Bone Idol Same Play: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi   Download: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi (Excerpt from track 'Third Rail')

Deep mournful flute sounds underpinned by thick drones get 'Third Rail' underway. It's lovely moody stuff. Little tinkling lead lines form, becoming more prominent as we progress. A melodic sequence starts up just before the third minute mark to be replaced soon after by a deeper more bass laden one, all topped off with a steady, head nodding rhythm. More syncopations are added and the excitement level increases still further as we really begin to motor.

Things calm down a little at about the half way mark to then rebuild in quite a triumphant way full of a hissing train type rhythms similar to Skin Mechanix and blistering sequences- wonderful stuff! 'The Primal Urge' also has an atmospheric beginning, out of which emerges a steady rhythm with some moody growling guitar in the background. The synth backing is rather melodic both in the pads and lead lines used. It reminded me of a cross between 'Exit' and 'Le Parc' era Tangerine Dream but with a moodier twist. Some of the little melodic touches are particularly impressive. Delicate bell like tones provide a good start to 'Mandachuva'. These are joined by sizzling pads and then an incredibly infectious rhythm. He then tops it all off with a superb shuffling bass line and absolutely wonderful synth solos. Mark Shreeve in 'Legion' mode came to mind. It's real anthemic stuff designed to bring the house down if played live.

'Don't Come Here' on the other hand is simply one of the scariest tracks I have ever heard! It consists of an evangelical preacher reciting the story of his early violent life, people's insides being blasted out, that sort of thing. It culminates in him nearly dying where he believes that he actually went in to hell, him describing what he sees there, to suddenly regain consciousness again in an ambulance. It's all backed by some appropriately extremely dark but brilliantly done synth work. It's the music and text combination which make it so effective, not just the words themselves. The mood is lightened somewhat by 'Harvest'. This is a lovely little track with a tinkling melodic sequence which reminded me of early Gandalf. 'Moments of Clarity' is another track featuring vocal samples backed by moody synth and some excellent guitar. There are also more stunning melodies that mainly come in between passages of text. I assume that the samples are from members of Pink Floyd as they basically tell the story of the decline of Syd Barrett. It's an incredibly sad track and as with 'Don't Come Here' the use of the music to support the story is simply devastating. Over the last couple of minutes the track just builds and builds. It's another amazing piece of music. 'Knobs On' is a humorous concoction of sequencer based Berlin School music with rapid contemporary rhythms. It's wonderfully entertaining but also rather tongue in cheek. The pulsations are deep, thunderous and a hundred miles an hour. It could well be some people's favourite track of the year!