TWEAKER
The Attraction To All Things Uncertain (Six Degrees)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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A Chris Wrenna project (you know: Nine Inch Nails' other guy), Tweaker stretches musical boundaries to very interesting places. To set the record straight, the silky smooth voice of Japan, David Sylvian, opens the disc. Not unlike the moody, exotic sound excursions of his recent solo work, "Linoleum" is an unsettling, simmering tour de force blasted briefly by a heavy rock intrusion. Wrenna allows for subtlety, but only for so long, then the cannons start blazing. It works. It works well enough that Wrenna feels confident enough to crank up the rock on the Will Oldham piece, though he makes sure to bring the fragile crackle vocal way up front so it steers the song. The wide scope takes time to digest, as Wrenna isn't willing to ease up on excess. This is one large sounding record.

© 2002 - John Sekerka