Enablers - 'Output Negative Space'

Is power rock the new jazz? No, of course not, don't be silly. But in the way that the Enablers rock out to spoken word, they are definitely true cats. Adhering to the notion that what you say is as important as how you say it, this is beat music for the 21st century. It also features ex-Swans guitarist/collaborator Joe Goldring, the music is anything but humdrum backing. This dual focus can sometimes work against the band, with the stories and poetry occasionally being obscured by the swelling rock clatter. The prose is definitely on the right side of pretentiousness, yet still fits very neatly and satisfyingly into a lineage that runs from Bill Burroughs to DoseOne. [Ali Maloney]