Chainsaws. Who among us doesn't lust for 'em? The ultimate violent phallic symbol, they entice us with the shriek of tiny 2-cycle engines and the rasp of a spinning chain ready to eat up anything in its path. Somewhere inside man there's that perverse desire to destroy, and the chainsaw is the perfect embodiment of that desire, in full mechanical ugliness. Who would think to sample that sound and work it into a unique and powerful statement against the destruction of forests? Well, Coldcut would, and they did.

Not only is "Timber" a pastiche of audio clips and samples, the liner notes mention that "all sound components are linked to their video sources. Whole rhythms have been painstakingly edited out of beats and individual video frames." In fact, Timber is an enhanced CD with five video clips included for your amusement! Yay.

Sure, Timber is an EP made up of the same track remixed seven times, which can be a little maddening occasionally. But once again the Coldcut boys have handed out an exceptional piece of work that not only takes risks but proves to be at a level of creativity and excellence far above the pack. The chants, the chainsaws, the fat bass, the spazzy drums, it all adds up to Coldcut kickin' out the jams once again. Chainsaws.

-James P. Wisdom