Review: Foetus – Not Adam

National Music Reviews

 Foetus - Not AdamFoetus
Not Adam

Birdman Records

 

Foetus is an act most rivetheads are not familiar with. Since 1981, Jim Thirwell made his mark as an early industrial pioneer working with the likes of Throbbing Gristle, Coil and Lydia Lunch. Surprises ensue when putting Foetus in for a listen. The title track of the single, “(Not Adam),” is a potpourri of weirdness with crazy evil vocals blaring over violin rampage and harpsichord sweetness. “Miracle (Jay Wasco Remix)” rocks it out with the mayhem of drums, guitars and the maniacal screams of the man who scares me more than Genesis P—Orridge. Ricky Ricardo’s band from I Love Lucy could have written the saxophone salsa on “Not in Your Hands,” but surely that is collaboration that would never happen. The final track, “Time Machines On (End Remix)” is another hard-to-classify, rock-out, surfer-dude piece which is fun in a non-industrial way. Foetus has always been entertaining but hardly listenable, yet still interesting enough to keep tabs on. The single is a preview of the full-length album, Love (read SLUG’s review of Love in the national CDs section of this issue).

 

This review originally appeared in Modus Operandi, April 2005, Issue 196.