I bought three new CDs the other day at the store...
Tortoise -- _millions now living will never die_:  I remember reading
six months or so ago something about this group in the paper.  I can't
recall exactly what it said, but the guy liked the album and I seem to
recall he compared them to Soft Machine.  Listening to the CD, I have
no idea why he said this.  Then again, the only Soft's album I have is
_5_, so maybe there are similarities elsewhere.
In any case, this is quite an interesting album.  It's pretty
restrained and can be quite bizarre at times.  The first song is 20
minutes long, and about 14 minutes into it they do this thing that
makes it sound like the CD is freaking out and skipping around.  But
it isn't!  Anyway, other than the basic weirdness, there is quite a
bit of good stuff on the album.  There's some guitar, but not really
in the lead guitar sense.  The bass is quite prominent, and quite
good.  There is some jazzy organ as well, which I suppose might warrant
a little Softs comparision.  In parts I'm also reminded of Tangerine
dream, although not in the keyboard only sense.  There are lots of
sound effects here and there.  Sometimes, like toward the end of 20
minute song, they go a little overboard there, but mostly it's fine.
Somewhat reminicant of 5uu's, acutally, but no where near as harsh as
that band.  It's more attitude.  They just do whatever they want.  I
didn't care for it all that much on first listen, but, as many great
albums, it's growing on me.
FM -- _Black Noise_:  This album reminds me quite a bit of UK's
_Danger Money_.  Some good prog, but maybe a little too much pop in
it.  I like it, especially the instrumentals and the 10 minute title
track, but I was hoping for a little more "prog."  Still, it's pretty
good.  Dunno if I'd get more of there stuff, even if I could find it.
Porcupine Tree -- _The Sky Moves Sideways_:  I've had _Up The
Downstair_ for about a year and it has really grown on me.  This one
seems to have less techno elements and more psychadelic, but it also
has a lot more long rather boring parts.  I'm betting it will grow on
me, though.  We shall see...
        Frank
now playing:  "Lover/No Backstage Pass" --Caravan
... No one can hear when you're Screaming in Digital!
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12
--- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 
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