Oddly enough, the band that this reminds me of most is one called Outback, on Ryko. What's really weird is that those folk are also from Australia. But this isn't really that close. This coheres much more to European folk tunes than anything from the dark continent.

This is some cool music. Sorta like Clannad pared down. Not nearly so much synth or Enya. But with a little more diversity. Oh, why do I keep comparing bands to other bands?

It is the easiest way to describe an act, I suppose. But not very fair. Eden deserves a rep all its own, and this album may very well get that for them. I sure hope so.

Stuff my high school band director would like. Lots of horns and other classical instruments combined with strong percussion backing (mostly snare, or more correctly, field drumming). The occasional female vocal. Much like the Intermix in its sparseness, but somehow much more warm and appealing.

This album has a decidedly human touch, which beats a lot of the stuff the press release compared it to, like Enigma and New Order. Like the recent Lords of Acid album, which I have dubbed Songs About Fucking II, this is very erotically emotive music, but in a soft way. More kisses than thrusts here. But hard and fast is not the only way to take a lover. Slow tenderness is a cincher as well.

Cool music.

Another Front Line Assembly side project. Not to bemoan side projects, but they often seem to be one of two things: a liberation for the artists, who then masturbate all over their freedom and go way to excess, or just the stuff the regular band decided was shit.

I think a combination of the two is at work here. All but one of the songs are five minutes long. Some vocal work, but as an instrument, not to convey a message. This certainly sounds like it was "assembled," not created.

The one track on either of the Raw M.E.A.T. samplers that I really liked was Malhavoc's "Punishments." And this is my first full taste of James Cavalluzzo's industrial heaven. Or hell. However you wish to see it.

Much like Nine Inch Nails, Malhavoc is mostly a one-man show. Mr. C is the main guy behind the name. If you were feeling aggressive enough and your date frisky enough, you could dance to this stuff. Sorta like "Slavestate."

But much more, well, evil, I suppose. The music is a sparser, but almost darker. This stuff would of course go well with Skin Chamber, but don't overlook other industrial gods, like, say the new Young Gods. Or some good old-fashioned Einsturzende Neubauten.

Damn this is cool. And the "Punishments" ep is included with the ride. Who cares if he carves a pentagram on his chest if the music is this good?

Psycho-delic. Real tasty. And I wish they had included an address. But alas, the only hint I have is Rubber Room Records, somewhere in Philadelphia. I wish I could direct you to the house of pain this came from. Sorry.

Members of Substance D (including two drummers!) and a former member of Mr. Softie (if this info means anything to you) combine with a guy named Scott Stuart and two vocalists, Eddie Love and Mark Wiles. Why am I giving you the names? So you might be able to figure out how to get a hold of these folk.

So if the good guys who sent me this somehow read this rag, please send me your address and I will be glad to print it. And a hint to everyone else out there: no one can write you if you don't enclose an address.

A lot of aggression, some of it misguided but mostly fun. Hitch a ride, if you can.

I first noticed Treepeople on their last Toxic Shock release, which struck me as amazingly cool. And then I learned later in the week that C/Z had them folks all signed up to do an album. Imagine my ecstasy!

Side one is the aforementioned set of songs, and side two is 1989's Time Whore ep, produced by none other than the omnipresent Jack E. Let's examine side one first, shall we?

Some great grunge-pop with amazing guitar work. Not your usual overblown, bombastic Eddie Van Halen stuff, but lines that connect with the rest of the band.

Right. This is a band. Of great musicians. The sum here is the parts. And the parts are very impressive, indeed.

Oh, and if side one isn't enough for you, then flip it over and see where the boys came from. Makes me want to go back to their last album. And salivate at the prospect of another.

Winger. Mr. Big. Extreme. Bon Jovi. What comes to mind? Well, I shan't describe it in order to save your stomachs. Someone at Guitar World magazine thought it would be cool to invite a few guitarists to create what they usually don't: instrumentals. So they called up Reb, Paul, Nuno and Richie. Oh, some other names: Yngwie Malmsteen, Albert Collins (!!), Alex Skolnick (Testament), Zakk Wylde, Dickie Betts and Warren Hayes (Allman Brothers), Earl Slick and Richie Kotzen.

This really proves some of these guys are better technicians than songwriters. And some of them have cooler friends than others: Les Claypool of Primus backs Skolnick, and you can hear Gary Stewart hollering (that's what they call it) behind the Allman duo.

Some surprises: Chris Cornell of Soundgarden is on the cover, but he's not a full-time guitarist. (Okay?) Elliot Easton of the Cars puts in a great acoustic track, Richie Sambora actually rocks out for once, Skolnick and Claypool end up somewhere funkier of Satriani Territory and Zakk Wylde tries his hand at pickin' with decent results.

The expected: Reb Beach is hopelessly overmatched by the competition, Paul Gilbert seems lost in valley of too many guitars, Richie Kotzen is too impressed with his amazing ability to find soul and Nuno Bettencourt's piece is way over-produced.

Of course, the old guys sound great, especially the great Albert King's tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughn.

If you folk are looking for an album with more invention and more tunes, check out Guitarrorists, on No. 6 records. This album proves some guitarists have more mettle than others.

I did spend my formative years listening to Abba and Styx, (as the press said) and missed out on the Buzzcocks when they were vital. But that doesn't mean a person can make up for lost time and great music missed.

A note: Like this COULD suck. Sure, with the Fluid, Coffin Break, Alice Donut, Naked Raygun and the Accused contributing? Get a life. This is what life is all about: celebrating good music. I can sleep at night now.

I know I swore off tracks, but I have to mention Porn Orchard's take on "Why Can't I Touch It?" There. I did.