notable exceptions, Jeff manages to restrain himself to the sub-five minute mark. But, for those of you desperate for a fix of guitar mastery I would point you toward my personal highlights.

The two parts of "Funky Acoustic Groove Thang" clock in at a mighty 9m35s and 10m07s respectively, but in those 20 minutes Jeff does all he needs to convince you of the mastery of his medium. OK, a couple of the lesser numbers could have been pruned, but this is one fine album.

Contact;

Corrosive Media, Am Ried 6 87452, Krugzell, Germany

e-mail corrosivemedia@corrosivemedia.com

DIOXIN - Reach Around

Tracks;

1] Swarm 2] Nocturnal Emissions 3] Fuck The World 4] Tissue 5] Lower 6] With... 7] Misanthrope 8] Reach Around 9] Dioxin 10] Save Me From Myself 11] Pigs

Well, if I mention that is a side project of Bloodthirsty Massacre who we raved about in the last issue, you'll know that is not going to be pleasant. Powerful and brutal, yes. Pleasant, no. There must be something foul lurking in the Cumbrian water to keep on vomiting this up.

Veering more to the industrial side and largely devoid of the death metal vox of Bloodthirsty Massacre, this is stonkingly good. Hate filled, bilious and misanthropic (see track 7). We like this. This reminds us of us. We hate the world too. Not as much as Dioxin appear to, but then not many people do.

In places this recalls our favourite industrial LP, "Murder Inc", and you won't get a higher compliment than that. If you too hate Christian filth, believe that societys had its chance and asked the question, "ever had your balls cut off you fucking ape", then I believe your salvation is at hand.

I can't recommend this above the Bloodthirsty Massacre tape which is "the soundtrack to our lives" to quite us, but putting that to one side, this is still outstanding.

Contact;

Paul, 41 Ainslie Street, Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 7JE

SPEAKEASY - Alive And Well (Corrosive Media CM002)

Tracks;

1] Goa Gaya 2] Tommy Gun 3] Keystoned Cops

It's not a single thats going to trouble the charts. Not clocking in at over 30 minutes. it isn't. I believe the chart compilers have rules about that sort of thing. And "Tommy Guns" 21 minutes aren't going to be troubling any legal airwaves near you.

Which is a shame. Because in a radical sidestep for Zeitgeist, this is self proclaimed acid trance! Yeah! Finally, someone has realised that we are not a genre bound publication like the sad sack major media press. We believe in good music, regardless of genre. And we love this. Now that may make us sad old hippies, but we've got Archive, FSOL and Eat Static records stashed away.

This hails from Ben Air, Uwe Wienke & Jan Stober, and by the time this issue pops through your letterbox, it should be available on limited edition vinyl. Which will make it even more fantastic than it already is.

Stepping away from "Tommy Gun", which inevitably dominates the proceedings, a word of commendation for "Goa Gaya", which should be your record of choice at 2am for most of next year.

So get in touch with those lovely people at Corrosive Media (address with Jeff Aug review) or if you're one of our US based readers try;

Peloponnesian Music, PO Box 2743, Columbia, MD 21045, USA

e-mail peloponnesian@hotmail.com

MUGWUMP - Echoes Of The Future

Tracks;

1] Complication 2] Under Fire 3] Bleak 4] Outside

And it's a big halllloooo to our old friends Mugwump who make their third appearance in an issue of Zeitgeist, which I believe ties them with Lady Morphia as providers of quality music par excellence.

To refresh your jaded memories, and to bring the newbies up to date, we compared Mugwump (favourably) with the marvellous Tea Party, in their attempts to fuse prog, rock and fusion with a little bit of Eastern mysticism.

Well times have changed, and Mugwump have cut back slightly on the more esoteric elements to try out a more straightforward approach. So it's more Jim Morrison, less Jeff Martin. But it still works, albeit it in a less idiosyncratic manner. And personally, I would have rejigged the running order as "Complication" is a tad too mellow to grab you where it hurts, but press on and you will be rewarded.

They're still gigging steadily, so keep your eyes peeled in the Midlands, and if you've yet to check them out, I heartily recommend that you do so now;

Mugwump, 126 Rocky Lane, Perry Barr, Birmingham B42 1QF, UK

ANSCHA (Corrosive Media)

Tracks; (groan!)

1] Vol 1 2] Ich halts nicht mer aus 3] Itarab 4] Session Steinblues 5] Rhodes 6] Vol II 7] Krischan 8] Frantic Funk 9] Session Kornetti 10] Vol III 11] Der Spanier 12] Amabulu 13] Session Schnar 14] Transwarp 15] Vol IV 16] Mukatschini 17] Session Tangostelle 18] Vol V 19] Do You Want A Vrah? 20] Vol VI 21] Juup 22] Vol VII

It always pains me when an album has 22 tracks, especially when some of them last less than a minute. Lump them together, dammit!

This has been described as "surreal jazz fusion landscapes erupting and deflating in floating modules of determined wilfulness", which describes it a hell of a lot better than I could.

When an album includes harp, cornet, flute and an accordion as featured instruments you know that it's not going to be a grunge-lite, alternative whinge fest. Instead, what you get is a flashback to the hoary seventies days of experimentation and wilful obscurity.

Granted, there are moments of Gong like inanity, but that's inevitable when you're working in a similar field. A little more quality control could have pushed this from the category of 'excellent' into 'essential'. Certainly not for the faint hearted, and probably not the place to start if you're taking your first tentative steps into the world of jazz fusion.

But if you like things that little bit different, are willing to aurally experiment and have worked your way through the collected works of John McLaughlin without lapsing into bouts of hysterical laughter, then there's a lot here that is good.

We like, but don't come a knocking on our door, saying that we didn't warn you. Remember, some music demands your participation. If muzak is your thing, you're reading the wrong rag. So bugger off back to your Eric Clapton CDs and leave us alone. Now!!!

Contact: Corrosive Media (see Jeff Aug)

ROBERT CALVERT - An Evening With the Action Man (Lone Wolf CD004)

Live In Leicester 11/6/86

Tracks;

1] Ned Ludd 2] Acid Rain 3] Work Song 4] Re-wind 5] Ship Of Fools 6] Damnation Alley 7] All The Machines Are Quiet 8] Orgone Accumulator 9] Evil Rock 10] Lord Of The Hornets

Live In London 13/1/87

Tracks;

1] Catch A Falling Starfighter/Gremlin/Aerospace Age Inferno 2] Quark, Strangeness & Charm 3] Radio Egypt 4] Working In A Diamond Mine 5] Days Of The Underground

Pity the poor soul whose first encounter with the genius that was Robert Calvert, comes courtesy of this boot.

Seriously, when I say that this is for completists only, I really, really mean it. Truly abysmal sound quality. Kula Shaker do better HW than this.

So why mention it? Two reasons 1] I'm rapidly becoming a completist:-( and 2] even through the quagmire, the occasional glimpse of the poet Calvert can be spotted.

But if you wnat rare, obscure and listenable, you should definitely hunt down Lone Wolfs other boot reviewed elsewhere in this issue. Now that is a gem.

STAMPIN' GROUND - An Expression Of Repressed Violence (Kingfisher KF 018-2)

Tracks;

1] Lesion 2] Emasculate 3] The Death You Deserve 4] My Will Be Done 5] I Am Legend 6] Betrayed By Many 7] Fear The Parting Darkness 8] Boiling Point 9] Break the Mould 10] Shapeshifter 11] Jerusalem

Eagerly anticipated in UKHC circles, this is Stampin Grounds second full length release, following on from last years "Demons Run Amok", and their first with new vocalist, Adam Frakes-Sime.

So how does it fare? Extremely well, but in a distinctly non hardcore fashio. Purists will be utterly horrified by the metallic riffing that permeates such numbers as "The Death You Deserve", which wouldn't sound out of place on a mid period Slayer album.

Which is perfectly OK by me, but could alienate some longer term fans. But if the recent tour picked up enough new fans, who cares. Personally, I've never understood the mutual antipathy between metal and HC. As long as it's loud enough.

Granted Stampin' Ground must still think they're a HC band (witness the closing cover of One Way Sytems "Jerusalem"). They just don't sound like one. But whatever way you look at it, this is an exemplary extremity.

JAG PANZER - The Age Of Mastery (Century Media CD 7925-2)

Tracks;

1] Iron Eagle 2] Lustfull And Free 3] Twilight Years 4] Sworn In Silence 5] False Messiah 6] The Age Of Mastery 7] Viper 8] Displacement 9] Chain Of Command 10] Take This Pain Away 11] Burning Heart 12] The Moors

Veterans of the power metal scene (15 years and counting), Jag Panzer are back with a new album and Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin back where he belongs on vocals.

Opening track "Iron Eagle" leaves you in no doubt as to what's on offer; melodic hooks, quasi operatic vocals, choral backing vox and a brutal rhythm section.

Those of you who were hacked off with the "Dissident Alliance" album and gave "The Fourth Judgement" a body swerve will be delighted at this return to form. If it's traditional heavy metal you're after, there is no better place to be. No second rate Kornisms here, no pandering to the whims of the marketplace.

There's a heap of excellent metal on offer here, but your first port of call if you're wavering should be "Lustfull And Free". An absolute classic, it hits you right between the eyes with some awesome percussion and a driving riff that leaves you breathless.

If you're tired of waiting for "Keeper Of The Seven Keys III" or "Powerslave II", this is where you should be spending your hard earned pennies.

THE STINKING BADGER OF JAVA - If It's Fetishes You're After

Tracks;

1] Eight Legged Mama 2] Chronikl Sin 3] Relief 4] Monocotodyledan 5] Blue Light Disco Supervisor 6] Frank 7] Really 8] Call 0011 1 TAN 9] Monach Isles 10] Revolutionary Hearsay at Le Swirlee Boute 11] To Realign A Head 12] W.W. 13] Behind The Curtain 14] Coconut Milk 15] Lavender Dye 16] Exocomp 17] Combined Harvest 18] The Brass Is Drowning Out The Orchestra

A tricky one this. Wavering betwen absolute masterpiece and absolute arse often within the same song, The Stinking Badger Of Java are more an artistic collective rather than a traditional band, and if that fills you with horror, then best move on.

When this approach works, it's a superb melange of music and poetry, when it doesn't it's pure freaking flying teapots and pothead pixies.

For me, the project works best when it sticks to the more traditional song format, and some of the songs are very, very good. "Frank" and "Combined Harvest" have been returning to the CD player on a regular basis, and it's when the twin voices of Paul J Narkiewicz and Brigitte R Corbett mesh, that everything seems right with the world.

The unusual instrumentation and arrangements also add to the melting pot, and raise some of the songs way above the norm. Live, TSBOJ produce a 'Hymnal" to add to the evenings entertainment, and I found them to be of immense value when listening to the music, and if this ever gets a full CD release, a booklet along those lines would be essential.

But, in the meantime, Mick Magic is planning a cassette release for the usual £3.99 (payable to S J Taylor) at the M&E address below. This isn't an easy listen, but if you wanted muzak you wouldn't be here.

Contact;

Music & Elsewhere, 6 Farm Court, Frimley, Surrey, GU16 5TJ, UK

Yippie Bean, PO Box 178 Warrandyte 3113, Victoria, Australia

e-mail yippiebean@warehouse.net

http://www.warehouse.net/yippiebean/fetishes

ORGAZMO - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Nickelbag NB 0009-2)

Tracks;

1] COGASM featuring Robert Smith - A Sign From God 2] DJ SWAMP - Disintegrator 3] THE CRYSTAL METHOD - More 4] DILATED PEOPLES - Work the Angles 5] KRS-ONE - Check It Out 6] WRECKX N' EFFECT - Rump Shaker 7] WU-TANG CLAN - C.R.E.A.M. 8] SMASHMOUTH - Sorry About Your Penis 9] ATARI TEENAGE RIOT - Sex Law Penetration 10] DVDA featuring Trey Parker & Matt Stone - Now You're A Man 11] HEADSET - Twisted Steel, Leather Donut 12] APRIL MARCH - Jesus And I Love You 13] THE DUST BROTHERS - Try Your Luck

If you're a careful peruser, you'll have noticed the names Trey Parker & Matt Stone. And unless you'vce been living under a stone lately, you'll know them as the creators of South Park.

And as befits its origins, this film concerns Joe Young, a Mormon missionary, who through a plot device finds himself transformed into Orgazmo, a porn superhero who wields an orgazmorator ray gun that stops criminals in their tracks with powerful orgasms.

And as befits their current hip status, they've relled in the Dust Brothers to executive produce the soundtrack. But unlike the South Park album, this is actually rather splendid. One hit wonders Smashmouth impress, the Wu Tang Clan remember how to produce a decent hiphop track, KRS-ONE pops along to lend some old school kudos and Alex Empire shows once again why Atari Teenage Riot leave the Prodigy eating their dust.

It comes replete with a rather groovy fold out posterette (sadly uncredited), and is that unicorn of the movie world, a soundtrack that stands on its own, regardless of the movie (coming to a Blockbuster near you).

Nickelbag records, 4470 Sunset Blvd, Suite 205, Los Angeles CA 90027, USA

http://www.nickelbag.com