A collection of eight pieces written to accompany three productions by the choreographer Gis�le Vienne. If the creepy, nymphet-like humans-as-mannequins on the cover sleeve didn't give you a hint as to the nature of the pieces, the titles might � psycho-noir-ish intimations like "Murder Version", "Black Holes" and "Final Jerk". The tracks featuring narration by author Dennis Cooper, who's "Jerk" revolved around a real-life murder rampage in Texas in the 70s, are twisted enough to qualify as psychically difficult listening.

The music, however, ranges wide and if generally tinged with darkness and malaise, can be rather fascinating. First of all, the sound is incredible. Those who have experienced Rehberg, often known as Pita, in live performance will have some idea of the pure richness and depth he's capable of achieving. As impossible as that is to reproduce on disc, this comes pretty close; beware of your speakers' health. The initial brief cut introduces both noise (smashing glass) and whirling, echoing eddies of sound, thrusting the listener into a grim if dreamlike space. Cooper's deadpan reading on "ML6" ups the grimness ante, psychopathically describing his (the original murderer's) actions over a bleak haze before the music explodes like warped neuronal bursts. "Slow Investigation" gets spacier, almost pastoral, though with enough underlying static and tension so as not to allow the listener any great degree of ease. "Black Holes" sends us right back into the malevolent maelstrom, all thudding beats, as well as serving up the reemergence of Cooper, whose words attain still greater heights (or depths) of psychotic self-pity on "ML3".

It's tough to break away from the pathos and consider the material here on a purely musical level, but by that criterion, "Boxes & Angels" probably stands out. Rehberg takes a simple melodic line that almost sounds lifted from an old techno track, warps, erodes and layers it through rapid fire electronic pulses, before collapsing into a hollow, metallic drone-scape that then morphs into harrowing squeals. Excellent piece. He ends the disc with an appropriately bleak several minutes, conjuring up back alleyways in industrial cities. Not an easy listen, psychologically speaking, but a strong, worthwhile effort.