Photek Form and Function (Science/Virgin)

As one of drum & bass' most innovative and original talents, Photek is a Zen master of his art form. Form and Function comprises a collection of Photek's creations, some in their original form, others remixed by fellow d&b ronins like J Majik, Peshay, Doc Scott, Digital and Decoder. The cut-and-paste tech beats and the deep, punchy bass are like the yin and the yang, one complementing the other. I'd say the theme of the album is the Seven Samurai get Lost in Space, as it consists of tunes that conjure up visions of intergalactic journeys through musical hyperspace. And Photek is at the helm using only his mind to guide us. 9/10 (Krista)

Die Sterne Von Allen Gedanken Schätze Ich Doch am Meisten die Interessanten (Sony)

For Germans, the rock-tronica transition has been particularly comfortable. Kraftwerk in the blood, I guess. Witness Mouse on Mars, Stereo Total and Hamburg's Die Sterne, now touring North America under the auspices of the Goethe Institut. It's an artful blend of pop kitsch, mild funkiness, electronic infobahn residue and gorgeous alt-rock fuzz. With a recipe like that, Die Sterne (the Stars) may soon live up to their name. 8/10 (Rupert Bottenberg) At Cabaret, Sunday, Oct. 4, 9pm, $5

Mercury Rev Deserter's Songs (V2/BMG)

Grasshopper and the Golden Crickets The Orbit of Eternal Grace

(Beggars Banquet/Koch)

Upstate New York's fave crazed art-rock ensemble Mercury Rev become only slightly more scrutable on their fourth album, which sees them ditching cacophony for melody, hinted at on 1995's See You on the Other Side. Still, what would be now-common orch-pop gestures get twisted into modified Christmas carols and Morricone operettas in these same hands that hold mellotron, harpsichord and singing saw. Quite pretty. The long wait for the follow-up also prompted Rev guitarist Grasshopper to go it alone, for a more trad if languorous and psychedelicized rock that's as fuzzy as it is spacey. More fun in a new world. Rev 8/10, Grasshopper 7/10 (Chris Yurkiw)

The Irresistible Force It's Tomorrow Already (NinjaTune/Outside)

Look up the term "electronica" in the dictionary and you'll find Irresistible Force as the meaning. Tomorrow... is good trippy relaxation music done with a West Coast vibe; lots of samples of people talking about music and space and drugs à la Terence McKenna. It's a lot like the first Fila Brazilia album, only slightly less organic sounding and with chunkier beats. 7.5/10 (Krista)

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