On The Night Garden (E-Magine), his full-length album, electronic-music expert Waldeck achieves a couple of different, but valuable, things. First, he fulfills the promise of his five-track EP This Isn’t Maybe, and even includes the funky titular track on this disc. Second, he heats up the chill-out vibe by recalling the narcotic dub of Sly & Robbie on “Slowly,” releasing the rhythm on the title track, and getting beat crazy on “Catpeople Dub” (which is a spooky cover of the song “Putting Out The Fire With Gasoline,” originally sung by David Bowie). You may even find yourself nodding your head and tapping your toes to “It Comes From You.” Perhaps Waldeck’s greatest achievement is the seductiveness of the material. You and a couple of your friends could get naked to this sexy CD and dance around or in the bed. Plant some seeds and watch them grow in The Night Garden.
With connections to Portishead, Bettie Serveert and PJ Harvey (John Parish produced the disc), Belgian duo Thou have their papers in order. Loops and samples and keyboard craft dominate on Put Us In Tune (See Through), but don’t be surprised when you hear brass and strings (as you will on “Weak Lady”) or fuzzy guitars (as you will on “Perverts”). Standing still will be a challenge when you hear such hip-shaking tunes as “Amazing,” “Up To Me” (which made me think of a gentler Boss Hog), “Cool,” and “Okeh.” There are also plenty of relaxing moments here, including “London,” “Calling Me,” “Plasticine,” and the acoustic “Colour The Sun.”
Foetus (a/k/a J. G. Thirlwell) has worked, in the past, with gay icon/singer/songwriter Marc Almond. On Flow (Thirsty Ear), his not-for-the-faint-of-heart first studio disc in a number of years, Foetus makes industrial dance music for the fans of Nine Inch Nails, Skinny Puppy and the late, lamented KMFDM. “Quick Fix,” “Mandelay,” and “The Need Machine,” fan the flames of the Foetus of the past. All is not industrial bombast, as you can hear on the luscious lounge sounds of ironically titled “Cirrhosis Of The Heart,” the beat jazz of “Grace Of God,” and the film noir “Suspect.” This album doesn’t so much flow as it does flood. Best listened to wearing a flotation device.