The Concussive Caress isn't your average electronic pop album. It requires a little attention be paid and does not hold with common song titling conventions. Track 3 isn't titled at all and two songs--"'Sweetheart'"and"Gravity (Pauline's Response to Amy)"--expand over two consecutive tracks each. Timing isn't a consideration, either, with four of the fifteen tracks coming in at considerably less than one minute and Track 15 figuring at over ten minutes (if you include the hidden track at the end of the album). However, as with many K artists, once I got over the sheer oddity of the album, I was able to settle back and enjoy it as music.

"How Naked Are We Going to Get?"is bold in any form, with lyrics that touch on unspoken thoughts, including the idea that one can"remember the route to her heart from her thighs."All this is backed by a droning undertone and the occasional high-pitched accompaniment to Maricich's sweetly alluring voice that shows itself to be malleable to any situation. This groove is broken by"Chase Dream,"with knocks its way in with the side of a drum and the staccato delivery of"I get it, got it, get it get it, got it"for 26 seconds, followed quickly by an untitled track featuring a barely tuneful guitar and drums for 22 seconds. Strangely enough, these interludes add to the narrative flow somehow that I understand but can't explain.

Pop craftsmanship comes to the fore in"A Night Full of Open Eyes,"with a sound that is quite familiar with the necessities of top 40 radio. The second part of"Sweetheart"is another standout, almost purely due to its conciseness and lyrics:

He called me Doll Eyes
He called me Sunrise
He called me Hearty Thighs
He called me Super Size
He called me Heat Lamp
He called me Summer Camp
He called me...just that once and then he never called again.

Khaela's courageous (and, I must add, almost entirely successful) experimentation with different genres on The Concussive Caress is epitomized by the slow, groovy rap goodness of"What Tom Said about Girls."It is easily my favorite track on the album, not least because she really gets into the mind of this mostly unlikable character and shows his cockiness truly and satirically, making him sympathetic in the process."Nothing"didn't strike me as very memorable at first, but eventually worked its way into the folds of my brain and emerges at unconventional times--strange for a track without a chorus to speak of.

Throughout the album, we are introduced to snippets from the Karicich's recent narrative opera, Blue Sky vs. Night Sky and if these songs are any indication, a full recording of this opera would be an event, indeed. As it is, we are merely teased with snippets of the whole storyline."Come On Pauline (Amy's Cassette for Pauline),""Gravity (Pauline's Response to Amy),"and"What Amy Heard in Her Mother's Voice Played Backwards"are only the most obviously titled ones of this selection. Based on their lyrical content, I'm assuming that"What Tom Said About Girls,""'Sweetheart,'""Where I Love You,"and"A Night Full of Open Eyes"are also part of this cycle and these are some of the highest points on The Concussive Caress. But even so, this album as it is could well be the crowning glory (so far, of course) in the career of The Blow.

Danny Boyle, who soared with the British films SHALLOW GRAVE and TRAINSPOTTING, then fell on his face with the Hollywood duds A LIFE LESS ORDINARY and THE BEACH, got back in form with this effort, reborn of the freedom that digital technology affords today's daring (and invariably under-financed) filmmakers. He's obviously fascinated with the limitless possibilities for camera placement that the technology affords, embedding miniature cameras all over the sets to permit individual scenes to be viewed from a rapid-fire succession of perspectives. His editing and music skills, combined with stellar camerawork by noted dogme cameraman Anthony Dodd Mantle, results in a raw, exciting new `dogme-MTV' type of look ... a look that Boyle put to good use in his subsequent hit, 28 DAYS LATER.

But `look' alone cannot make a movie. You still need a script to work with, and Boyle is blessed here with an outstanding one from Jim Cartwright. The story is nothing less than a bold and brilliant comedic re-conceptualization of Arthur Miller's DEATH OF A SALESMAN for the digital age. And unlike Miller, Cartwright doesn't play coy with what the salesman is actually peddling -- you know right from the start that it's vacuum cleaners.

The `surrogate' character in this film is a likeable young slacker named Pete (Michael Begley) who loves dance music and has some mixing talent, but hasn't been able to carve out any kind of career in the music biz. His girlfriend has to perform strip-o-grams in order for them to make ends meet, and they both want out of this situation in the worst way. The girlfriend's plight gets especially humiliating one night when she performs at a retirement party for a vacuum cleaner salesman, and on a suggestion, Pete decides to pursue a career in this profession as a way out for both of them.

Enter the most blazing, mesmerizing, maniacal lead performance by an actor in many a moon. Pete is made an apprentice to star salesman Tommy Rag, played with incredible over-the-top intensity by veteran Timothy Spall. If there was an ABSOLUTE `best actor' award for the BEST performance, period, in a given year, Spall would have been my hands-down choice for 2001. He makes EVERY ruthless salesman in movie history (Kurt Russell in USED CARS, the gang from THE BOILER ROOM, etc.) look strictly `soft sell' by comparison. This is truly a performance for the ages ... ONE THAT NOBODY WITH A SALES JOB SHOULD MISS!

Built-in Vacuum Keeps Hairs Out of Your Nose
A built-in vacuum collects hair as it cuts, keeping them out of your nose so you won't accidentally breathe them in.

Immersible in Water for Easy Cleaning
The ER430K is fully immersible in water, making it easy to clean: simply rinse the groomer under running water and you're all set to go. You can also bring the groomer into the shower with you if you choose.

Ergonomic Design and Battery-Operated Convenience
The trimmer features an ergonomic curved design and grip that makes it easy to hold and maneuver. It runs on one "AA" battery (not included) and operates for up to 90 minutes, so you won't have to worry about power outlets or cords. The trimmer measures a compact 1.2 x 5.5 x 1.9 inches (WxHxD), so you can easily bring it with you when you travel. A protective cap is included.

What's in the Box
ER430K trimmer, protective cap.