HUNGRY GHOST "Sugar Skulls"  The hallucinogenic concoctions on this disc are best described as traditional tribal ceremonies distorted through a modern urban lens; Hungry Ghost channel ancient mysticism into the framework of our nervous modern society. Sounds a bit much to swallow, but that's the feeling invoked by this album, an epic aural trip filled with many delicious textures, particularly percussion-wise. Odd progressions dominate: the ceremonial drum playing, hazy guitar, and abstracted voices of Salvation (Moscow Mix) transform into the industrial drone/Spanish voiceover collage of Mission Skulls, which gives way to the minimalist piano runs floating within a mix of muddled voices and hand percussion on Defiant. Voices play a part in many of the songs; in fact, there are many different language fragments interspersed throughout Sugar Skulls. Numerous artists have half-heartedly attempted to unite the ambient, experimental, tribal, and psychedelic realms within the context of one recording, but Hungry Ghost have done a commendable job in pushing the musical envelope while maintaining cohesiveness. While too involved to be casual listening, this album definitely offers its own rewards for those adventurous enough to take the plunge. A promising debut release for the group on the new Tone Casualties label, whose recent Alien Farm album is also rather intriguing in its rock-oriented vein. (Tone Casualties, 1258 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90038) Review by Bryan Reesman

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