HALFBIRD

This has more to do with garage music tinted with some sort of avant-garde stuff. Heavy sounds mixed with the weak and childish vocals from their Japanese bass/vocalist Satomi Matsuzaki. But this is typical from Far Eastern female vocalists (''The Man The King The Girl And The Spider'' or ''Queen Orca Wicca Wind''). Sounds no better than ''Who Has Seen The Wind'' from Yoko Ono.

This very short album (some thirty five minutes, thank god!) holds a lot a very short (unfinished IMO) songs offering a very raw angle, which is difficult to bear. I would associate this type of music more with post experimental punk (whatever it may mean) than with cross-over-prog (''Witchery Glamour Spell'').

Actually, its short length is probably its major attractive point. To listen to it from start to finish is quite an unusual experience. The sub-par ''Stooges'' track ''Sunnyside'' might sound funny but you'd better be prepared for this ride.

It might have been of interest to have released such an album in 1977. But not at the turn of the century (even if the project was already born a few years prior the release date).

This album is quite a noisy but minimalist affair. The only good number is the closing ''Halfmole, Halfbird''. Plaintive, oppressive, gluing track. I would have wished to get more of these (even if the Far-Eastern influences are not too thrilling).

One star.