Le Loup - The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations Millennium General Assembly

Le Loup's excessively titled The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations Millennium General Assembly is exactly as experimental and random as the title suggests. Named after an American janitor's modern art installation, this is a tribute to a collection of 180 separate objects presented for the second coming of Jesus. But Le Loup captures all its novelty and none of the meaning. With random instruments and vocals and styles lacking impression, Le Loup may as well be a shiny machine: press the 'noisenoisenoise!!' button for 45 minutes and this album comes out. Press the 'silly yet pretentious title' button and Le Loup is good to go. Sam Simkoff may yet parlay this album into a stronger sophomore effort, differentiating himself from his peers, but it's hard to find a sound when all you make is sound, and there's more to music than pressing buttons on a machine. [Hamza K]