Tellus 20 is one of the audio-cassette series’ most challenging entries. The title Media Myth refers to the use of media samples as a primary tool in music creation, usually as a audio montage. Consequently the tracks on this album often take on a socio-political message either directly or covertly. The sampling of pop material on Silent but Deadly’s “What New Pussycat” or the audio collage of Violence and The Sacred’s “Teddy Bear Stinks Real Bad” takes on an air of social commentary. Randy Grief’s eight minutes “The Rift in The Earth” is a haunting effort that gets its motivation from a single quotation, “Children drew stones at the gods”. Minoy’s “Tango” and Nicholas Collins’ “Devil Music I” are stand-alone sound sculptures. Michael Chockalak’s effort manipulates chanting samples while “Russian Around” by Social Interiors does its art with snippets from Russian media. You may find this all somewhat bewildering but it is also quite interesting and absorbing.

The album is available in 190knps from Ubuweb

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