If ever a single album could defy simple categorizations or glib descriptions, it is this one. The brainchild of Professor Jurgen Brauniger, in collaboration with Ari Sitas and a huge supporting cast of Kwazulu Natal musical luminaries, 'dURBAN NOISE and scraps WORKS' is a diverse and evocative collage of the music, sound, styles and attitudes that exist in the "new" South Africa. Within this album's 71 minutes is a seemingly jumbled selection of poetry and lyrics, snatches of everyday city noises, and a representation of the finest music coming out of SA these days.

Between the ocean sounds and street poetry of the opening track, 'Shrieks', to the flute-based gentle jazz piece, Fractal Shapes', that closes this album, one can hear a rich and intriguing mix of original, improvised and avant-garde musical compositions. This may deter those less adventurous listeners but, regardless of that, it still provides a musical feast that will take many listenings to fully digest and appreciate. 'Warwick' recreates the energy of the city with traffic noises and sirens and ends with the distant sound of gunfire which illustrates the ongoing political violence that is still all too prevalent in Kwazulu Natal. 'Violino', by contrast, is a specifically-written classical violin composition featuring Dolores Buthelezi on the umakhweyana. As mentioned previously, 'dURBAN NOISE and scraps WORKS' is a wondrous piece of South African music that can only influence and help to develop a new generation of SA musicians. Prepare to be amazed!

Stephen "Sugar" Segerman

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