'Get Ready For Yuppie Cleansing' by Casio Action Front [AUM 87]

THE second in a line of demented releases from the Massachusetts underground churns out seven tracks in a 20-minute flurry of musical non-conformity. I like the no-nonsense approach of this DIY anti-label, with its no-frills CD-Rs and randomly folded, ill-fitting paper inserts. With such a blatant disregard for aesthetics, it's hard to believe that the schitzoid personalit(ies) behind this project - Ean Frick - is actually an original and challenging artist. But this, too, of course, is a form of chaotic art in its own inimitable style and what you see is what you get. 'For Kita Ikki 30000' reminds me of the hypnotically sustained keyboards you find on Psychic TV's 'A Pagan Day' (1994) album or a kind of minimalistic 'Trans-Europe Express' that helps clear away the cluttered trivialities of one's everyday existence and allows you to focus your mind on the things that really matter. This is subversive driving music and acts as a nice opener. 'Smash N Grab' is like listening to The Animals belting out tunes on a broken Hammond, its rasping keys permeated by a tapping percussion and topped off with subtle electronic squeals that gradually make way for a crackling melody at the end. 'Crush' is a swaying, machine-like ambience that keeps a fairly low and unassuming profile for about two minutes, before rising in volume amid discordant guitar strings, bells and various telephonic effects. 'Satysiddhi', named after one of the ten schools of Chinese buddhism, again reminds me of the aforementioned PTV album, at least initially. This is hardly surprising, because at times Ean Frick's sound really verges on that of the early-80s, but on this release he has ventured further into the realms of dark ambience. This track is a great blend of diverse styles and influences, perhaps even similar to Sistrenatus and Remanence. At one point it sounds like someone is trying to play a tune on a set of incisors. 'Saishu Senso', which is Japanese for 'war to end all wars', is a rhythmic whirlpool of oscillating beats that bounce around like Tigger on acid. The lively strains of a flute or penny whistle hasten this jolly track to its speedy conclusion. 'Shell Shock' sounds like one of those odd moments that the dial on your radio hits upon an inexplicable frequency in the early hours of the morning. One of those strange repetitious beats that you can't seem to pull away from. But it doesn't last long and soon there are fervent vocal samples, muffled rock songs and a pneumatic drilling. The hypnotic frequency returns at the end, causing you to wonder if this, too, is simply another a form of communication. Far from being a tribute to The Drifters, the EP's penultimate track, 'Board Walk', is a different kettle of fish altogether with a siren-whirl beginning that wanders into a shadowy twilight of long drones and an added dollop of light-hearted experimentalism that conjures up all the fun and frivolity of the Moog era. The ending, meanwhile, has more rhythm than a nodding Jew at the Wailing Wall and brings this excellent release to an end. It's really encouraging to see Casio Action Front make such a big leap forward since the release of 'People's War Hardcore' and by the sound of it Ean Frick has plenty more in store for his growing band of listeners. With it's cover dominated by a solitary figure in black, poised for paramilitary activity in forbidden places, this release is for yuppies what Robert Mugabe is for diplomacy.

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