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As I was only familiar with Robert Poss’ former group, Band of Susans, through an REM tribute, I really did not know what to expect from his first solo work, entitled Distortion is Truth.  Poss characterizes himself as someone obsessed with sound, and the ways in which they interact.  To a degree, that assessment proves accurate.  When taken as a whole, it produces mixed reactions to the cuts on this CD.

“Brakhage,” an instrumental guitar piece, shows Poss seemingly paying homage to The Edge (U2).  “Radio Free Albemuth Revisited” could be the soundtrack to a science fiction short.  “You Were Relentless” sounds derived from “Finest Worksong” (REM).  “Azulene” is a pleasant instrumental.  These four are the best material contained here.

“Henix Sambolo,” on the other hand, is a long (6:30) piece that is a soundtrack looped over and over and over again. becoming monotonous, then annoying about halfway through.  “The Level Above” features random noises as performance art.  “You Know the Drill” is worse than a dentist’s drill - it is all distortion and feedback with no
vocals.  

Poss has a unique capability in that at times his playing is near genius, at others coming across like a rock star wannabe picking up a guitar in a music store.  “Distortion is Truth”?  To paraphrase Bill Clinton, that depends on your definition of the word “truth.”

Brian A. Smith 2/3/2003