The high concept: a couple dudes (Bob Beerman, Steve Fisk) from Pell Mell toss off a handful of goofy instrumentals based around the preset beats and chords of an organ known as the Fun Machine. The result: a not unpleasant, but not particularly inspired, listener-friendly dub plate. Like a more brightly lit Pan American. Like a mellowed out Adrian Sherwood.
There are some nice standouts, like "The Power Brokers," which rocks a nice syncopation between the beat-box, and crazy spaced-out organ stabs, and twists the whole thing up with a sinister edge. "Under the Lamp" lays a sustained organ drones against a cheap preset martial snare, creating a strange sensation of frenetic ambiance.
Ultimately, however, the narrow palate offered by the instrumentation yields a limited range. Also, the sense of humor evident disinclines one to take the project too seriously, rendering it superficial. A certain carelessness hampers a project where meticulousness may have wrought something more compelling.
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