By Eric Greenwood Salvo Beta enters the instrumental electronic scene on the offensive. His beats are aggressively overdriven and his melodies are sinister. Clearly taking cues from fellow deconstructionists like Mouse On Mars, Salvo Beta s noisy audio show is a pummeling and spastic display of rhythm and texture. Each track sprays beats like gunfire while ominous sound effects crackle erratically. Moments of clarity do interrupt the barrage of percussion, but they are short-lived before the next onslaught hammers you back in your seat.
Melody plays a subordinate role to the explosive rhythms.
The song structures are unorthodox to say the least, but the music is not just a formless display of aggression. When melody does take center stage, though, it is hypnotic and repetitive. Your ears wince at every turn expecting yet another assault, but even after nine minutes of floating in space it never comes. This joyous synthesis of rhythm and noise runs circles around your average drum and bass ensemble. Salvo Beta may be new to this game, but he comes with an arsenal of beats and both barrels loaded.