LITIA

'Litia' is purely electronic, full of almost discordant tunes that are unsettling in the same way as 1970's 'Residents' albums were. Tietchens once again makes full use of that old primitive drum machine which repetitively spurts out odd patterns. Meanwhile, queazy, ugly keyboards play atonal serial killer music in the foreground.

It's all quite unhinged and won't appeal to many due to the random scatter-gun approach he takes in executing each short track. Asmus Tietchens sounds disturbed and unhinged, so I'm surprised to find myself saying that this is one of his more accessible recordings.

There's a permanent ice cold feeling that runs throughout which adds to the alien quality of 'Litia' It's strange then, that the overall sound is so twisted and odd.

You can almost imagine the foam dribbling out of his mouth, with bulging watery eyes, as he punches his keyboards, relentlessly trying to find the sound he wants. 'Litia' uses technology very much of its time but is none the worse for it. It feels completely trapped in 1982, unable to escape. Nonetheless he thrashes about kicking and screaming at anyone willing to listen to his absurd noodlings.

The strangely flat chord structures may put listeners off, but if you can persevere, this is actually a colourful and funny little album. It always brings a smile to my face.