REVIEWS reviews...... sounds...... pictures...... words...... links...... info Matt Howarth from Those Annoying Post Brothers #61 Great to have these reviews from one of my favourite comic writer/artists and musical adventurer! Many Matt Howarth related sites are available on the web, check them out... Matt Howarth's Attic Site http://www.matthowarth.com Other Matt Howarth links: Bugtown Mall - Sonic Curiosity   NEW LABEL NOTES There's a new independent label joining the ranks of those releasing quality ambient and industrial electronics in the USA: THE FOUNDRY. They were kind enough to send me four of their CD releases, which can be obtained mail order for $10 per CD ($15 outside the USA) from: The Foundry, PO Box 8284, Berkeley, CA 94707-8284 USA. You can visit their website at: http://www.foundrysite.com.   THE APIARY: Descent This 74 minute CD consists of very calming music, breathing electronic sighs and gurgling waters and sweeping keyboard tones amidst found sounds hauntingly rustling in the drifting melodic mix. The presence of soft percussion is extremely unobtrusive, a peaceful tribal rhythm for the synthetic journey. But often, beneath the ambience, there lurks a subtle shadow seething to escape, restrained only by the overall solemnity of the soundscape. Very recommended if you're in the mood for Robert Rich or Cluster.   eM: Djinn This one is experimental electronics of a non-rhythmic nature that strays strongly into industrial ambient turf with grinding waves, shredding insects and a luscious cacophony. Most sonic sculptures achieve a noise ratio and maintain it throughout the music; where this music reaches a counterpoint of pulse and abrasion that enlivens the tense calm. INventive use of melodic passages punctuated by abrupt outbursts keep the oily atmospherics dark and dangerous.   RHOMB: Hidden Topographies This one features 57 minutes or extremely minimalist electronic music, simplistic in composure: soft electronics gurgling, delicate keyboards, tapping clicks, deep bass tones ringing like a muffled gong. The results are pleasant auralscapes just this side of melodic. The pieces do possess a peculiar charm for their minimalism. Unobtrusive yet intriguing, the music slowly drifts though a cold and distant unearthly place.   VARIOUS ARTISTS: Eclectronica Going by the above three releases, you can guess the general tone of this collection CD -- atmospheric, moody electronics; some melodic, some atonal. The surprise is that only 10 of the 69 minutes on this CD are previously released. Actually this is quite a tasty journey into industrial ambiance, with material by: M. Bentley, N. Kreisberg, (and collab improvs by them), the Apiary, eM, and Melec.