Surgeon - Force + Form

Delicious, intelligent and groovy. This is an album where relentless drum loops give architecture to mysterious sound effects. After the brief intro, "Ice" delivers echoes of picks hitting crystals through a cavernous, throbbing cave. "Black Jackal Throwbacks" goes through three phases of wicked pulsating basslines and beats, with a thematic sound effect recurring. "Returning To The Purity Of Content" is 4/4 techno with shuffling samples that sound like it is clawing backwards (IDM moment). 6:50 in, the ever-experimental Anthony Child emerges with disjointed efx, voice samples from old places, telephone conversations, feedback, and tapes stutteringly fast-forwarded. The point to the dissonance is that as it dissolves into "At The Heart Of It All", the most melodic and modern-sounding of the 4 pieces on this CD, the contrast emerges. Whilst the last 3 pieces appear to explore a space before time, the final piece concludes the arc with modern-day electronica (refer to the introductory coo of synths). Beats build up the track until the synths fade off, leaving stylish beats syncopated with a busy clatter of whats-it's, to be bolstered by an electrifying low-fi doop. I hate the label IDM, but if it were to exist, this would be it in the shining form of Techno.

While not similar to them musically, this album is a tribute of sorts to the seminal industrial/experimental group Coil:

- "Force + Form" is the name of the label on which Coil released much of their early material.

- The phrase "Remnants Of What Once Was" appears in the liner notes of Coil's GOLD IS THE METAL album.

- The phrase "Black Jackal Throwbacks" was etched into the run-out groove on Coil's ANAL STAIRCASE 12".

- "Returning to the Purity of Current" was the subtitle of a CD reissue of GOLD IS THE METAL.

- "At The Heart of it All" is the name of a track on Coil's SCATOLOGY album.