Reviewed by James Attlee

Well, I think it's a masterpiece. Liverpool duo the Free Zone (Pete Scarlett - drums; Tim Thwaites - everything else) have been inflicting their strangely warped vision on the world for some years now, and at last have produced something that lives up their frenzied live performances and great contribution to "Beat Menace" compilation. Don't try and pigeon hole these boys - one minute it's drum machines and synthesizers the next Tim Thwaites crashes in with a figure sounding like it was learnt on the Joe Strummer correspondence course for rhythms guitar, and a vocal reminiscent of the tortured larynx of Tom Verlaine. Add waiting harmonicas, crashing real drums and swirling of fairground organ and what have you got? Answer, a strangely addictive collision of styles and a bunch of great songs. First up is the already classic "Let Them Eat Progress" (a great song title if ever there was one.) Starting with a drum machine pattern that has you checking the speed control, it's a full tilt attack on government's pouring petro-dollars in the space and weapon research when millions are starving. "And there will be no more hunger/Let's speed up the progress" sings Tim in bleak mood. But if you think it's going to give you a handle on their style, forget it. The second track 'Some Of The Things They're Now Saying' is kick-started by a stuttering rhythm guitar and spits vitriol, while the third track "Ghost Of A Smile" suddenly launches us into another soundscape altogether, an almost calm vocal over a dream-like and childishly simple keyboard pattern. "I'm haunted by a ghost of your smile,' Tim warbles eerily. . . Just when they're shaping up like a music-teacher's nightmare it sounds like the piano lessons paid off after all. No space for a blow-by-blow account, merely a heartfelt recommendation. Investigate another winning team from Liverpool.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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