Gonervill

Here's an unusual lineup for you. Gonervill is a trio consisting of a drummer (Brain of the Limbomaniacs, Praxis, and Primus) and two turntablists (Extrakd and Eddie Def). Of course, they do get a little help from guitarists Buckethead and M.I.R.V. (and that sure does sound like Bill Laswell on bass on a couple of tracks). But the focus is on Brain's sturdy, funky beats and the mind-blowing turntable skills of Eddie Def and Extrakd. The album hits a high point early on with the densely constructed "Infiltrating Assassin," but maintains a surprisingly consistent level of quality throughout; the psychedelic guitar work on "Unseen Worlds" blends nicely with a welter of manic cuts and scratches from the turntable crew, while the moderately creepy "Fear Is the Killer" takes a breakbeat that sounds as if it was recorded at the Black Ark and combines it with Bernie Worrell-flavored organ parts and a nasty, shuddering bassline. The album closes with "Muad' Dib," a slow and funky Buckethead showcase that draws equally on North African flavors and old school hip-hop. Fans of breakbeat and turntable artistry will ignore this one at their peril.