Dialog> release their second album, Run Silent, Run Deep on the Lo-Tek label. It is said to be influenced by the element of water as a metaphor for the unconscious mind, where our urges for dissolution are portrayed as deep-sea monsters that threaten to drag us down to the depths.

With the theme set, this album is meant to create an impression of being submerged under water and then released to the surface. I’m not too sure about it one little bit. It all sounds a little bit to ‘arty’ and ‘poncy’ for my liking.

Having listened to this album in its entirety, I realised I had wasted nearly an hour of my valuable time. The tracks all sounded pretty much the same to me, with their dulcet tones, slow beats and to be honest pretty boring and lifeless sounds.

The only track worth mentioning - that stands out from the others - is ‘Gothic Monks’. As a bonus for those who buy the album on download or through the Lo-Tek website there is an additional mix of this track: 'The Echaskech remix'.

Okay, so the album has done what they set out to do, sound as if you’re submerged under water, but if I were you I would put on a favourite CD you already own, press play and submerge your own head under water. That way you save money and get the desired effect you wanted, just remember to come up for air.

This is a really sad effort.

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Helena Rea