Foetus "Flow" Thirsty Ear THI 57102.2 2001 (62:48)
Quick Fix (4:06)
Cirrhosis of the Heart (4:02)
Mandelay
(8:21)
Grace of God (5:42)
The Need Machine (4:53)
Suspect (5:54)
Someone
Who Cares (3:45)
Heuldoch
7B (4:47)
Victim or Victor? (5:03)
Shun (3:23)
Kreibabe
(12:52)
Veritable one man band J.G. Thirlwell returns with his first full length as Foetus proper since 1995's somewhat misguided major label effort "Gash". Holed up in his well stocked NYC based studio, the self proclaimed 'Master of Disaster' learns and uses whatever he needs to forge his unique brand of industrial-jazz-swing-big-band-rock. With "Flow" he hasn't reinvented the wheel but he has built a better mouse trap. The over saturation of heavy guitar that plagued "Gash" has been tastefully restricted to let the underbelly of sound flourish. Pounding rhythms - often constructed of jackhammers, shattered glass and metal on metal - lay a solid foundation for dense arrangements of horns, strings, bass, guitars, synths, samples and the one and only caterwaul. It could very easily be a giant mess, and in a way it is, but gloriously so as Thirlwell's composition skills are the glue that holds it all together. And lyrically he's as clever as ever with numerous and humorous insights, clichés, puns, and pop culture references. "Quick Fix" and "The Need Machine" are fun to sing along with as they knock you down. "Cirrhosis of the Heart" draws a parallel between love and alcoholism over a lighthearted cocktail jazz jaunt. "Mandelay" and the epic, near 13 minute "Kreibabe" juxtapose quiet and simply brutal passages. One of my favorite lines from the latter - "I wanna whisk you away with me / I'll be the whisker / you be the whiskey". "Suspect" is a film noir joyride while "Heuldoch 7B" is pure big band bombast. "Someone Who Cares" is foetal pop, featuring lovely horn and guitar solos and female backing vocals. Yep, "Flow" is quintessential, classic Foetus. Other projects in the can: Manorexia "Volvox Turbo" (available now at the shows or foetus.org) and the companion album "Blow" (September 16) with remixes by Panacea, Amon Tobin, DJ Food, Franz Treichler of The Young Gods, Kid 606, Jay Wasco, PanSonic, Charlie Clouser, Phylr, Ursula 1000, Kidney Thieves/Sean Beavan and Thirlwell himself. Foetus are currently on tour in the U.S. through July ...
Where did I get this cd? - mail order via CD Universe.