Shriekback

Shriekback expanded their ambitions with the aptly named Jam Science, adding more and more layers of rhythm, melody, and noise to their established sound. At times, the ten compositions here threaten to collapse under their own weight -- but they never do. In fact, this album is a minor masterpiece, with enough surface appeal to grab the ear immediately, and enough depth to reward scrutiny over the long term. Clearly, a lot of work went into Jam Science. The arrangements are worked out in microscopic detail and the production, by the band with dub producer Paul "Groucho" Smykle, is extremely sophisticated -- maybe excessively so; at times it feels like too much science, not enough jam. But the record's strengths carry it through: swooping, dangerous basslines from Dave Allen; complex, elliptical keyboard parts from Barry Andrews; and deft Linn drum programming, mostly by Carl Marsh. A shift in sonic emphasis results in Marsh's guitar being either buried in the mix or eliminated altogether, but he continues to develop as a vocalist and lyricist. The album boasts some of the first Shriekback songs with identifiable subject matter: "Hand on My Heart" is a thoughful consideration of the relationship between mind and body, and "Midnight Maps" is a chilling portrait of emotional fascism. Andrews chips in with an ethereal vocal on the lovely, haunting album closer, "Hubris."

Also in circulation under the name Jam Science is a strange eight-song Dutch release. It shares six songs with the original album, but many of them are alternate mixes ranging from an almost imperceptibly different "Under the Lights" to a wildly variant "Hand on My Heart" that lacks that song's signature bassline. The other two songs are otherwise unavailable and one of them, "Putting on the Pressure," is quite excellent. ~ Bill Cassel, All Music Guide