William Hooker

The cover of this album is an impressionist drawing of the tears and regret following a vicious lover's spat (an excellent drawing by Yureesh Hooker). The promise is that no matter how bad it gets, you may be afforded time for reflection, this time. Indeed, the album opens delicately with "The Gates," which finds Hooker subtly backing his own musing, after-hours syllables. Another six-and-a-half minutes of serenity follow in the form of a drum and piano interpretation of "Pure Imagination" from the film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Things heat up with the fusion of the Sonic Youth composition "Because [of you]: Dimension 1." In the midst of the noise guitar, the promise of female participation made by the cover is made in the vocals (Gisburg): "Wish I could change that way that you feel...." Properly prepared, you are delivered into the frenzy of "Sensor Suite," nearly a half hour of building, convoluting, shrieking Hooker-mania. Another version of the Sonic Youth piece follows, this time more confident, even accepting. A solo Hooker workout, resolved but yet exploring, concludes this Hooker album. ~ Tom Schulte, All Music Guide