From John Sent Fri, May 12th 2000, 23:50
SMH Review 12/5/2000 of Thug's Isolated Rhythm Chock CD Thug Isolated Rhythm Chock (Aural Industries) 4 out of 5 stars "While much of our electronic product assumes kudos from frigid, obscure sounds and carcinogenic beats, this offering is gaga over soaring melodies and heated repetition. Never does Isolated Rhythm Chock get piggy with your attention, more subtly imbibing your body with its frequent symphonic murmur. It's saucy, swaying electronica like this that holds its own because of the modesty and coy sensibilities it employs. The momentum of the album is all over the shop, but this serves to up the surprise ante. Just when strings are moaning hard, your audio rug is pulled from under you and there's rapid-fire bass squelching or hard-stepping to contend with. Some of Thug's music is sad (Dolphin) - while melodies moan beats crawl to a delicious depressing halt. But there's a lot of bouncing around to be had on most of the tracks, even if it is high-end tech or repeated machinations that seem to inhabit a space between two points in time (Obatem). Sound utterly pretentious? On paper, yeah. But listen and it all makes sense. This debut from the 24-year-old Adelaide musician Tim Koch, is nervy and brave. His adoption of the electronic form has paid off. Almost top shelf." AT Regards, John Aural Industries Pty Ltd http://www.aural-industries.com.au P.S. It can be bought Stateside from S://kimo Music <http://www.skimo.com/> and in the UK from Hedonizm Records <xxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxxxx.xx.xx>. John Aural Industries Pty Ltd http://www.aural-industries.com.au