IDIOT FLESH: Fancy (CD on Vaccination Records, PO Box 20931, Oakland, CA 94611 USA) (12.00 post.paid).

The word "fancy" has many meanings. In this instance it can be taken to refer to mankind's creativity. Idiot Flesh attack fancy and the dichotomy of being rational animals. A heady concept, but dealt with in the utmost smirking manner, coupled with the band's raw sonic assault of thrash guitar overkill, monstrous percussion and vocals which could easily be mistaken for Peter Hammill. In fact, the bass playing could pass for Les Claypool (from Primus) too. But it's all Idiot Flesh--from intense dirge to fanciful grunge to outburst rock.

The guitar mastery displayed in the song "Drowning" would make any Joe Satriani-head cream, and "Chicken Little" turns into a blinding fusion of Flipper and King Crimson. While what Idiot Flesh do to the Residents' "Bach Is Dead" and Sesame Street's "Welcome to the Neighborhood" is pure genius.

Sardonic, vicious, and strange.

This 61 minute flight of fancy comes in a cool origami sleeve with triangular lyric sheet and liner notes.

Very recommended.

IDIOT FLESH: The Nothing Show (CD on Vaccination Records, PO Box 20931, Oakland, CA 94611 USA) (12.00 post.paid).

This weird example of dark heavy metal is rich with a growling wall of Glenn Branca style guitars, monstrous drumming (made ominous by simultaneous bass notes) peppered with a cacophony of agitated percussives--no sampler, no synthis. The dramatic vocals are distinctly reminiscent of Peter Hammill's voice, although Hammill never used his mouth for such silly and sardonic lyrics. Words are dangerous, they breed thinking--a sentiment to which Idiot Flesh seem wholly dedicated with their social assault and jabs like some sonic pointy stick.

This band's musical stylings thrash from art noise to heavy metal to intense prog improv to Euro goth. Meanwhile, their sound carries deep and eclectic influences: the power punch of Foetus, sliding into the ominous haze of early Van der Graaf Generator, colliding in a dark metal forest haunted by The Residents, angry Frank Zappa, Marilyn Manson--wow, there's even a hint of Henry Cow in there. And it's all presented as a children's show for the demented, those not frightened by sudden time changes and overt weirdness.

This 67 minute CD is relentless, and I don't mean the music's pace. It's the content that rushes at you in a constant blur of notions.

Quite recommended.

IMMERSION: Earth/Oscillating (12-inch EP on Swim Records in UK, in USA contact Wire Mail Oder, PO Box 29133, Los Angeles, CA 90029-0133, USA).

This release predates Immersion's "Oscillating" album, containing two pieces from that LP and a pair of non-LP tracks. Highly luxurious quasi-trance, the music is thrilling and hypnotic.

Remember--Immersion is Colin Newman (from Wire) and Malka Spigel (from Minimal Compact).

IMMERSION: Oscillating (on Swim Records in the UK, in USA contact Wire Mail Oder, PO Box 29133, Los Angeles, CA 90029-0133, USA).

This one is awesome--just outright brilliant and a must-have for anyone with interest in electronic music, despite the genre. I suppose it could be called techno or trance, but the sheer power of the music forces it to glow--fast, hard and clever--it will not be ignored.

And surprise: Immersion is actually Colin Newman (ex-Wire) and Malka Spigel (ex-Minimal Compact).

IMMERSION: The Remixes Volume 1 (CD on Swim Records in UK, in USA contact Wire Mail Oder, PO Box 29133, Los Angeles, CA 90029-0133, USA).

Previously available as a series of 12-inch EPs, the material collected on this CD features a wide range of misologists: g-man, Claude Young, Telepathic, Vapourspace, Mick Harris, Trawl, Iris, Craig Wharton, Intens, and a special remix by Immersion.

Those who have been enthralled by Immersion's intense trance sound will be thrilled even more to hear 70 minutes of ambient takes on the tunes.

Remember--Immersion is Colin Newman (from Wire) and Malka Spigel (from Minimal Compact).

Highly recommended.

IMMERSION: Second Immersion (12-inch EP on Swim Records in UK, in USA contact Wire Mail Oder, PO Box 29133, Los Angeles, CA 90029-0133, USA).

This material is new (post-"Oscillating" LP) and carries the band's sound into a more rocking area with less emphasis on the electronics and more on the guitar and drums. Still quite enjoyable, the music is top notch and classy.

Remember--Immersion is Colin Newman (from Wire) and Malka Spigel (from Minimal Compact).

INDIGO FALLS: Indigo Falls (CD on Medium Records in UK).

Indigo Falls is Richard and Suzanne Barbieri, helped out by Steve Jansen, Mick Karn, and Steve Wilson (from Porcupine Tree).

Comprised of rich female vocals, dreamy keyboards, powerful sinuous guitar, relaxed drumming and Karn's thick bass full of a flair of wonder. Not to overlook Wilson's periodic outburst of brilliant guitar work, soaring in such a manner as to shame Pink Floyd.

INSEKT: Dreamscape (CD on KK Records in Belgium).

Insekt is a Belgium duo whose sound is very intense industrial, tending to be more percussive oriented. This, coupled with their command of excellent, quirky melodies, produces a very hypnotic dose of sonic shrapnel. Their "Stress" CD (also on KK Records in belgium) is another excellent dose of this agro in-yer-face attack music.

The down side is that these releases tend to average at 35 minute long.-- much too short.

INTERMIX: Future Primitives (CD on ESPSUN /Roadrunner Records in USA)

It used to be that Leeb and Fulber operated under a variety of different band names, and each musical identity was a distinct type of electronic music (Front Line Assembly: fast agro industrial dance, Delerium: gothic trance, Noise Unit: agro rock, Intermix: techno). That's how it used to be, but the last release (Noise Unit's "Decoder" album) broke from the pattern--and so does this third Intermix release.

Take the rapid E-perc, thick electronic layers of techno and graft a second head on the beat beast: industrial sensibilities with all the trappings of a hard electronic edge and weirdling sounds added. This album's title is particularly spot on--"Future Primitives" evokes a perfect image of this album's tone and direction: heavily tribal urban rhythmic samplers and computers. The music can be considered instrumental despite the frequent use of sampled voice snippets and a touch of gothic choir.

THE IRRESISTIBLE FORCE: Flying High (CD on Instinct Records in USA)

This music is a conscious melding of ambient rave and relaxation. Highly melodic and reasonably rhythmic (a soft tempo so as not to startle the listener from their trance). A peaceful melange of delicate electronics (sparkle and shimmering), sampled nature sounds and sampled sounds of jet flight. Add a few dreamy vocals in one or two spots...the successful trick is what is done with all this.

The Irresistible Force (aka Mixmaster Morris) molds complex aural sculptures utilizing a variety of rhythmic hooks and progressively ascendent structures. The music is not only relaxing, it's inspiring.

This 74 minute CD features a 20 minute live track that is splendidly transcendental.

THE IRRESISTIBLE FORCE: GIobal Chillage (CD on Instinct Records in USA)

This time, Mixmaster Morris comes to ground to concentrate his trance music on the concept of Mother Earth with satisfying results. The sounds are deeper, filling the audio landscape with a delicate power. The pulses and electronic tones trickle through the melodies with a soft ricochet edge to their delivery. Keyboards scamper and soaring sweeps abound. The relaxation aspect is still prevalent, but the emphasis of celebration gives this CD more pep and makes the trances more delightful.

This CD also sports a hologram cover of the earth as seen from space, all aswirl with solarized clouds.