Hammerstrike

On its third studio album, Lotus continues to come off as a mixture of disparate influences. The instrumental quintet (there are some occasional desultory vocals, mostly contributed by guests) often recalls the sound of Neil Young & Crazy Horse (particularly on the opening track, "Behind Midwest Storefronts," and on "Invincibility of Youth"), as a stinging guitar, presumably the one played by Mike Rempel, leads the way through meandering melodies and the rhythm section lurches along behind. But then there are the electronic influences, apparent on such tracks as "Age of Inexperience," which recalls Pere Ubu and Devo, and "Bellwether," which reveals that somebody's been listening to Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock." Classic grunge rock, angular new wave, and electronic dance-rock are not styles many people would try to mix, nor are they ones many would be likely to enjoy in the same set, but Lotus manages to make all of it work, at least for the length of the disc.