SEADRUM / HOUSE OF SUN

This two-track album from BOREDOMS, Japan's most famed exponents of drone-laden experimental music, certainly appears to have divided the band's fans. I feel this is mainly attributable to the disproportion in quality between the two tracks on show here.

'Seadrum' is surely one of the group's finest moments, where passion and innovation adjoin beautifully, generating a truly unique experience. The song includes magnificent, tribal vocals, which precede the watery-sounding keyboards perfectly, whilst the pounding, almost ritualistic crescendo drumming of Yoshimi P-We infuses vivacity and urgency. Despite its 23-minute runtime, and typically droning nature, 'Seadrum' rarely threatens to relinquish its hold upon the listener, and repeated listening reveals new dimensions and aspects to the music, lending it unprecedented longevity ? a truly Prog virtue! 'Seadrum' is the absolute epitome of BOREDOMS' soaring, somewhat hallucinatory sound.

Unfortunately, the antithesis of this is 'House Of Sun', another 20-minute drone, but this time, jangling guitars and sitars form the crux of the track. However, the music moves in no tangible direction, and, unlike 'Seadrum', the drabness of the melody inspires only unwanted languor. Perhaps the band felt they were cunningly juxtaposing the energy of the opening song with the tedium of this, however the effect is inauspicious, and almost manages to sully the euphoria stimulated by the outstanding opener.

Strangely enough, despite the utter monotony of 'House Of Sun', I would still recommend this album to fans of the band, purely on the strength of 'Seadrum', which is one of my favourite BOREDOMS compositions. Besides, perhaps the fully-fledged drone aficionados out there will convey more appreciation for the closing track than I have.