On
Dust Devils, didgeridoo wizard (and
Dr. Didg leader) Graham Wiggins and his cohorts have a bit of a hard time adequately catching the massive rumbling sound of the didg. It never quite assumes the gut-vibrating proportions that it is known for. However, their music -- a sort of worldbeat electronic fusion -- is based around the interaction between low-frequency drones, samples, beats, and keyboards -- very much like ambient drum'n'bass without the hyperactively pulsing beats. For the most part, the trio pulls it off quite well, mixing and matching exotic influences in wonderful ways. Highlights include "Sharks," a dub number featuring Wiggins playing inventively on the melodica; "Dreaming," with creepy samples of Japanese singer Akino Arai; and a pair of tracks utilizing the keyed didgeridoo, an instrument built by Wiggins allowing him to play a scale on the didgeridoo. Unfortunately, the low frequencies begin to grate after a while, causing a sort of sonic heartburn. Nonetheless, a solid effort. ~ Jesse Jarnow