Adrian Beasley Powerhouse CDR / 6 Tracks / 55.31 mins Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Power Surge')

Never has a cover of an album been so misleading as to the music that it might contain. It is all rather arty and well' nice'; even a little Jonn Serrieish but boy this is no pretty noodling album. Many styles are covered here but certainly none of then twee or pretty. The first track is split into two parts, 'Turbines' and 'Generator' and it must be said that the former will come as a shock, something to shake you from your pre-conceptions of what a solo album from an AirSculpture member will be like. It basically starts with a combination of deep drones that gradually become more intense, then more so, then more so. It's as if a machine is being forced to work at increasingly incredible revs per minute, being forced way past any sensible safety limit. Just when you think that things possibly couldn't build any further and that the machine must surely explode into millions of shards of white hot metal, things do become even more intense and more intense for a total of eight almost unbearable but at the same time awe inspiring minutes of industrial strength madness. At exactly eight minutes however it is as if the machine is instantly shut off as the sound is immediately reduced to gentle peaceful twitterings. I assume that we have entered the second part 'Generator'. There is a brooding moodiness to it all. A lovely melancholy lead emerges and quick on its heals is a rapid tinkling sequence- now this is much more like AirSculpture. The sequence solidifies and really starts to motor as exciting pads swell underneath, the lead doing its moody thing over the top. 'The Great Hall' is a truly beautiful number. Little piano refrains with loads of reverb echo into the distance. This must be the complete antithesis to the opening section. It's gorgeous stuff all right but also with something of a dark edge. A stuttering sequence is deployed right from the off on 'Power Surge'. A second comes to join it and we are soon captivated by a hypnotic groove. In the third minute an insistent rhythm heightens the excitement still further then a superb moody lead line gives it that extra bite. Things just get better and better as well as meaner and meaner. It's the sort of track where you just want to punch the air and stamp your feet. Absolutely brilliant! 'Off-Line' is a brooding atmospheric number. Soft windy drones create quite a chill whilst ominous deep bass pads give a sinister edge. It's like being alone, lost on some barren moorland. An excellent piece of atmospheric picture music. Now I thought 'Power Surge' was good but unbelievable the title track 'Powerhouse' is even better. It starts calmly enough with lovely ethereal pads. A slow four note sequence makes something of an innocuous entrance as does a soft melody but things really start to kick when a rather Dysonish razor sharp lead is deployed. Then all Hell is let loose as a heavy rhythm strikes home, the lead providing the ideal opportunity for live heroics- or if you are sitting at home some manic air keyboard playing. The rhythms step up yet another gear and I'm beating the table like a crazy thing- just fantastic! No doubts about it this is an awesome album- though I am sure the first eight minutes will divide opinion and create quite a point of debate. Did Adrian do it to shock or did he just want to demonstrate another side to his talents? I don't know but rest assured, there is some truly amazing music on this disc. An essential purchase. (DL)

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