PECULIAR REALITY (AS WHITE FORT)

This first work by White Fort is probably the most cerebral of their albums. Their classical training is obvious before you even pop the CD into the player; the album consists of two "suites," each seemingly intended to be one side of a vinyl LP.

The music is generally less reminiscent of Russian folk ballads than their later albums. If anything, it may be closer to indigenous Siberian rhythms than the European/Middle Eastern themes that infuse traditional Russian music.

As with all of their work, the album consists solely of electric guitar and electric violin. More than one reviewer has commented that these two men produce more sound on two tracks than many entire bands, and it is true for this album as well. If you appreciate virtuoso performances, you'll enjoy this album purely for the musicians' technical excellence.

I'd liken the sound to Adrien Belew or the Fripp/Eno collaboration. It's rich and stark at the same time--only two instruments, but both are played without rest or mercy, wringing out every drop of sound hiding within their strings.