This album from Berlin duo
Ghost Cauldron -- CE.EL and
Terranova's DJ Kaos -- follows a couple of singles released on K7. It's a consciously eclectic affair, steeped in hip-hop and trip-hop, with disjointed diversions into rock and dance music. For every decent extension of the Mo' Wax's legacy -- see the Fire Walk With Me-sampling "Fire Walk With Me," which could also be called "Midnight in a Doomed World" -- there's something like "Garage Beat," a sloppy blues-rock number that's actually closer to
the Spin Doctors or even Blueshammer than
the White Stripes. Several guest spots add color to the album, including
Antipop Consortium,
Polyrhythm Addict, Apani B. Fly, and Perilaus Bull. Despite a couple significant highlights, there isn't enough in the way of quality control, and none of the stylistic diversions are pulled off with enough conviction. ~ Andy Kellman