Source Direct are the young protoges of zen-n-bass shogun, Photek. Where Photek looks to the dojo for inspiration, Source Direct scan the skies for stellar disruptions, or their own heads for horrific rifts in mental stability. They'll also not shy away from employing a good number of terrorstep cliches (you know, the bowel- furrowing bass line, the cranium- wrenching screech of machines losing vital components, ad nauseum). Exorcise the Demons is their first full length and it's not so radically different from Controlled Developments, the compilation of EPs that Astralwerks released in 1997. In fact, two tracks from that album make an unwelcome reappearance on this new record.

The material, though, doesn't sound immediately like it grew out of the Metalheadz studios, unlike Controlled Developments. To be fair, Source Direct have given the dark- core drum-n-bass crowd a third path. Before, those kids were catered to (or cared for by) two compatible agencies; one headed by Panacea, the German beat thrasher and zombie enthusiast; the other by Ed Rush and Nico, who graced this world with their visions of galactic thermonuclear warfare and demonic runaway trains. But, now, Source Direct bring a churning, rolling inner beast to the table. Though the beats aren't as crushing and downright nihilistic as Panacea's, and the ambient sounds around their drum patterns don't suggest R-rated cartoons, unlike Ed Rush's, Exorcise the Demons boasts an asylumful of sonically- rendered, psychotic turmoil.

"Technical Warfare" is a pretty good bet as to what they play at parties held by the creators of Tycho Magnetic Anomaly 1; the album's closer, "Concealed Identity," returns to a more Photek sound, except that Source Direct have chosen "Mortal Kombat" as their model rather than Akira Kurasawa.

Source Direct maintain the focus of their album. We can all be grateful that they didn't feel the need to supply us with simpering "gospel- tinged" R&B; to prove their authenticity like some other bands. (We won't name any names if that's alright with 4 Hero.) Or compose an electronica symphony for the millenium. However, like so many techno and drum-n-bass albums, Exorcise the Demons is replete with exhilarating, attention- sustaining moments that fail to exceed their sum.

You can't hold that against them, though. I've yet to discover a recent techno album that can thrill me as much as "Vini Reilly" by the Durutti Column (the reissue of which is even longer than Exorcise the Demons), or an ambient disc that can soothe me as much as Keith Jarrett's "The Koln Concert." Source Direct join many others, then. They've compiled (not created) a good album-- a stopgap until something wonderful comes along.

-Paul Cooper