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Title: Loud, vibrant soundscapes, sans vocals
Review: Three cheers for the SST records folks for discovering these St. Louis natives way back in the late 80's (got the date wrong again, Amazon). The cover is highly appropriate for the paranoid intensity of this band when in full gear. The disc was split, on vinyl, into orchestral speed-metal lanscapes on side 1 and acid-tinged dub drippings on side 2. The faster titles manage to paint sonic structures that mimic their highly appropriate titles ("Shifting Sand") and the dizzying sojurn through twisting sewerpipes on "Subterranean Flight" is an unforgettable highlight. The dub tunes show a charming approach by these midwestern white geeks who definitely know their chops. Drummer Ted Epstein has brought an almost lyrical approach to the instrument, and holds the 'lead' duties more than guitarist Andy Hawkins, who is too busy painting white-hot screaming dreamscapes to bother with single-string noodling. Very sophisticated and not for the shallow-minded.
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