Reviewed by Sue Rann

I never heard Surrey band The Hedges (now defunct). Having listened to this product of two former members, perhaps I'm glad. Brotherhood Of The Holy Cross have produced a long, monotonous set here; you can only tell you're in a different track because you heard the blank pause in between. "Rain Dance"...zip. Zilch. Not even sample rainfall. "Monastery Bells", second track in, far from being anything to do with Gregorian-style chimes, seems to be a collection of digitised alarm clocks on random repeat, backed by dull thuds and squeaks. Maybe it's a noir attempt to articulate what the modern monk hears at 4am but still... Something vaguely reminiscent of a bullfrog is the sole clue on "Swamp", which swims with barely a pause into "Kilimanjaro", about which nothing can really be said. "Lament For Frank" and "Pips"...would Frank have liked this? Sorry guys but no. The Brotherhood hope to play live for the first time later this year, and threaten a second album, possibly to be immortalised on CD.

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