September 20, 1998

Data Rape

Even for the sickest fan of the avant-garde, this is likely to prove a bridge too far....

2 / 10 EVEN FOR THE SICKEST FAN OF THE avant-garde, this is likely to prove a bridge too far. This latest unpleasantly-titled album from Sonic Boom is made entirely from customised Speak And Spell machines from the mid-'70s, and comes with 500 fascinating words explaining how it was done. It's like listening to a submarine's radar system, and provides a unique insight into what it must be like to be a dolphin.

It's difficult to know how long Sonic can continue releasing records like this. Considering that eight years ago he was part of Spacemen 3, and even after that he released one magnificent album - 'Soul Kiss (Glide Divine)' - as Spectrum, his decline has been spectacular, aided by a seemingly never-ending succession of record companies willing to fund his erratic forays into experimental wallpaper.

Now he's reached the stage where he's eschewed music altogether in the belief that he's operating out of the same territory of avant-garde composers such as Stockhausen and Cage. But to what end? There's no emotional content here, no new discoveries and seemingly no purpose beyond a doubtful commitment to the perverse. Everyone knows he can do better than this, so why doesn't he?

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