Pop Will Eat Itself - Dos Dedos Mis Amigos (1994)

1. Ich Bin Ein Auslander
2. Kick To Kill
3. Familus Horribilus
4. Underbelly
5. Fatman
6. Home   
7. Cape Connection
8. Menofearthereaper
9. Everything's Cool
10. R.S.V.P.
11. Babylon

I can't believe a band this good never got popular. "Dos Dedos Mis Amigos," PWEI's last album, is an exercise in genre-bending brilliance, sometimes furious, sometimes funky, and often both. The hard-edged sound of industrial is most prominent, but there's also an obvious hip-hop influence and some dashes of metal thrown in just for good measure. Of course, none of these qualities lend themselves to commercial success, but "Dos Dedos Mis Amigos" is easily one of the most intelligent albums I've had the pleasure of hearing in a long time. To steal a quote from Forrest Gump, this album is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you're going to get. And did I mention that they're British? For some strange reason, everything seems to sound better with a British accent.

The politically-charged opener "Ich Bin Ein Auslander," and "Fatman" are ominous in both sound and lyrical content, with aggressive raps backed by thunderous industrial beats that should have Ministry fans grinning from ear to ear. In contrast, the smooth rapping and jazzy tone of "Familus Horribilus" slow things for a more laid-back, even funky, feel. The electrified rave-up of "Cape Connection" is actually danceable, and it's nicely followed up by the dub-tinged atmospherics of the seven-minute "Menofearthereaper." On the masterful "Everything's Cool," Clint Mansell and Graham Crabb alternate their menacing voices over a dizzying musical background complete with snatches of distorted metallic riffage. The angular rhythms of the anthemic "R.S.V.P." are sure to get heads banging in no time, while "Babylon" closes out the proceedings with a quiet, though still eerie, sound.

Condition is Good - minor scuffs on CD.