by Michael G. Nastos The Stone: Issue Two is a continuous live performance from electric guitarist Fred Frith and percussionist Chris Cutler that acts as a fast forwarded audio trip from night-to-day and back-to-night. This scenario falls within the urban landscape genre, consistently cresting high and settling into underground subtones. Electronics and percussion are utilized as underpinnings below a distinctive jagged riff, noise wash, chattering or screaming, ringing or vocal-like guitar sound from Frith. A drum phrase by Cutler breaks in only very infrequently. Each small segment comes and goes quickly; up and down, soft and loud, introspective or bold, and little is sustained for any long period. Frith will state an actual bizarre melody, then cut it off, play layers of sound that are replete with girth and grit, then go serene. A ring modulated or vocal speaking-in-tongues motif, wah-wah, gut-bucket, industrial and dense facades, minimalist late-night forest soundscapes, birds, garbage trucks at dawn, carnival atmosphere, bizarro world dynamics, space à la Frippertronics, reverse effects, and sensual midnight serenity is all at the duo's command. Cutler is clearly a co-conspirator as his electronic colorations are most intriguing, but it is Frith who is challenging, commanding, and demonstrative. A recording that fans will have to sit down and listen to as the patrons did during the performance, it will yield the sense of passion, wonder, and depth these two have displayed in their music since their days with Henry Cow, but digging deeper than ever.