Michael Weiner, Jim Coleman and Phil Puleo comprise the trio at the center of this group. An old site mentions Weiner and Coleman as the principals, but more recent mentions give Puleo an upgrade into the center as well. The latter two were mates in Cop Shoot Cop (that takes me way back) and Puleo has since been a member in long-standing of Swans. And yes, the past does one hell of a job of predicting the future.

The Children... A Sudden Craving (self-released)

Weiner provides occasional art-rock vocals, but the music is what compels. These pieces are reminiscent of industrial explorers like CSC, Swans and Einsturzende Neubauten, except that the settings are largely sparse and acoustic. Fans of Bone Machine would not be disappointed, though these pieces are much more disorganized and diffuse than anything Tom Waits ever made.

Indeed, the need to deconstruct is strong with this group. There are horns and strings used in creative and unsettling ways. Truly, almost everything on this album feels calculated to unsettle. It's as if any inclination toward normality has been diligently scrubbed away.

And yet, the seemingly disorganized songs do find purpose. This is not an album for a comfy evening on the couch. It's much more appropriate for a late-night waiting for a late child to return home. The dread is palpable, and the ambiguity ratchets up the unease. This one will scare the hell out of you. And you'll enjoy it.

Jon Worley