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A US based band coming out of New Jersey, consisting of 4 players, who have ceated something extremely unusual. When you read the title, you don't normally assume that the band in question would mean they will literally tune their guitars off kilter on purpose, but in fact that's exactly where we're headed.

The album works for the most part, surprisingly well, throwing in the occasionally, properly tuned melody such as the highlight here, "I'm Not Obsessed". Additionally, there are other tracks which come across with some strangely addictive melodies, perhaps drawing you in because of the unusual structure of the sound.

It's a difficult description to make, but the general style revolves around an off key note, which is run along the various keys & played in the general acoustiv style. It may sound a little weird, but it mostly works a treat, pick of these being "Another Day Of Living". If you're curious, check this rather unusual & experimental approach to music out.

For more information, write to Orange Entropy Records, PO Box 1198, Hightstwon, NJ 08520, USA or Duf@OrangeEntropy.com

EPIC ADVENTURE - OFF KILTER

A San Francisco based 3 piece by the looks of things, who forwarded only a scant bio by email, giving me not a lot to work from in the way of background. Fortunately, the band's music stands on it's own merit, a heady collective of blues & slow rock inspired riffs & rumblings that some will draw comparisons with bands like Pearl Jam's slower moments & others may look towards the blues/riffaghe of Led Zeppelin, while still others may look at the blues masters of old.

The opening track "Rosa Roja" is my track of choice, having an excellent melody that will draw you into the song, as well as an unusual vocal performance that's quite edgy. The remaining 3 songs here are also very interesting, putting a somewhat different spin on the sound, plus bringing in an excellent lead guitar section that puts it's stamp across the length of the ep. Pick of these 3 songs for me was "Giant Steps", which has a great slow rolling pace.

The production is also of interest, primarily because there's a definite 'live' feel to the sound which reminds me of the sound of vinyl albums, for want of a better term, sounding 'warm', in the same way a lot of hi fi buffs like the sound of valve amps. Definitely a band doing interesting things.

For more information, write to Vacated Records, PO Box 170633, San Francisco, CA 94117-1802, USA or vacatedrecords@earthlink.net

GRENADE - IS AN OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE

I've always been impressed by the quality of some home reccording, this album from Grenade, a Brazil based artist, who hasn't given me much to go on. What he has given is a very interesting collection of music that's mostly run by a well played acoustic guitar & which also has a selection of great samples placed in some unexpected areas.

The opening track "Growing Sun" is my pick & is a very surprising song which is both aggressive yet laid back at the same time, opening up with some good sample use. Another track featuring some great sample work is "Fishing", a track which features what sounds like a piece taken from 2001 with HAL the computer.

Of the straighter songs here, the picks are "Out Of The Body", "Time For Picnics" & "She Will Fly", all songs which make excellent use of melodicc guitar work & great vocal harmonies. It's always good to see people working on new sounds & one day we may see a further project from Grenade.

For more information, write to Duckweed Records, 2442 NW Market St, Box 354, Seattle, WA 98107, USA or duckweedseattle@yahoo.com

THE IMAGINARY BAND - SPACE INVADERS

A very interesting sound, coming from this Tasmanian based outfit, driven by Duncan Wheeler, who sits alongside a couple of other musicians in this wonderfully named band, who have already had a couple of earlier releases & some airplay on a suprising amount of radio as well as providing material for the new mp3.com.au site.

This is an interesting 3 track single & features both some nice sampling & some even better rock influenced electro-rock sounds which are performed with both great original songwriting as well as good performances.

While the title track is the focal point for the single, it's the closing number "Electromagnetic Supersoulfrightening" that got me in, with both the good lyrics & the melodies themselves. I look forward to hearing some more from the band in the near future.

For more information, write to 11 Wootten Dve, Bonnet Hill, Hobart, Tasmania, 7053, Australia or duncan@targa.org.au

KILLER KHAN - KILL DEVIL HILLS

A US based metal band whose music is reminiscent of the sound of Motley Crue's music during the mid 80s, which is no bad thing. Fronted by Killian Khan, the band consists of 4 members, the influences cited by the band including Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest & dio among others, all of these bands good reference points to check out when trying to get your head around the styles here.

Opening up are a couple of the tracks which reminded me most of Motley Crue's sound, "Somputer IIcon" & "Dr Strangelove" & while these tracks are good, it's the opening of "Evilution", a crunching slower sound rather than the speedier metal of some of the other tracks here which impressed me the most.

Also good is the epic closing number "Mt Olympus", which again features a little of the slower sounds found on "Evilution". Formed in 1993, the band have well & truly had timne to get their sound & performance down to a fine art & this album certainy shows it.

For more information, write to PO Box 1466, Mooresville, NC 28115, USA or KhanMetal@webtv.net

KYOSHI - VARIOUS TITLES

A Japanese artist who has come up with a series of singles under a variety of names. All the projects here are great, ranging from surf guitar to political electronica, sitting slongside instrumental & more traditional electro-influenced dance sounds.

There are 2 different projects which really stand out here, both Atomic Soul Experiences & C.T.Z.N., both of which use a set of spoken word lyrics which are somewhat political, especially "Japan As The 51st State Of The USA", though the more social aspect of "Missiles & His Bank Loan" is very interesting as well, coupled with a fantastic melodic backing instrumental.

The remaining projects are dB Function & G.O.O.D., which are also quite outstanding, though in reality it sounds like they are pretty much all the same set of people involved, just under different names. Definitely worth the listen & I'm certain that at some stage we'll be hearing these on local radio.

For more information, write to kyoshi@mail.wind.ne.jp

MICHEAL VLATKOVICH - TORONTO LIVE / NO ZEE TWO ES

A US based artist, Micheal Vlatkovich's music trends towards the traditional & freely improvised areas of jazz as well as jazz influenced world styles, trad jazz being a style of music I've never really understood & have often found hard going.

These 2 albums are the latest releases from Micheal, one under the solo moniker & the other as his Trio. The studio album No Zee Two Es is a very minimalist sort of album, tending mostly to the trombone as it's defining instrument, though backed up by a percussion section.

While I still found the live album hard listening, not being a fan of this style, the production & general sound of the live recording impresses, every moment captured & making you feel as though you're there, a real credit to Paul Hodge, who is listed as the recording engineer. If you're a real fan of jazz of any form, then this is certainly of interest to you.

For more information, write to 5713 SE 41st Ave, Portland, OR 97202, USA or LiraProductions@ibm.net

MICHEAL WHITMORE - WARM IN MY POCKET

A dark & brooding, plus very original sounding album with the primary instrument an acoustic guitar, backed up with a complement of percussion, withdrawn yet overt vocals & most importantly, a melancholic cello plus some other rather innovative & original lyrics, which add mood to an already well full moody album consisting of 7 songs.

The first is the title track & makes itself felt at an epic 9 plus minutes, which seem to go all too quickly, the melody an insistent companion, interupted only occasionally by the vocals which themselves are another of the instruments which fill out this already overloaded album. There are elements of jazz & a mildly classical sort of feeling, while other moment you're thinking of the more introverted sounds of Neil Young's Harvest Moon album.

Although other tracks like "Distance" & "Come A Colder Night" draw your interest, my personal favourite is the second track, "Below A Window", which itself could almost fill out the tracklisiting, apparently a song about romantic stalking, set to a truly remarkable set of melodies & lyrics. Definitely an artist doing some very original music who deserves a lot more exposure.

For more information, write to PO Box 27021, Los Angeles, CA 90027-0021, USA or catgut@worldnet.att.net

MOODAFARUKA - LA LUNA LOUNGE

Certainly something a little different coming out of Houston, Texas in the US is Moodafaruka, a duo consisting of percussionist Terrence Karn & Rom Ryan, who performas the guitar work on this project, which is almost entirely instrumental.

The music here is quite diverse, but is quite markedly influenced by Meditteranean sorts of influences, such as Spanish music & the like, especially the guitar style of Rom Ryan, though some of the percussion would seem to indicate this too, Terrence Karn's segment of the bio telling us that he's been interested in this area, along with African, Latin, Indian & other music from around the world, composing since 1970.

The best tracks for my liking are those which involve a good helping of faster guitar work, such as the title track, "Sun, Moon, Sun" & the very interesting "Psychedelic Texas". If you're looking for music that's influence by styles from other cultures than western rock, Moodafaruka are certainly a good place to start.

For more information, write to Andrea Fulton, PO Box 542052, Houston, Txas 77254, USA or andrea@moodafaruka.com

THE RUG - (SELF TITLED)

A Canberran based 4 piece who already have a small back catalogue of eps & appearances on compilations of various artists, including one on a 1997 sampler from The Big Backyard, plus a healthy bunch of wins & finalist placings in various band competitions.

This is the band's latest 5 track ep & has some great material on it, mostly of a sort of pop/rock nature, the pick of which is the brilliant opening track "Faith", which has the right amount of catchy hook to draw you in with little difficulty & which I seem to remember hearing at some point on Triple J.

Of the other 4 tracks here, my preference is for both closing track "Incorrigible" & "Rise Of The Dead", both of which sport that same atmosphere as the opener & it's just as well, as when you're onto a good thing, you ought to try to stay on the same track. The rUg seem to be a band with more than a little initiative & it's hoped that they can continue their drive towards the top with more music like this.

For more information, write to the band at PO Box 388, Mawson, ACT 2607, Australia or email morgan@spirit.com.au

THE SITUATION - (SELF TITLED)

A 3 piece from the US who have come out with an 11 track album running the gamut of rock, country-feel rock & blues influenced sounds that will no doubt please fans of artists like Neil Young. The band combine all these styles, sometimes in the one track.

There are some tracks here, which range from the more conventional rock sounds of "You Are The One", which is one of the more serious songs here, while some less serious numbers like "My Mother Likes Black Men" take a different tack altogether.

Probably the most interesting song, musically speaking is "Zydeco Road", which is set apart from the rest of the songs here musically, sporting a great groove & is definitely the pick of the tracks here for me, though other songs like "Hurricane Jo" & "In The Zone" were also to my liking. The band have definitely put themselves into this project & result is worth their while.

For more information, write to mletourneau@ap.org