Sound Weave is a collaboration of sorts, with poet Alex Caldiero contributing his readings to the music of Theta Naught, which was all recorded live and partially improvised.

Opener ?Argus Flectus? is the usual instrumental-based song that Theta Naught are known for, but it?s the second track ?The Invitation? where Caldiero intervenes with his poetic outcry. The musical side shows Theta on form, with a good build up of tension; the cello and bass lay a dark atmospheric foundation, with the drums, lap slide, and keyboards carrying the rhythm along. This makes for wonderful listening, but I must admit that I have a problem with Caldieros? input. The manner in which he projects the words with his voice is overly dramatic, and it?s hard to take seriously as it can, at times, sound comical. I also find the poetry to be far too contrived; it comes across as if Caldiero is striving to be seen as an intellectual, but he misses the point, and instead of creating something new or progressive he tries too hard to emulate contemporary poetic styling. Great poetry or lyricism should force you to think; it should stick in your mind and you should never be judging its questionability. Caldiero on the other hand makes you feel like he could be reading you his shopping list, with the theory that if he reads it with enough conviction, no one will question his ability as a poet.

The one thing that I find myself asking is how well the poetic reading and music work as a whole, and which one is hiding the others? inadequacy. For most parts their alignment with each other isn?t satisfactory, and when they do combine, you get the feeling that the poetry is being held up by the upwardly progressing music, which would leave the reading bare and isolated without. ?Take It? is an example of where it works well together; the dramatic drumming and cello combine with the vocal without much struggle.

The second or ?bonus? disc is Theta Naught?s usual instrumental work, and to be honest, I found it to be much more fully realized. It may be stale in parts, but it sounds a lot better on it?s own. Which leads to the question of why they would want to work with Caldiero if not only for their own vanity, and why the solo work is relegated to a bonus disc.

On the rear of the case, there is an equation; what for, I do not know. But how they ever equated that poetry should be forced upon these glorious passages, I will never know. 6/10 -- James Clarke (31 July, 2006)