Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Formed as a London-based YFC project a couple of years ago, Ben Holloway's Fractal Edge have followed up their debut album with this five track EP. Their debut was a hot album combining clubby dance music with searing rock guitar and this takes things a step forward by moving with the times. The same musi­cal ingredients are present and Holloway's guitar playing is still fabulous but there've been line up changes and Zoe Hart has joined on vocals and the band have added a rapper, Wowza. The changes only make Fractal Edge stronger! Thematically the band continues to explore themes of dislocation and there's material here which will continue to help them to communicate with kids. Once more they are produced and programmed by the talented maverick Jon Birch who's done an excellent job. Interestingly the title track from their debut album (originally sung by Ben!) is re-recorded here with a totally different vibe and it sounds great! The musical oxymoron of D'n'B grooves and heavy duty guitar work that underpins "Music Makers" is a startling marriage but it works throughout the project. The closing track "Lover" has a haunting feel, a vulnera­ble vocal from Hart and some beautifully understated guitar work from Holloway. The tightly percussive "Don't Let Me Down" with its insistent, demanding vocal refrains is a class track but the impacting "Money Trouble" is my favourite song on the EP. Plenty of loud guitar and strong rhythms, an excellent angry, defiant vocal from Hart and a kickin' rap from Wowza. Just brilliant! In 1999, there's even more of an edge in Fractile Edge!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.

This track data is supplied by the Cross Rhythms CD/DVD review library. Please note that CD tracks may vary according to release region or product version.