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It's been far too long since ol' crazy Jim has tossed a platter
at us. As I walked out of the record store, unwrapping the
cellophane from my shiny new cd, I wondered what he'd been
up to for lo these past six years since Gash came out. Well
kids I gotta tell you. He's been working. Working on what
could be one of the best albums of the year in my book.
I started listening to Foetus back in the mid-eighties. Nail
and Thaw were always at hand. Back then I was blown away by
the combination of pure industrial destruction melded in with
huge sounding symphonic pieces and crushing guitars. Quite
simply I'd never heard anything like it.
Flow forward to 2001. You've never heard anything like this
one. It's hard, loud, jazzy, loungy, swingin', rockin', immense
and done so well that you will be amazed. Starting with what
sounds like a Ministry sample from "Just One Fix"
Foetus comes roaring to life with bombastic drums and unmistakable
Foetal guitar/keyboard chords in openinc cut "Quick Fix."
Now what did you expect right? Not what follows I'm sure.
"Cirrhosis of the Heart" is lounge. Seriously lounge.
It's groovy as Hell too. I swear I wanted to mix up a martini
or two. It's lounge done only the way Thirlwell could.
Okay now what's next? Each song is a surprise. The slow brutal
bits of yore like "Slog", and Wiseblood's "Stumbo"
come to mind on "Mandelay" but the compositions
on this album are superior to much of the work of that time.
Okay, then ready for some more lounge work? "The Grace
of God" is a poignant (well for Foetus anyway) jazzy
gem. The electronics come roaring back for "The Need
Machine." It roars to life in a din of drums and distorted
keyboards. "Suspect" sounds like a movie score to
an evil film. It's terrific. Hey come on. Any song that has
the line "I have but one regret, that I have not killed
you yet" is a great song. Things slow down a bit then
the ultraswing of "Heuldock 7B." This is the piece
de resistance. The crème de la creme. It swings it
jumps and grooves.
As always J.G. Thirlwell gets sole billing for playing all
of the instruments. He gets some assistance on a cut or two
from David Yow (Jesus Lizard) and Oren Bloedow (Elysian Fields).
I have never had so much fun listening to a Foetus album.
It's slways interesting nad usually intense but this one is
also fun to listen to. Flow is the first of two albums for
Foetus this year. Blow is soon to follow. I command thee.
Get yourself to the record store and buy this damned thing.
It's awesome.
--Chadbo
1. Quick Fix
2. Cirrhosis of the Heart
3. Mandelay
4. Grace of God
5. The Need Machine
6. Suspect
7. Someone Who Cares
8. Heuldoch 7B
9. Victim or Victor
10. Shun
11. Kriebabe
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