In the same type of packaging (folding cardboard with a rope holding it together) and the same free and improvisational spirit that characterizes Jeff Kaiser's other release "17 Themes for Ockodektet" (cmp review elsewhere on these pages), comes this "The Order of Her Bones" in tandem with Mr. Brad Dutz. 60 minutes and 12 songs and an incredibly impressive array of utilized instruments (Kaiser is content to play trumpet and flugelhorn but Dutz sports a humongous list of instruments in the range of 40-50 something, going from traditional acoustic ones to unpronounceable and exotic ones) make up for a record that knows no horizon in time and space, covering moods and grooves that if pinned on a map would extend from north to south and from east to west, eventually covering all the bases from traditional folk or tribal music all the way to what could be a mellow version of a Zornian trumpet concert or an experimental extravaganza of some minor collage noise artist... Most of all I keep thinking of some of Gregorio Bardini's records, or more like what a Bardini record would sound like if he was a percussion player... This record has all the answers it is set out to ask. Abstract and exotic, local and global, percussive and trumpetering, pioneering and heritage-conscious, rooted and way out there! Find it all out yourself and especially don't even try to miss out on this one if you are into weird percussion or anarchic brass instruments.

When Jeff Kaiser turned 40, he celebrated inviting a bunch of friends (including Ernesto Diaz-Infante - cmp review elsewhere on these pages) and letting them jam under his supervision at Ventura City Hall, in Ventura, California. He also taped the whole thing to DAT so that we all can be invited to that party as well. Besides conducting and trumpeting, woodwinds, euphonium, valve-trombone, tuba, acoustic and electric guitar, electronics, organ, theremin, drums and percussions were also involved. Freeform, free-style, free-spirit, free-jazz, it's all free, it's all good. If you are into acoustic explorations, experimental music, concrete musique, the russian electro-acoustic school or the Netherlands' Staalplaat more accessible discography and stuff like that this is your cup of tea. Sophisticated, intellectual, down to earth, beautiful, tense, relaxing, visionary, soft, frantic, frenetic, aleatory, rapturing. It's all these things together... And if the music isn't innovative enough to you try the nice and simple unfolding cardboard packaging with a string.

Utopia:Banished is a Deutsch one-man project spitting out some angry ass distortion-loaded music with screaming vocals and straight forward industrial attitude. It all starts out like a Sonar or Dive thing but then adds down-pitched sampled metal guitar riffs (that for the pleasure of those who hate guitars are kept low enough not to bother anyone and pretty much act like added pressure), frantic electronics, industrial beats, treated and over-driven vocals. Myself, on the other hand, I love guitars on electronics so when the second song is about to start (with an equally exciting power electronics intro as in the opening track) and the scratching 6-strings get a little more dominant and pounding, I enjoy myself in the reminiscence of some of my favourite German old school aggro-industrial bands, like Die Krupps. The constant EBM-ish screamed vocals contribute to the violence and make sure (if need be, not that it did) that reminiscence is never confused with copying. When the short riff mayhem is over Chris moves on to Reznor-like whispering, soft disturbed electronics, padded beats and aleatory tension in the air. It's foreseeable that he's just gathering forces to launch the next sonic assault, a more down-tempo song big on analog sounds. More KMFDM/F242/Cat Rape Dogs/Borghesia can be found here and there but Chris shows his skills in never being redundant and instead moving on to a frenetic drum'n'bass beat that will make you remember what year you are in. When the piano wraps it up it gets darker and holier, with choruses, big chords, treated vocals and samples working up against his usual screaming performances. I hope that with my references I didn't give you the impression that there's lots of nostalgia involved, it's just a matter of feel. This is modern sounding stuff and it's good stuff, which carries around a certain national vibe that you'll like and recognize only if you were around for the glorious days. If you weren't give this a listen and prepare for the re-birth.

Polystar project started in 1999 and sees Ted Fraser, Danny Gold and Sean Drinkwater team together. Each band member already had their own job (Sean plays also with Frezepop and Lifestyle) but they decided to play together without sending promos or material to press or anything. They are about to release some new stuff so they sent me, convinced by Aug Stone (another Lifestyle's member who has got also a solo career with the Rock Stone monicker), this mini CD. The five tracks they sent me are the most fresh stuff I listened recently and they blend together early Duran Duran atmospheres (like on "Hyperspace", on the really good "Face The Rain" and on "Upside Down"), synthpop tunes and a little bit of sixties touch. With a couple of ballads and three fresh tunes they'll catch you just like happened to me!

BTFABG="Million Tear Stained Memories"Shortly after their latest, "Scavenger Bride" comes a comprehensive intro into this incredibly gifted group. Their sound has never been an easy intake for even those in the gothic scene, for it’s disregard of rules in the genre and it’s sheerly overwhelming sense of heart-breaking, melancholy emotion that even defies some of the biggest emotion seekers. But for those who enjoy music for it’s emotions, this group holds a goldmine of them! The older material dwells upon very lonely, confused and emotional times in the life of founder/Projekt president Sam Rosenthal, covering times of unattainable love, crushing heartbreak, constant isolation with constant thought of escape, and even at times self obsession. Their newer material covers a more sculpted mode, taking that past knowledge and covering the state of love itself, combined with some Kafka influences. This is short is gothic for the thinking man, and songs in celebration of both love itself, it’s transience, Sam’s powerful love for his wife Lisa, and the female in all it’s forms. As you may remember, I mentioned Black Tape’s CD "As One Aflame Laid Bare By Desire" in the forum as being one of my 5 all time favorite CD’s as well. Haha and I’m coincidently wearing my Black Tape shirt as well! The CD includes a new version of "Memory, Uncaring Friend", which brings to my mind the sound of Audra, an acoustic and wonderous version of "Could I Stay The Honest One?", and a 2000 version of "Overwhelmed Beneath Me". This CD oozes out classic after dark classic, though I’m kind of sad that "Given" and "As One Aflame... ... ." Didn’t get on here, but eh everyone has different thoughts on best of sets as to songs. Gladly "Russia" made it on here, another favorite of mine J. Hardened BTFABG fans like me also get taken back down memory lane, to isolated times filled with such beautiful melancholy and self-searching, to one of my most pivotal times in lyric and poetry writing spending hours listening to their music and simply sucking up the inspiration. And for those more laid back times, the second CD is filled with all instrumentals any Black Tape fan could ever need. Hearing the vocals of Oscar Herrara also is a treat we now miss (he left right after "As One... ..") listening to this, but it also gives us a retrospect into his captivating and unique vocal style (check him out in El Deundo, his new project). Add that to Lisa’s trancey flutes, Sam’s masterful ambient layers, and a cast of players carved out of pure classical genius and you have a force that changed the landscape of both classical and gothic music forever. This is highly recommended, though it’s limited, to anyone curious to the group’s sound, Projekt’s ideas, and anyone tired of listening to corporate gothic tripe bands who wants to learn what real gothic is supposed to sound like. Not to mention one of the greatest fucking bands to walk this earth ;-).Rating: 10. Also recommended are the Projekt 100 compilation, In The Nursery and older Clan of Xymox. Well, Das Ich too if you’re up for a more chaotic version of this sound.