Negativland

The most straightforward -- and partially, as a result, the more curious -- of the various Over the Edge releases over the years, Over the Edge, Vol. 5: Crosley Bendix Radio Reviews is in many ways a solo effort by Don Joyce in the character of Bendix himself. A regular feature of the Over the Edge shows is an offering by Bendix -- described as director of stylistic premonitions for the Universal Media Netweb, the putative overarching organization Negativland is merely a part of -- on whatever feature or subject strikes his fancy. The ten selections here, culled from shows from 1984 to 1993, each follow a particular format: a hilariously dramatic opening and closing snippet framing Joyce as Bendix, speaking in a drawling and weirdly intense whisper over bits of inane, bemusing, or otherwise odd instrumental music. Though the full disc can be a bit wearying (the technical difficulties on the final selections liven things up, admittedly), in dollops it's wonderfully enjoyable, while each individual piece works very well indeed. Joyce clearly isn't talking off the top of his head, but is able to capture the balance of freewheeling ease and sharp wit familiar from, say, Mystery Science Theater 3000 -- seemingly improvised but focused the whole time. The Bendix ethos itself is one of encouraging listeners to do their own thing while at the same time providing apparent guidance -- a contradiction or merely the magic of radio narration? The most entertaining of the pieces is the latest, the 1993-era "Squant," a brilliant take on public-relations puffery as Bendix speaks almost breathlessly about the discovery of a new, never-before-seen color, squant. Joyce's detailing of everything from the controversy over the color's naming to squant's own unique odor and the possibility for economic revival -- all over a completely gone '70s synth arrangement of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" -- is a merry trip into an alternate world. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide