Jim O'Rourke, Christoph Heemann

Jim O'Rourke and Christoph Heeman have been collaborating since 1991; that's before MP3s, before witch house, and before the release of Arachnophobia. Hell, that's back when also-ran comedian Michael Keaton was still Batman. The two musicians have now seen sense to offer up a collection of rare, unreleased recordings from their probably massive archives and this Scott Walker-referencing disc is the result. Those familiar with Heeman's work, or O'Rourke's more experimental side will no doubt be unsurprised that the three long-form pieces on show here are expert exercises in grainy, atmospheric drone. Fans of Mirror are likely to be drooling already, and these compositions are hardly the off-cuts and B-sides you might find in lesser artists' vaults. I have the feeling that the two rarely produced drivel, and the almost Zen-like focus gives these pieces a blissful calm and brooding menace some strive for years to achieve. it's nice to hear masters at work. (BOOMKAT)