This CD from 2003 offers 43 minutes of abstract minimalism.

For the last fourteen years, Joel Krutt has hosted the "Pushing the Envelope--Music Decidedly Left of Center" radio program on WHUS, the radio station of the University of Connecticut. With the advent of sound editing software for the common man, Krutt has decided to express his own minimal electronic urges. This debut CD is the result of that.

The majority of these pieces exemplify a minimal spliced-together style, utilizing focused sensibilities and sticking to those parameters within each track. The songs vary in content and style, from the first track's elongated examination of an orchestral tune-up, to the hesitant surging of "Gamelgone", to the guitar overlays of "Riff 4", to the looping harps that merge with piano chords of "Jig". A variety of voices are heavily treated, then merged with atonal electronic textures, creating a turgid atmosphere wrought with a slow-building tension.

The ethereal voice of Jim Cole is featured on one track, where these vocal drones fuse with cyclic electronics to generate even eerier moods.

This recording displays the formative stage of someone who has filtered such influences like Philip Glass and Brian Eno into a musique concrete selection. While the songs meander, there is a sturdy technician flair going on that can be engaging at times.

Joel Krutt - WHAT NEXT: There's probably no better place for a compilation/re-mix CD to come from than th' host of "Pushing The Envelope"... a radio show Joel hosts (he's played a lil' "Zzaj" before, too) that features "edge" art/music. I didn't realize how long Joel had been hosting this show until he said (in the press sheet) that it'd been 14 years; no question but what he would be one of the few in the world who would have ears jaded enough to mix down th' "best of th' weirdest"! & what a fine job he's done. His weave doesn't actually take the listener quite as far out on th' precipice as (f'r'instance) I might... it's actually kinda' relaxing to listen (with yer' headphones) through a Walkman as you (?What Else?) WALK. Very even keel, pro sound that listeners with a penchant for electronic will enjoy a GREAT deal... Mr. Krutt has definitely painted a sonic picture of pleasant moments for th' listener.   I enjoyed it enough to rate it as MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Contact at joelkru@yahoo.com    Rotcod Zzaj