YOUNG MARBLE GIANTS: (Rough Trade) :: A breath of fresh air, sure; a minimalist's dream band, definitely; but is it rock 'n' roll? Probably not, but who cares? Just rhythm box, bass, guitar or organ, and (female) voice; little in the way of diversity, dynamics or drama. But the songs are well-written, the singing casual but clear, and the whole project gives new meaning to the idea of understatement. Don't know if I'd want a steady diet of this stuff, but it sure sounds good every time I put it on the box. M.D.

JORGEN INGMANN—The Many Guitars Of Jorgen Ingmann (Atco):: Whilst all those dark aborigines of metal are skirling away in their steaming coliseums and all the immobile daughters of smoldering punk-doom are goofin' on the apocalypse, I'm sitting here in my minivera-lined jockeys listening to the sonic-substance which makes metalholics drool 'n' punk plebes pass out in buzzing jvondrous joy. Ingmann did have an early satellite-rock hit called 'Apache,' and besides the little known 'Khouotek' theme by the even lesser known Gershon Kingsley, his special effect guitar music stands as the best in the cosmos. It's eeemmmmeeennnse! The versions of the 'High Noon' and 'Bonanza' themes are pearls of guitar sweetness that could teach Ted Nugent a lesson or two. And speaking of danes, I've finally discovered where the two hot babes from Abba come from—they were the Mice in Eric Von Zippers' Carbon Monoxide Commandos. Get it? Music to suffocate by.. .1 love it...