Presented as the soundtrack to a non-existent film, everything about this little disc is slightly askew in a lighthearted kind of way. The second collection of guitar instrumentals (remember that genre?) from Bob Drake, Pierre Omer, Lukas Simonis and Chris Cutler sounds oddly familiar, mixing influences from across the universe of rock guitar. It had me frantically searching my memory banks to recall just which bit of which record certain passages resembled, and I laughed out loud quite often too. Tunes invariably start off in a naggingly familiar way, but then twist themselves into some odd shape and re-arrive (or not!) back where they began. For example, the lead track "Duckpond" has a melody that you might think you know, but it dips out of it's mnemonically assigned path almost immediately, catching you off-guard.

"Beppo Gets Crunched" is very Frith-like at first, then goes rapidly through psychedelic metal into reverbed surf meets Felt atmospherics. "The Desperate Twins" features slight feedback and far-off slide as an intro before Cutler's galloping toms signal another catchy melodic line. The b-part is Duane Eddy supplying the music for a spaghetti western. Similar to Naked Eye in their genre-switching, though not quite as jarring from one section of a tune to the next. "A Base Knave Behind The Arras" is a sick little waltz, and "Casa Incognita" a country-ish twang-fest with cartoon handclaps. "Albino Hen Coop" is a personal favorite, and perhaps the tune that sounds the least like some other band from the past.

The only drawback I can find with this recording is the possibility that it'll have you (like me at first) trying to assign influences instead of just listening. When you do get around to doing that, you'll smile.