A pulsating shock of electronic rock? The birth of a new genre? Changing the history of music as we know it? Certainly not! Gloomy trip-hop for the black- painted fingernail set? Atmospherics like a room with rose- colored walls and stained glass windows? Sound to accompany the candlelit repentance of sins and prayers to your patron saint? Hey, buddy. That's Amp all the way.

Amp is a group of three "Trans European Esoterrorists" fronted by a fella known as Richard Amp. Amp has occasionally collaborated with Flying Saucer Attack's Dave Pearce, and hangs around with space- psych electrostuds like Third Eye Foundation's hairbourne Matt Elliot, and Matt Jones of Crescent. He and Karine C. Karine, the band's sexy French vocalist, appear to be the only two solid members of Amp, with French programmer Olivier Gauthier and Main's Richard Hampson taking part in the recording of Amp's second full- length for Chicago's Kranky Records, Stenorette.

The music is incredibly moody and beautiful, rich with lonely piano parts, minimalist industrial drum loops, and ghostly whispers that recall the resident mourning spirit in "The Uninvited." Content- wise, the record jumps all over the map, going from lush, ethereal seance music ("Songe," "Tango Non") to experimental noise projects ("When," "Two 3," "Outlier") to hummable pop songs ("Tomorrow," "Sunflower").

Quite frankly, if you're goth, you'll be recommending Stenorette to all your friends. Granted, it doesn't take a goth to enjoy this soulful ambient project, but if you do happen to be one of the dark ones, this record could practically be a religious experience. Also, if you look back on 4AD's early years with a great deal of fondness, Amp demonstrates the same creativity and originality-- and sound-- that the old, sturdy label used to kick out regularly.

-Ryan Schreiber