Panzer Division Lou Reed

Beneath the usual lovely psychedelic artwork on the cover of Panzer Division Lou Reed lurks Sunroof's most explosive and assaultive record ever. The key track here in the Sunroof! Evolution is the opener 'Slew Plateaus #1', with Mick Flower (Vibra cathedral Orchestra) on guitar and John Moloney (Sunburned Hand of the Man) on drums. This live shot of electricity gradually ramps up from Flower and Matt Bower's dueling guitars to the point where Moloney's drums come crashing in after about six minutes, leading to a furious crescendo that lasts for the remainder of the 19-minute track. 'Slew Plateaus #2' is a lengthy collaboration with underground gadabout Mattin, whose previous collaborations with Tony Conrad, Bruce Russell, Eddie Prevost, et al. Hopefully prepared him for the Bower wrecking ball delivered here. The other two cuts are absolutely blistering demolition work, which, in spite of their visceral impact, reach a state of zen-like stasis after a couple of minutes, à la the best of Bower's work with Hototogisu.