At first, Further seemed like it was going to be a repeat of 97's tHe sYnthetic
FoRm, but once the initial drones and percussion formed themselves into the
first track it displayed an improved songwriting technique. More of the same
types of sounds are present in this new album, but they are used in a new way
to a more impressive effect. There is much more variety of styles in the
work of Mike Wells and Cadoo now, as demonstrated early in the album with "sever".
This song has brutal beats up from with distant beautiful drones, and is harder
and faster than anything else I've heard by Gridlock so far. "without" contains
intermittent bursts of complex fury laid over shifting synths, and "cramp" even
has a dancier electro rhythm hidden in the mix. Another noticeable difference in
their sound is the presence of only three sutures in between songs this time around,
which may be explained by the presence of truly beautiful synths within the songs
rather than around them. The drones are used less to induce terror this time as
they are to induce a state of peaceful contemplation (yes, I'm talking about
Gridlock). This is especially noticeable in the nearly ten minute soundscape
"under" and the monolith of sound called "further" that I completely lost myself
in the first time I heard it. Also included in this fine package is a noisier
remix of "ash" by KSP, and a remix of the great Quadrophobia compilation single
"enzyme" by Cadoo's side project dryft. Harsh Gridlock percussion formed into
drum & bass rhythms? You have to hear this one for yourself...
Review by Nicholas Joseph Ferro 1999