A recent release reviewed

HARMONIC 33
Music for Film, Television & Radio, Volume 1 Warp ****

A bewitching homage to the classic BBC Radiophonic Workshop compilations (soon to be the subject of new scrutiny courtesy of a batch of Mute reissues), Harmonic 33's grab-bag of incidental music snatches and samples should also provide many happy hours for sonically troubled souls. Mark Pritchard (one-half of the Jedi Knights, Global Communication and Reload) and Dave Brinkworth really do know their soundscape onions, which means the Harmonic 33 antennae can turn in many different directions and pick up much more than mere interference. There are subtle traces of soundtrack maestros John Barry, Ennio Morricone and Bernard Herrmann lodged deep in the tracks, but there's also a style of ambience that only a pair toiling in electronica's junkshop are capable of crafting. Departure Lounge and Planet 54 are lovely examples of this spadework, all long lean lines, lonesome melodies and wayward pleasantries. www.warprecords.com

Jim Carroll