Something strange has happened here. The first new release in the second series is not even an Atom Heart album, but someone even further removed from the dance floor, if that's possible. Dandy jack and the Cosmic Trousers is a new project entirely, with most of the handiwork attributed to Martin Shopf (a.k.a. superstar Dandy Jack), and an added level of treatment from "Executive Producer" Atom Heart. Other players involved include Pink Elln in Miami for Mastering and "Special Effects" by the ever-present Victor Sol.

This album pushes the envelope even on Atom Heart's rather accommodating wackiness meter, so be prepared. With that said, the album is also a dense gem for the serious electronic music lover. What I really respect about this album is the unique and lasting impression it leaves. Some songs (such as "Lilly Putana") act as bizarre adventures into super-eclectic sounds and more unpredictable arrangements. So who is this Dandy jack we keep hearing about? Well, the shirt he is wearing on the album cover yields one clue. On it is the same dancer as on the cover of the first Sieg Uber Die Sonne album, and both projects share members.

I found the Cosmic Trousers to be most difficult to describe, filled as it is with quirkily tweaked noises and extremely untraditional programming. Truly this album is unexpected, yet it is also impressively composed and not without that slippery RI gloss. The album seems to get better and better exponentially as it progresses. This is by no means an unbroken rule, but it generally holds true. Indeed, we should be having a darn fine time upon reaching the album's conclusion! And I think the last 3 tracks are unforgettable.

1. Hi Head - The opener begins with some words of wisdom, then a casual snappy rhythm begins. A 303 appears and is totally warped not quite beyond recognition, and the wave rips along until the Bassdrum is dropped in... Ahhhh. Much variety in the chosen synth textures that fill out the listening space, one by one. Lots of spiciness and special touches, a pinch of notes here, a riff or two there. A gliding background keyboard adds some sense of space to the piece.

2. Play It Sam - Starts with a winding insect noise, convolving and flexing. Then the track proper kicks in. "It" is a jawharp, no kidding? Some metallic surfaces plink-plonk-plinking to the beats, this song is cartoonish and slap-happy. One of the main melodies sounds as if it's being played on some backward synthetic instrument.

3. Loser Bar - This is a laid back tune that intentionally meanders about without ever "going anywhere." The point is there is no point, you're staying right here... who knows who might walk in? Some quasi-vocal utterance echoes and disappears back into the woodwork. What a creep. A complex blend of solos and accompanying synths furnish the area. Hypnotic, yet loose and improvised-sounding in execution. Shall we head somewhere else...?

4. Angels Without Faces - Now this I really like! Several different melodies float around. Each is constructed carefully enough to stand on its own, yet they also blend together nicely. I have found myself humming one or the other from time to time. Listener Friendly.

5. Ground Zero - "Broken Heart..." A solid rhythmic drum pattern sets the stage for a powerful demonstration in song writing. Something this good might even suggest that Dandy's been holding out on us! Wonderful whirs and rolling air pockets back up a top-notch melody full of melancholic emotion. Deep, aggressive, but gentle nevertheless.

6. Lilly Putana - Person, place or thing?

7. Insect Commander - Here he is. Slightly unnerving, but also twisted and comical. Almost reminds me of +N, with its croaking 303 wiggling around on the periphery. But would you really give that six-legger a good whack with the Daily Standard?

8. Super Ambient - Another 303 worm slithers out from under a rock. Is it really ambient? It certainly is down tempo compared to the rest. But the overall energy level here is high, and of the more dormant type. A spectacular view of clever slides, slurs, and pitch bends with the old Roland. I don't recall ever hearing one programmed with such a classy technique.

9. Loa - This is the closest we come to house. Loa is another epic installment of melancholy-tinged melody. There are some lyrics here, but heck if I can figure out even one word! Definitely gets the trophy for linguistic ambiguity and overall character. The words are chameleon-like, and many of the other synth sounds shift and change the overall setup of the track. Like it's successor, the track is almost twice as long as some of the others, but it certainly doesn't wear out its welcome. Sometimes I pop the disc in just to hear this number.

10. Binal True - This track is unlike the others in several respects. It's straight 4-on-the-Floor, for one. While most of the others on the disc are non-4otF, drawing instead on other irregular, perhaps Latin-influenced patterns. This track features a hard bassdrum that keeps everything else steady. Also, this finisher is much faster bpm-wise. Included on the Real Intelligence II compilation, this song on it's own is a curve-ball, as it really can't clue you in to how the rest of the album sounds when heard in isolation. It ends with everything kind of floating freely up above you.