This record is weird. In a lot of ways. First off, it was recorded "on location from 1976-1997"-- huh? What this means is that Scott Gibbons and Bran Ladd, the masterminds of Orbitronik, combined recordings from over 20 years ago (recordings from Ladd's high school music class) and present- day sounds (various Apple computer noises) to create a modern ambient record.

The only problem is that Ladd and Gibbons think they're making a dance record. "The Hills" begins stealthily, and you can practically visualize Our Hero (from whichever detective movie you most enjoy) creeping behind boxes in some warehouse in search of The Criminal. But Our Hero's creeping, not dancing. Conversely, "Orbisexual" is more upbeat. But there's a difference between a dance track and a song with a fast tempo. Orbitronik perhaps meant to make the former but ended up with the latter.

The high point of the record comes with "Monster Minute," which gives us a glimpse into what Gibbons and Ladd could become with more experience and direction. Although only 60 seconds long, the track manages to bring to mind the best of veteran industrialists Nine Inch Nails and Front 242.

The sleeve reads "Two guys best known for noise... creating 'dance' music????" Well, not really-- but what they do create deserves some attention.

-Aparna Mohan